Pandemic Reflections - Ashlie Wilson

Meet Ashlie UWinnipeg, one of our Program Manager at UWinnipeg PACE. She has a host of responsibilities at PACE including overseeing our Human Resource Management Diploma (both full-time and part-time options), the Management Certificate, and the Canadian Risk Management program, to name a few. We asked her to reflect on how the COVID-19 pandemic has impacted her work-life.

"It hasn’t been easy finding my pace during the past six weeks but I think I am slowly finding a balance that works! I often feel pulled in many directions and a sense of guilt when I can’t do it all but I am coming to grips that I am doing my best. For me, I have many considerations when I am planning my day – my three kids, my job, household obligations like cooking and cleaning, ageing parents and grandparents and lastly, taking care of myself.

My kids have been the biggest struggle. Other than my maternity leaves, we have never spent so much time together and I have never been at home for a period this long. We are all creatures of habit and just breaking out of regular routine has been a period of adjustment for all of us. Luckily, my five-year-old twins do not understand the severity of what is happening in the world. They are absolutely thrilled to be home with us and having full access to all their toys ALL day! My oldest (16) is struggling emotionally and is missing her friends and school so much.

Going from a full-time program manager to a full-time program manager and 50% teacher overnight has been interesting. The twins have been easy to keep engaged with art projects, experiments, nature walks, educational videos/books, the problem is they need to be engaged all the time or else they find trouble. My oldest in grade 10 French immersion is very disciplined and I am very fortunate for that but we’ve had to get her a tutor for pre-calculus math as there is no way I can help in that area.

I will be forever grateful to PACE for their support to me during these times and understanding that I cannot keep my "normal" 8am – 4pm hours and allowed me to adjust my time to fit into my family obligations. It is for reasons just like, my commitment and job satisfaction couldn’t be higher!

Here are a few tips I have learnt while trying to balance everything.

1. Plan your day and have lists of what you want to accomplish but prepare for things not to go as planned

2. Make sure to take care of yourself – eat well, sleep enough and exercise

3. Know when to ask for help (for example, when we made the decision to hire a tutor)

4. Make efforts to stay connected to family, friends, and co-workers

5. Self-reflect on when things went well and when they didn’t and what would you change

6. Do not be hard on yourself, we are all doing our best. Things may fall, that is ok!

Take care and stay healthy,"
Ashlie