Carrie Webster is the UX Lead at ed tech company 3P Learning, where she works with a team of four designers to create user-centred design solutions.

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1) To kick things off, could you tell us a little about your career background and current role?

I’ve been specialising in the field of UX design for 20 years now and I’m still passionate about what I do.

I love that I can create better user experiences for people just to make their lives simpler. I’ve worked for telcos, finance, as a consultant at Deloitte Digital, and I am currently working at 3P Learning which is an ed tech company.

I work with a great team of 4 designers, and the culture there is amazing. For me personally, having a good culture is essential.

2) What does a day in the life look like for you? Can you take us through a recent workday?

Lots of video meetings since the COVID outbreak changed things up in March. My day is usually half a day of meetings online, and half a day of research and/or designing.

3) Does your current role allow for flexible or remote working? If so, how does that fit into your life and routine?

Yes, our company has since changed its approach to allow for the continuation of remote working as an ongoing working mode.

It was hard at first, but I feel I’ve adapted to finding ways to compensate for the lack of face to face workshops and collaboration. It definitely has its challenges and we are still evolving our ways of working.

4) What does work-life balance mean to you and how do you work to achieve that goal?

I think that work-life balance is a must for everyone. I’ve always believed that working smarter not harder is the best approach, and blocking out slices of my day to get things done in a set time frame helps me to really focus on that task.

I rarely work beyond the 9-5 clock, and I often start earlier so I can finish up earlier. I make time to fit in exercise, meditate, family/friend time and also time for myself to continue learning and growing.

5) In the past 12 months, have you started or stopped any routines or habits to change your life?

Thanks to COVID, I’ve started exercising at home (yoga, HIIT, resistance) which I will continue. Such a time saver when you consider travel time to classes, and a great disciplinary habit.

I have also started listening to various podcasts on a daily basis that inspire me to be a better person.

6) Do you have any favourite books, podcasts or newsletters that you’d like to recommend?

I’m currently listening to podcasts by Robin Sharma (author and inspirational motivational speaker), Jim Kwik (brain performance coach) and Dandapani (ex monk and Hindu priest). They are all inspiring and motivate me continuously.

7) Are there any products, gadgets or apps that you can’t live without?

I’m pretty addicted to my phone! The apps I love are 12 minute Athlete (HIIT workouts at home), Down Dog (a great yoga app) and Insight Timer for an endless supply of meditations.

8) If you could read an interview about work-life balance by anyone, who would that be?

Simon Sinek is pretty amazing.

9) Do you have any last thoughts on work, life or balance that you’d like to share with our readers?

For me, blocking out times in my calendar to get tasks done works wonders. And meditating at the start of my day helps to ground me and focus on how grateful I am for my privileged life. I have a job, I have beautiful friends and family and I have my health.

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