Week#11. Life was shut down for the past couple of weeks. And we have been working from home since. Haven’t seen my desk. Haven’t seen any colleagues or bosses. And it looks like this new working style will continue for a bit longer.
What is working from home like?
Sleeping longer (not in!). Less driving (yeah!). Internet interruptions („hello! Hello? Can you hear me?“). Lunch breaks with hubby. Neck pain (I totally underestimated the purpose of an office chair. No, it’s not made for turning around in circles!). Lounge wear & hair bands. No Autobahn rush hour (the best thing!). My husband, the only visible working buddy in the new next door office (when he spends one day in the plant I feel lonely). Lunch breaks in the garden. Home made cappuccino (still the best!). Somebody having breakfast (muesli crunch) while on Skype. Talking while muted… barking dogs. Crying kids. Chinese mother-in-laws shouting in the background (that’s the best one). Have I mentioned that mute button? Happy next door neighbor chicken (I’m sure their chit chat at 9am can be still heard via my Skype in Beijing), Gin & Tonic (virtual until 5:30pm. After that the real stuff).
The past 11 weeks working from home felt like going through the (culture) shock curve: amazing in the beginning, sucks in the middle, got used to it for the rest… (I’m in the last phase). PS: the new office chair just arrived.
Is it time yet to think about a “CoV working from home exit strategy”?
Maybe not. But shops, hair dressers and even restaurants are open again. And all of that comes with a new challenge: don’t forget to wear your mask (what really sucks: my smartphone’s sensor doesn’t recognize my face anymore…). Many neighbors on the way to the bakery turn half way around to get their masks…
And social life became a topic again. Social what (just kidding)? OMG! Seriously, it took us a while to get (mentally) out of the lockdown again. I have to admit we had quickly gotten used to it and quite enjoyed it. We were a little overwhelmed when (social) life & things opened unexpectedly early up again: ehm, meeting friends? what, family visit? Checking calendars again? Is corona gone? Socializing? What’s that? Dressing? Sounds like a lot of work…
I guess it’s about time to get that „life routine” up again. …routine what? Jep! Some of us may even need a training: getting ready to get back into our normal (work) life again.
On the agenda:
⁃ Clothes & Make up
⁃ Conversations & meeting people
⁃ Driving a car
⁃ In the Office
We are slowly being released to the world again. Yeah!
Let’s use some time to catch up getting ready. Do you still remember those pair of jeans? No… they don’t have an elastic waste band… instead they have a zipper and a button! Sounds like torture? Well, say goodbye to your jogging pants!
Let’s move on to conversations with people: what do you say if somebody says “hi, how are you?”. No, toilet paper is not the right answer… let’s try this one: “do you have plans for the weekend?”. No… sip, wine, wine & sip is not the right answer…
Another important hint: Consider that you cannot take a nap every day anymore! No, you cannot keep that! Instead you need to go to bed on time! And: stop watching Netflix! How? Push through! You can do it!
Moving on to going back to work. Like to a real office with people, colleagues: put on clothes and make up! I know that means getting up an hour earlier again… saying goodbye to that comfortable Lounge wear…
Let’s practice an on-site meeting, you are no longer in zoom meetings! Yes, your colleagues and boss will be able to actually see you! You are no longer on screen sharing (no tik tok movements!). There will be no more zoom calls! Everybody can see you again!
No, you also cannot eat crisps anymore – you are no longer on mute!
All of this sounds hard?
Well, get used to it!
Just drive to work and figure it out, ok?
Oh, you are not sure if you still remember how to drive a car…
Oh dear!
Breath!
Good luck! Have fun!
PS: We really enjoyed the last couple of weeks. It will be a tough change! Not ready yet to enter the (new) normal world again.
We are going to have a vacation instead. Not Italy! It’s corona time (as my nieces would say). We have many ideas but no plans (for the first time, kind of exciting! Kind of scary for a project leader!).
Maybe it will be just Bali on a poster this year:
Stuttgart547 