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As the world has become more globally connected over the past decade, we have seen a rise in global immigration. In fact, 18% of the candidates that we have interviewed over the last 12 months are global citizens. Whilst relocating internationally is an incredibly exciting prospect, one thing that no one could have predicted was a global pandemic, and how difficult it would be to navigate our way through this, being so far away from ‘home’.

If you have relocated internationally, or even interstate in recent times, you may have been faced with some quite confronting prospects over the last 8 weeks. “What if I can’t get home to my family if something happens to them?” “What if I can get home but I can’t return to Australia?” “What does COVID mean for my visa?” “How will this impact my career?” All these thoughts are understandably worrying and can certainly become incredibly overwhelming.

With so much information out there regarding your job search and how to remain competitive in the market, I thought I would take a different approach, offering my thoughts as to how to combat the perils of distance.

1. Retaining normality

When experiencing a period of stress, it is very easy to fall into a trap and that might look different for everyone, however, something that I have found incredibly helpful is retaining day to day normality. Psychologist Sabina Read tells us that “creating a plan for each day, with set times for each task can provide stability and comfort at a time of uncertainty”. These plans can be as simple as keeping hold of your morning routine before starting work, ensuring that you eat 3 healthy meals a day, or ensuring that you switch off when your working day has come to an end.

2. Utilizing your support network

We really are all in this together. Everyone is in the same position, maybe not in the same boat, but definitely weathering the same storm,and doing the best we can to ensure measures are taken to reduce the spread of COVID. One of the downsides, is that we are all isolated from loved ones. Yet, we do all need to remain focused on the bigger picture. It is critical to stay connected and we are lucky to live in times in which we can easily communicate and see our loved ones through a range of different technologies. Having regular calls with friends and family certainly reduces the feeling of stress and separation, just simply seeing that they are ok puts our minds at ease. It is also important to remember that they will have the same thoughts as you, they will also be worrying about you being so far away.

If you are still struggling with utilising your own support network, there are so many resources out there to offer additional support. Organisations such as Beyond Blue have a ‘Coronavirus Mental Wellbeing Support Service’ on offer to all.

3. Avoid refreshing COVID updates too regularly

At first, it seemed like the natural thing to do, checking live COVID updates every hour or so in the hope of staying up to date with all things pandemic and across geographies. This in fact, can be counterproductive. The updates themselves can cause concern and this can increase the feeling of distance and separation. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), we should limit checking to once or twice per day, at scheduled times. WHO also suggested that we should seek information directly from the WHO website or local health authority platforms as opposed to the news and media. 

4. Accept that your feelings are normal

Not too long ago we celebrated ‘R U OK Day’ and so we should remind ourselves that “it is ok not to be ok” especially whilst going through something so unprecedented and unfamiliar. When feeling like this it is increasingly important to remind yourself of the positives and focus on activities that you enjoy and that can bring you happiness.

As a Scottish national so far away from home, yet genuinely supported here in Australia, my new home, I’d love to check in with you. How are you coping with the distance? Are you doing anything differently?

#team #home #tandempartners #wellbeing