One of the biggest changes for a lot of Americans during the lockdown/quarantine of 2020 has been working from home. It’s just like working at the office, but with a few changes. OK, quite a few.
Work routine: Make coffee, get a cup, drink as I filter through the emails and calls that came overnight.
Home routine: Make coffee earlier because son woke up extra early. Decide to tackle emails early. Son runs back upstairs singing unknown song, clearly at a volume loud enough to wake the dead. Set coffee down, run after him. Computer has update I didn’t ward off, so computer is locked down. Grab work phone, spend 25 minutes trying to figure out how to forward correct email from thread on iPhone (impossible). Finally remember coffee, which is one degree over freezing now. Finally begin emails.
Work: Background noise is either hip hop I don’t know or alternative music I don’t know. Once a month yacht rock slips in and all is well with the world.
Home: Background noise is the Finger Family song, Johnny Johnny, Baby Shark or a Disney Plus/Netflix show. Daughter only wants song changed at the exact moment I’m on a sales call.
Work: Strategically plan meals; hope to avoid to co-worker that brings in donuts.
Home: EAT ALL THE LIVE LONG DAY.
Work: One conference call a week.
Home: 573 conference calls a week. Apparently conference calls are being piloted as a possible COVID-19 cure.
Work: Hope delivery driver didn’t blow up bathroom.
Home: Hope child didn’t “wash hands” on her own, which means drench the entire bathroom in the one step from sink to towel. It’s almost impressive how much water got from the sink to flood the entire floor.
Work: Best advantage is not changing poopy diapers during a training call.
Home: Best advantage is not having to change from what I slept in until 9 am…OK noon…OK I’m probably wearing this to bed again tonight.