The Third Space: From Game Day to Home Turf (and Why a Pool Stop Beats Traffic Every Time)

Ever feel like you've just wrapped up the game of your life... nailing presentations, managing milestones, and making game-changing decisions... only to step through your front door and find yourself blindsided by another round of play? The home team is asking what's for dinner, the laundry pile is cheering for attention, and that rogue hiking toe-sock has, somehow, made another appearance this time in the garage from an erupted gym bag (seriously!). Sound familiar? Like many of us, I used to think that transitioning from “work mode” to “home mode” was as simple as walking through the door. Turns out, it’s a bit more nuanced. Enter the “Third Space.”

Dr. Adam Fraser, a peak performance researcher, likens this Third Space to the rituals elite athletes use to transition between training, performance, and recovery. It’s a space designed to help us shift gears, leave one mindset behind, and step into the next with intention and presence. Just like a player heading to the locker room between halves to regroup and refocus, we need our own ritual to transition from “work champion” to “family MVP.”

From Play Calls to Queen Ballads: The Third Space on the Move

Back in my early career daily commute, I thought I’d cracked the code for maximising productivity: every spare minute was another opportunity for a work call. My “drive home” wasn’t a cool-down lap; it was a race against the clock to squeeze in just one more conference. I’d pull into the driveway still stuck in project chatter, fumbling between business jargon and figuring out whose turn (odds or evens) it was to unload the dishwasher.

Dr. Fraser’s research shows that those who cultivate a Third Space - this intentional transition between roles - experience less stress, more resilience, and better overall wellbeing. I had unknowingly been skipping over a key step: the mental cooldown. For Queen fans, it’s like moving from ‘Thunderbolts and lightning, very, very frightening me!’ to the soothing ‘Nothing really matters, anyone can see.’ Determined to make a change, I decided to swap out work calls during my commute for something different. Enter my one-person Queen concert, where “Don’t Stop Me Now” became more than a catchy tune; it was my personal ritual of transition. Belting out lyrics shifted me from managing metrics to rejuvenating melodies, and by the time I reached home, I felt renewed (if a bit hoarse). Consider it my mental halftime show ? no headset required.

Taking this to another level, the love-of-my-life now transforms his post-work routine. Instead of slogging through M1 traffic between the fam-bus office and home, he makes a pitstop at the pool. Laps replaced lane changes, and he emerged not only refreshed, M1 cleared, but ready to tackle the evening ahead. Genius? Absolutely.

Home Field Advantage: The Third Space When Working From Home

But what about those of us whose “commute” is measured in steps, not miles? Working from home can blur the lines between roles, making it feel like you’re always on the field. Creating a Third Space is even more crucial when your office and living room are one accidental email away from each other.

Here’s how you can make the transition without losing your mind, or missing a note in your air guitar solo:

1. Pre-Game Rituals: Just like athletes have routines before stepping onto the field, create a ritual to mark the end of your workday. It could be as simple as closing your laptop, changing out of your “Zoom formal” top, or stepping outside for some fresh air. No conference calls allowed. This is your locker room moment.
2. Walk It Off (Literally): Dr. Fraser emphasizes the importance of movement as part of the Third Space ritual. Take a walk, even if it’s a few laps around your house or garden. I know one leader who turns a stroll around her block into her own “cooling off” lap, no work talk, just recalibrating for what comes next.
3. Reflect and Reset: Fraser’s research suggests that an effective Third Space ritual involves three steps, reflection on what went well during the day, a brief period of rest, and reframing your mindset for what’s ahead. Think of it as your mental game plan. “What’s next?” becomes the pep talk, not the overwhelm.
4. Hit Play: Whether it’s your favorite podcast, a dance playlist, or, ahem, Queen’s greatest hits (I’m not biased), give yourself a few minutes to escape and transition. Let that last work email fade to the rhythm of “We Will Rock You.” Your mind, and those around you, will thank you.

Building Your Home Turf Rituals

Even if you don’t have a physical commute, you can create your own Third Space rituals. Maybe you meditate for five minutes. Perhaps you change locations, moving from the “work zone” to the “home zone.” For me, swapping my professional face for my “at-home” groove (and yes, occasionally singing my heart out to Bohemian Rhapsody) works wonders. My colleagues might be spared my vocals, but my family gets the decompressed, present version of me.

Bringing It Back to Peak Performance

Elite athletes know that peak performance isn’t just about what happens during the game—it’s about how they prepare, transition, and recover. Dr. Fraser’s Third Space is a reminder that we can all benefit from such rituals. Whether you’re transitioning from boardroom to bedtime stories, or from emails to evening walks, these intentional moments help you show up at your best.

So, next time you’re tempted to take that last call as you leave work (or as you move from one corner of the house to another), pause. Create your own Third Space. Make the transition with intention - and maybe with a few verses of “Radio Ga Ga” to boot.

Because, after all, it’s your halftime show - so why not make it legendary?

Look forward to hearing how you create the Third Space?

#TheThirdSpace #Leadership #WorkLifeBalance #PeakPerformance #TransitionRituals #AdamFraser #ElevateYourLeadership #QueenConcerts