Working from home during a pandemic - the good, the bad, the challenging
Wowza. I didn’t expect to go this long without posting on my blog but what a wild ride of a 2020 it has been thus far! But here we are.
To be honest, I’ve been grappling with all sorts of emotions the last few months (as most people have been) as we’ve transitioned from our normal to what people keep referring to and I begrudgingly roll my eyes at “our new normal.” A tidal wave of emotions, changed plans and letdowns just kept coming the last few months — canceled trips, canceled weddings, working remotely and not being able to see family and friends. I read a very interesting article about experiencing grief during a global pandemic and after talking with my therapist (thank god for virtual therapy sessions that keep me feeling sane during all of this!) this is in fact what a lot of us are going through. The ebbs and flows of emotions are inconsistent, confusing, frustrating, uplifting and depressing all at once but hitting each person differently at different times. And that, my friends is a hard pill to swallow.
For a Type A, likes to stick to a plan, always thinking 10 steps ahead person like me, a pandemic turns my mind into a bit of a depressing spiral. I love a schedule, I like my “normal” and transitioning to a new way of working, living and existing has been a wild ride and a major adjustment. One of the bigger adjustments for me was going from a weekly 9-5 office setting to making our home, our office. While working from home isn’t something new or exciting to a lot of people (several of my best friends work from home full time), for most 9 to 5ers, it’s a new thing.
Working from home has definitely come with its challenges: the internet being slow while Tristan and I are both on calls, finding the ideal spot in our two bedroom apartment to work from, sticking to a schedule, getting into that productive groove, etc. If you would have asked me two months ago about working from home I’d say “meh, not really my thing.” But if you ask me now, I’d tell you, I love it and could totally do it all the time! (with obviously a major change like a global pandemic not being a thing)…so, why the sudden change of heart?
Here are some ways I adjusted to working from home and why I love it:
*Sharing these tips of how I effectively work from home is by no means the only way or right way to do it and may not be a functional or productive way to go about working from home, for everyone! It’s just more so what has helped me navigate this new way to work and live.
-Try to stick to a daily schedule! When you wake up, when you eat your meals, when you take your breaks during the day, when you log on and log off, when you sleep. This will keep you mentally in your 9-5 routine and for other peeps who love a plan or daily routine, this is a big help!
-Get dressed every single day. Seriously. It’s a game changer. I take a shower, do my makeup (although minimal) and if I’m feeling really put together, I’ll even style my hair. Yes, somedays yoga pants are my pants of choice, but most days it’s jeans or I’ve even been known to rock a dress. I love posting my WFH outfits on Instagram stories and seeing what others are wearing while WFH keeps me inspired. I will be the last person to judge if you’re wearing pajama pants and keeping it business on the top — do what makes you happy and comfortable during this time! But for me, getting dressed really helps me feel and look the part for work, even at home.
-Check ins! Stay connected with your team and your manager weekly or daily with messages or emails. Asking “how are you doing?” or “just wanted to say hi” really makes all the difference, especially during this time when some people feel really isolated.
-Block out your mental health hour. Take a mental health break every day to go on a walk, log off to eat lunch, meditate, work out, call your mom, whatever helps you reset mentally and physically before diving back into the work day. For me, it’s taking an hour for lunch to eat, log off work, go on a walk, talk with Tristan or a friend, watch a TV show, write a blog post or respond to emails. It’s “my time” that I get to look forward to every day.
-Set boundaries. There tends to be a misconception that because we’re working from home you’re accessible and readily available 24/7…wrong. Setting boundaries as you work from home will help you be your best when you’re on the clock and fully reset when you are not. I tend to block out my “out of office” on my calendar starting at a certain time each evening so meetings can’t be scheduled and people know I won’t be readily checking emails or messages until the next business day. Do the same for lunch hour when you can! I recently read the book F*CK NO (if you haven’t read it, do it, now) and it inspired me to reframe the way we view the word “no” and how setting boundaries is not a negative thing, it really is imperative for your mental and physical health!
-Switch up your working space! This was a must for me as we started working from home and I am on video calls every day. I wanted the office I was in to be comfortable, stylish and clean. I did a deep clean of our space, hung up photos on the wall in the office and brought in a lamp, picture frames and more personal items to make this space feel like my space. By adding comforting items like photos, pillows and plants you’ll feel more motivated to work from a dedicated place in your home.
-Productivity: do you work better playing music? In silence? Standing? Sitting? Working earlier? Working later into the evening? Determine what helps you stay productive at home (write it down!) and try to stick to it. I am constantly writing down little things that keep me inspired or happy during the day so I remember to prioritize these things into my work day.
-Communicate with your roomie/coworker: whether you’re living with a friend, sibling or significant other, communication is key when you both find yourselves working from home, fighting over the internet or the most flattering and well-lit space of your home for video calls. Touch base at the beginning of each day to see what each person’s day looks like — when are their meetings, when will they have breaks in the day, when will their day wrap up? It’s good to be in the loop about these things so you can plan ahead and stick to a schedule.
-Stick to your normal: I’m not a huge fan of the words “new normal” because I think even during a global pandemic we can still keep a sense of normalcy in our lives. For me, that’s scheduling weekly virtual happy hours with friends to check in (something we would do in person at a local happy hour spot) and having therapy sessions every week (albeit virtually) that keep me rooted in a sense of normalcy and is a good check in and reset for me mentally each week. Other things like keeping our place clean, cooking together, working out — these are other ways to feel “normal” in a time that may feel anything but normal.
2020 has been such a wild year filled with a mixed bag of emotions as we navigate a global pandemic and how to work and live efficiently and humbly during one. I’ve personally been amazed by how so many people, businesses and countries are pivoting during this very unknown time. The biggest takeaway of all is to take care of yourself! Feel all your feelings, check in with your people, stay home and stay safe, take a mental health day to reset and remember that this will not be our forever— this too shall pass. Hang in there friends, we’ve got this!