Lessons learned from our basements, kitchen tables and home offices
Youโve seen the memes and tweets and GIFs. Many of us were still trying to get over the insane reality that began in March 2020, and here we already are, an entire year later.ย
Although the term โnew normalโ is overused in reference to the global pandemic that we are facing, I must admit it feels like we have finally reached a state of normalcy with our virtual, at-home work environment โ at least as normal as itโs ever going to get.
As we continue to settle into life working from home, it is probably fair to say most of us have learned a lot about ourselves, how to cope with unexpected challenges, and tricks for adjusting to life in a virtual world.
A dedicated workspace โ and time โ is key.
These days, we literally live at work. There are certainly perks to this โฆ time and money saved on commuting, unfettered access to a stocked kitchen and coffee supply, sweatpants. However, this setup can make it difficult to discern work time from home time. I know I am guilty of leaving my laptop open on the kitchen island for an entire week straight. Iโve learned over time that it is important to have a dedicated workspace so you can, at least to some extent, differentiate work from home.
Itโs also important to let life in a little bit. Maybe we have let ourselves slip into the habit of checking email as soon as we wake up in the morning, but being at home also affords us the freedom to do things like make a midday snack (OK, for me, itโs multiple snacks) or take a quick walk during the day. And allowing yourself to take these breaks is crucial.
As Morgan Dux, one of Bravo Groupโs senior account executives, shared, โEven when it’s cold, even when it’s cloudy, I never regret spending some time outside. Daily walks are a habit I plan to keep up โpost-COVIDโ โ whatever that looks like โ and were certainly a saving grace this year!โ
You are not alone.
Letโs get real for a minute. For many of us, this whole situation has felt somewhat isolating. During a time when the world is scary and we are all in need of the comfort of time with family, friends and co-workers, we find ourselves confined to our homes for much of the day with only a videoconferencing system to connect us to others.
โThe most important thing I have learned is that you can maintain a connection with your colleagues, even without being in the same room with them,โ copy editor Mike Crist said. โEven just emailing or chatting to say โhelloโ every once in a while does the trick on a personal level, and people are always quick to respond when you have a work question.โ
โYou can live inside your own head to the point of no return, so it’s important to keep in touch with people and not be on your own island,โ Thom Casey, content strategist, added.
It is important to remember that, while many of us may be physically alone much of the time, people all over the world are coping with this, too. You may feel sad, scared, lonely or just generally irritated โ and thatโs OK. You are allowed to feel these feelings. Just remember that this isnโt happening only to you. So keep your chin up, friend, and make sure you are checking in on others from time to time.
Pets make great โco-workers.โ
You know who doesnโt hate quarantine? My dog, Delaney. In fact, she is loving the fact that I am working from home, and I know that many of my colleaguesโ four-legged friends are feeling the same way.
Jumping back to the last point, pets can really defend against the โquarantine bluesโ and loneliness during a time when we are forced to be separated from many of the humans we care about. And while it might seem crazy, they are great listeners if you need to think out loud and bounce some ideas around.ย
Finally, the proof point for lifelong learning that we never knew we needed.
Just when you think you have life figured out, an โunprecedented timeโ โ as we have heard so often โ hits. If there is one thing this year has taught me and many others, it is how important it is to keep an open mind to learning and adapting.
โI’ve learned, both personally and professionally, that life is always changing and you can only plan for so much,โ shared Kat Lippincott, a Bravo Group account coordinator. โIt’s OK to have things go completely different than what you envisioned, but what really matters is how you go about the situation and your attitude towards it.โ
For those who never thought theyโd be good at working remotely, theyโve had to figure it out. For those who were unfamiliar with videoconferencing or other digital communication tools, they are now seasoned pros. Weโve had to be nimble and open to new ideas, and I think that will serve us well in the future. I hope people will carry this curiosity and general willingness to learn with them as we move past this stage of life.ย
All things considered, although the past year has been challenging, and even life-altering for many, it has also made it easier to put your priorities into perspective.ย ย
As project manager Heather Eyster put it, โThis year has made you really notice what is important in your life, and the things that you really miss. I’m sure life will get busy again and we will take things for granted. โฆ I just want to remember and be thankful for them.โ
As we continue to move through this pandemic, keenly focused on the small light at the end of the tunnel, we can all be proud of the way we have adapted, grown and been there for one another.
