Funny Truths about Working Remotely

There are many things that have changed since people have started working remotely from home. Considering how serious things are with Covid and lockdowns, I thought it would be fun to share some of the realities of working remotely.

Sweats are now your best friend. No matter what anyone says, we are all wearing a lot more “loungewear” these days. Sure, we all have that old faithful dress shirt, blouse, or Oxford that we throw on for meetings, but if you’re not doing any Facetime online, your belt is probably relaxing somewhere, and your dress shoes have been on vacation since March.

Your kids have been introduced to more of your team than to their relatives. If your kid hasn’t run across the screen this month, you probably have an exceptionally well-organized system for work/life space division. For the rest of us, our team, bosses, and clients are on a first–name basis with our kids. Many of us have even weighed in on what our colleagues’ children should get for Christmas.

Your hands have never been cleaner or drier. You can’t do a thing outside your house without having to wash or sanitize your hands. So you’ve either invested a small fortune in moisturizer or your paws are dryer than the Sahara.

You’ve tested the limits of your internet provider and router. There was a learning curve, but most of us now knowhow powerful our internet connection is down to the kb. We can even tell you who amongst our team, company, and clientèle has the best connection.

Siestas are now a viable option. People who like to start their days at 5 am can now have that post-lunch nap. For those fortunate enough to work to deadlines and not fixed schedules, the nap after lunch has become a godsend.

You either put on 15 lbs or lost it. The “Covid 15” is real. If you weren’t careful in those first few months, you probably put on 15 lbs. I know I did. Or you were smart enough to start a new physical activity to compensate for the new forced sedentarism. Who knew that taking public transportation burned so many calories?

You’ve become a professional director of photography. Lighting, angle, background, and atmosphere now warrant consideration before that on-line presentation or pitch. Bad breath, body odour, and shoe choice? Not so much. All of us who’ve had to transition to working online from home have, at some point, contemplated our chin(s).

We’ve all realized that working from home is better/worse/ more efficient/ less productive/good for our mental health/ stultifying, physically and mentally/totally horrible. Some people are thriving. Others are not taking all the change as well. Our experiences vary, and, truthfully, it’s too early to know for sure. If you’re about at your limit, just remember there are others who commiserate. Hopefully, the end is in sight.

It was nice to have an office and a desk separate from our homes. I don’t know if you are tired of having your personal space littered with work, but I’d prefer to keep my work in an office a couple kilometers away where it couldn’t remind me I should be working. I’d also like to work somewhere else than in my bedroom. Spreadsheets and bedsheets. Ugh.

What is universally true is that we’re all going through this together. Remember to reach out to your friends, family, and colleagues. Even more than usual, we need the contact and support of one another.