Friday 13th March 2020
https://www.history.com/topics/folklore/friday-the-13th
When we hear Friday 13th, we associate this with the analogy to this fear called paraskevidekatriaphobia from the Greek words Paraskeví (meaning "Friday"), and dekatreís (meaning "thirteen"). According to folklore, the unlucky number originated with a Norse myth about the 12 gods having a dinner party in Valhalla where the trickster god Loki who was not invited, and arrived as the 13th guest and tricked Höðr to shoot Balder. This major event in Norse mythology caused the number 13 to be considered unlucky.
The superstition may have also arisen in the Middle Ages "originating from the story of Jesus' last supper, and crucifixion" in which there were 13 individuals present the night before his death on Good Friday. There is evidence of both Friday and the number 13 being considered unlucky, with no record of the two items referred to as being unlucky in conjunction before the 19th century. (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Friday_the_13th)
amaysim technology department initiates a test trial working from home (WFH) on Friday 13th, with all teams working smoothly. It was to be expected, as the technology teams are accustomed to working remotely from time to time to meet the demands of the job. Little did we know that this would be our last day in the office for the next six months under C19.
At first, it was a bit of a novelty with some minor adjustments, and we embraced this challenge with an open mind and positivity. As the weeks rolled by, it was evident we were in this for the long haul, and the likelihood of returning to the office was unknown. We started adapting to this new norm with our home office, not fully realising the impact it would have on us. The days got longer, and some aspects of our work became more difficult working remotely. What once was a five minute, face to face conversation now became lengthy text dialogue and many video calls. The days blend into each other, and slowly fatigue sets in, both physically and mentally.
It is unsustainable, just by adapting is not going to work, there must be change.
https://www.blurtitout.org/2018/11/08/mental-health-benefits-routine/
Establish a routine, set out a daily/weekly schedule of tasks that need completing, and allocate a timeslot for each. Repeat this routine and make adjustments along the way to improve efficiency. Add breaks into your routine and make sure you take them by setting alarm reminders. Please do not wear pyjamas at your home office, but wear comfortable work gear while working. It will give you a mental distinction between work and non-work periods. Add physical breaks such as a walk or run into the day. For the above to work, we must embrace the change and have the mental discipline to carry out what's needed.
What a blessing "The Push-Up Challenge 2020" came around early this year in May (previously July) and provided a physical outlet to release stress while enriching our awareness of mental health wellbeing. It could not have happened at a better time when we needed it the most, connecting the team members for a common cause while providing the opportunity to reach out to others "R U OK?". The three weeks challenge was a blast, and we had 66 people joined in raising $3,500 and completed 94,500+ pushups.
https://www.thepushupchallenge.com.au/community/amaysim-community
When the challenge was over, there was a great sense of achievement and purpose. For some, it was the familiar normality that we missed pre C19. With this in mind, I was looking for the next project to rally up the troops again. By chance, I watched this youtube video created by a beautiful soul named Hannah Price titled "Why do we run?" and it immediately resonated with me, and I knew I had the next project. Hannah and I share a story as her dad has Parkinson's Disease (PD), and through her initiative, she raised funds for the Shake-It-Up Foundation Australia by running the Gold Coast marathon.
My dad passed away six years ago from Parkinson's Disease, there have been many advances with research and medication since, but we still do not have a cure yet. It got me thinking about what I can do to support the cause? Over the next few weeks, I worked with Isobel Moore (event manager from Shake-It-Up) and started to map out a plan. With help from Natalie Duncan (our awesome amaysim EA), we rolled out the "Run 30 mins every day for 30 days" challenge (17/08 - 15/09) to the company. We had 40 people joining the cause, promoting PD awareness, and raised over $3,400+ and completed over 4,100+ km. There were a few hurdles along the way we had to overcome, but we managed to pull through in typical amaysim team spirit.
https://shakeitup.org.au/amaysim-team-raise-3440-for-parkinsons/
Now looking back, and reflecting what these last six months have meant and taught me, is that life is ever-changing, and we do not necessarily know what is around the corner. It is the uncharted road that makes Life so Amazing. Sometimes it can bring joy and sometimes pain, but always there is Hope. Don't just focus on the destination, but rather how you got there, and the life lessons and experiences learned along the way, helping you to grow. Find your passion, translate that into a purpose, and take action to create your opportunity.
Published on LinkedIn October 14 2020