I moved to Toronto from Lagos, Nigeria, in October 2019. I was looking for something different, a new environment. Toronto appealed to me because it’s young and diverse, with lots of opportunities across several industries. That December, I saw a posting for a project coordinator at Interac, applied and got the job. The first few months in a new city and country were pretty hard. I was just starting to make friends and network when Covid hit.
Early in the pandemic, it was hard to juggle a full day of meetings and work and also find time for myself. I tried managing by going for walks or spending time with my roommates, but like so many people I struggled to disconnect once my home became my office. As the pandemic dragged on, I noticed it was taking me longer to get things done. I wasn’t motivated. I felt like I couldn’t escape the four walls of my house. I withdrew and shut out family and friends. Honestly, I didn’t even realize what was going on with me until Interac invited a professional therapist to host a session on burnout—and then it clicked.
This is incredible! Workers have had to balance so much over the past two years. Fabulous concept which increases productivity. Those caring for toddlers, elders and medically fragile all have different schedules which this type of flexibility addresses.