A letter from the Editor in Chief
It’s hard to believe it’s been almost two years since our world changed thanks to the global pandemic. While we’ve made incredible strides adapting to our new reality – both at work and at home – we’re all still dealing with a lot of uncertainty, and it’s reasonable to imagine that many of us will experience ups and downs as we carry on.
By the nature of the profession, communicators seem to be always on call, working after hours and on tight deadlines even before the pandemic. As the continuing pandemic accelerated the shift in the way we work and interact with each other, our clients and our communities, communicators stayed on the forefront of this shift, keeping audiences informed and engaged, often sacrificing their personal life, time, and mental health to do so.
In the current environment, a true work-life balance can feel like an unattainable ideal that we are striving for each day. So when do we pause? How can we balance our responsibilities at work and at home so we can enjoy both worlds to the fullest?
In this edition of the Communicator – “Communicators’ Mental Health & Well-being” – we are exploring how our members keep well, manage stress, and find the coveted work-life balance.
Audrey Hood shares how being organized helps her minimize stress and find balance between work and home in, “Find your Inner Monica Geller: Get everything done and stay sane while doing it.”
“In Search of Work-Life Balance,” explores Rachel Baldacchino’s journey of creating balance.
In “The balancing act of working and parenting through a pandemic,” Heather Osler-Beard offers three tips to get through your day and your to-do list while pandemic parenting.
Caterina Valentino shows how a situational base response plan can help you stay mentally and physically fit for the pandemic and beyond, in “A Personal Baseline Response to COVID-19”.
Finally, Krista Henry explores how hiring co-op students or interns can help communicators lessen the workload and improve work-life balance in, “Say ‘yes’ to mental wellness with help from emerging talent.”
Enjoy this issue and stay well!
Irene Alifanova, Editor in Chief for Communicator
By Cassandra Cleveland As a new mom and communications professional, returning to work after maternity leave brought a wave of mixed emotions. The excitement of rejoining the professional realm was tempered by the realization that the communications landscape had evolved during my time away, leaving me with a potential knowledge gap. Determined to bridge […] By Linda Bicho-Vachon I’ve always been a learner. In my former role, I completed my association’s certification program and stayed updated by attending industry seminars. The certification demonstrated that I had the skill and expertise to do my job and gave me confidence to grow my career. When I decided to transition to a […] By Prachi Shailendra As a communications professional who embarked on the Canadian journey in 2019 with over six years of international experience in corporate communications, I vividly recall the challenges and triumphs of breaking into the local job market. I soon realized that for newcomers, success often hinges on more than just a polished […] By Andrea Walasek Dear Readers, It is a pleasure to introduce myself as the Editor-in-Chief of IABC/Toronto’s Communicator publication for 2023-2024. As a dedicated professional who has worked in Public Relations for over 19 years and a proud volunteer with IABC/Toronto, I am happy to bring you the Winter 2024 issue, focused on a topic […] By Matisse Hamel-Nelis Matisse Hamel-Nelis reminds us that IDEA are more than just buzzwords; they are vital principles that can transform the world of communications. In the ever-evolving world of communications, the principles IDEA are gaining increasing significance. When applied effectively, they help foster a more enriched, engaging and impactful communication environment – enhancing meaningful internal […] By Amanda Cosentino Amanda Cosentino poses the question: When you think about the word “accessibility,” what images pop up in your head? When you think about the word “accessibility,” what images pop up in your head? Perhaps a person in a wheelchair, or a reserved parking spot? But those are only small pieces of accessibility. […]Return to the Winter 2022 Issue of Communicator
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