March 2020 Issue
No doubt, we’re sailing through unchartered waters lately, and I’m so proud of our community for figuratively locking arms as we weather the first wave of this storm together 🙌 (social distancing, virtual high-five)!
Yes, we're being tossed around underwater, saltwater shooting up our noses, sand scraping up our legs - but YOU are popping up, Little Mermaid style, showing clients just how nimble you are on your feet...or fins. (No evil sea-witch required.)
It's time to recreate a new sense of balance for ourselves, our families, our clients, and businesses to (sanely) stay afloat. Most everyone is currently adjusting to working from home, and many of our home-office pros now have some extra (and needy) "co-workers" cramping their style.
As we all scramble to restructure our daily lives in this alternate reality, I share some lessons learned when I transitioned from working in an office for ‘da man to working from home for this woman.
Let's use these reminders to regain footing on our imaginary surfboards and ride the crashing waves of uncertainty together.
MAKE YOUR BED & WASH THE DISHES
In times of overwhelm, little accomplishments go a long way! I love to sleep, so making my bed each morning creates a forcefield that stops me from creeping back to my pillow on those stormy days when life feels like too much. We don’t have a dishwasher. I know – shock, horror, wide-eyed emojis abound. What started as a sacrifice to live in NYC, now provides a calming sense of achievement as I hand-wash dishes while making coffee and listening to NPR each morning. (OK maybe not NPR at the moment…)
USE YOUR (FORMER) COMMUTE TIME FOR EXERCISE
Rejoice that your heart and mind no longer race with worry over being late for the weekly staff meeting. Trade your commute time for me-time movement. Get the oxygen flowing and the heart pumping to fuel creativity in your brain. I can’t even tell you how much creative content, for Editor’s Edge and our clients, is conceived via voice memos during my morning walks in the park. Additionally, make an effort to “commute home” with a short walk to transition your work brain to personal life brain.
GET DRESSED, EAT & HYDRATE
This may seem like a “no duh,” but it's surprisingly easy to get sucked into the nonstop work zone after innocently reading emails in your jammies over a cup of coffee. Whether it’s changing from snowflake-patterned flannels to Adidas athleisure, make the change and put on a real bra! Keep lunch prep simple and consistent by supporting your local restaurant with a take-out order big enough to portion throughout the week. (Indian works great for this!) Nuun electrolyte tabs have recently cured my afternoon caffeine craving and the accompanying headaches. (Note: Nuun also helps with the occasional dehydration one may feel on a Saturday morning 🍸)
KEEP A DEDICATED WORKSPACE, BUT BE WILLING TO MOVE
Right now, we all need an inspirational quote or two hanging at a home desk area. How and where you carve out that workspace is essential to productivity. While not having a dishwasher was one thing, the lack of space (read: office door) in NYC was a tough adaptation. Creative direction, design, and image curation all require the large screen in my office (aka: alcove in the kitchen.) For video chats, relocate to a space with natural light and a cleanish wall behind you. (Investing in a good red lipstick and some dry shampoo will also do wonders!) Having the ability to change your surroundings aids in efficiency, and is essential when your family busts through the “door” and you need to escape to the bedroom with your laptop!
BLOCK SCHEDULING & CLOSING UP SHOP
We’ve all seen the variety of quarantine kid schedules being posted, and you’ve heard me sing the praises of block scheduling, so I highly implore you to give it a try right now. My simple trick is having two small dry erase boards on my desk. On one, write the top 3-4 things you need to complete that day. On the other, write your work hours and fill in when you’ll complete each task. I like using dry erase because, you know, “the best-laid plans.” Obviously, there are finite hours in a day, so when working from home, it’s crucial to set boundaries. Yes, many of you are breaking the time boundary to quell the event postponement fires. Do your best to get back on track, establishing a time to shut the laptop, close up shop, and recharge outside with that "evening commute" walk.
The heart of our industry is celebrating the beauty in life's most significant moments, and together, we’ll continue to share our supportive hearts with our clients and each other. Of course, this isn't to say it’ll be smooth sailing from here on out. Some days will take more than we feel we can give.
Remember, none of us can predict or stop the waves - we can only do our best to surf them.
PS – We're gathering up our favorite tech tips to smoothly operate a virtual office and team in our upcoming Monthly Feature. Subscribe and come sail away with us.
