Little Lessons from Australia

In case you missed it, ERG went to Australia earlier this month. It was a lot of things, but most of all, it was a true learning experience – even for “experts” like us. Looking back, here are a few things we learned:

1. Be less busy.

We stayed in a suburb of Sydney called North Rocks, which meant that we were a little closer to the school we were working at. It was a surprise to us that many businesses closed by 6pm, including restaurants. Even in the city, many stores closed by 9pm. Stores even had limited hours on Friday and Saturday nights! As the week unfolded, we could see the benefit of winding things down each day so more time is spent at home. By not having a lot of nighttime options, families were spending time together. Time spent at home also increased a sense of community and a sense of belonging. Unlike our culture in the US, there was very little fear of missing out. In fact, by doing less, the more important things can become a priority.

2. Be happy.

The majority of the people we encountered were happy. Genuinely happy.  From the waitress to the 7-11 worker to the teachers, we saw smiling, happy people. We noticed this positivity was contagious – students seemed to be content, cared for, and settled. The phrase “no worries” was not only spoken, but also truly embodied by the people who surrounded us. Maybe it had something to do with being at home at night and getting a chance to recharge, or maybe it was because we were only there for a short time. At any rate, the happiness was noticeable. And, it wasn’t that these people were not focused; they just seemed to be focused on the things that really matter.

3. Be balanced.

We noticed that people had no problem working hard, but they also built in free time. There was a sense of wholeness that was anchored by strategic schedules:

• Stores close early, including weekends.
• Morning tea (which actually includes yummy treats too) happens every day.
• Schools have a calendar that includes breaks distributed across the calendar year (6 weeks in the summer and 2 week breaks in between the other terms).

Unlike the push and pressure we typically feel in the US, people slow down and have balance within and across days. This subliminally puts emphasis on the whole person, not just productivity and performance. 

It was refreshing to soak all of this in, and as we get settled back into our routines in America, we will carry these little lessons from Australia with us.