My New Normal - What it's really like to work from home

It’s been a few weeks since the letters WFH started to dominate our lives.

Some may find working from home (wfh) pretty easy. Flinging open the laptop each morning, cracking on with work and switching off (physically and mentally) just after 5pm. However, others may find it a little trickier to balance work, kids, chores, exercise, and helping others in the same 8 hours. But that’s ok. You’re not alone.

Everyone adapts to the same situation differently and that’s what makes us great. The important thing to remember is that this won’t last forever.

One of our ESC colleagues sent us an email recently to tell us about their ‘new normal’. We thought it was perfect to share with you to help reassure you that we’re going through this together.

My New Normal

Who would have thought the outside world would resemble a scene out of a post-apocalyptic film? Derelict streets only occupied when people need to go out for supplies. People regard each other suspiciously or even cross the street… you know, just in case.

The bubble I'm immersed in is a stressful one. I keep thinking that shouldn't be the case. The first week of WFH was ok - a novelty even. Sitting down for a virtual work meet and then time to home-school the boy. There was no traffic to contend with and I could even stay in our pyjamas if I wanted (I didn't). Then the boy found it harder to concentrate. His mind wandered and so did my patience. The only relief was a kickaround with a football outside, providing endorphins and some much needed Vitamin D.

Fulfilling work hours and teaching my child - anything - has been hard. I'd even extend schoolwork into the Easter break because of the lack of work being produced between the hours of 9 and 3! I've let the boy be a slave to YouTube, just to get a good amount of work done (the guilt from this is immense!) And why oh why is it the only thing that can keep him occupied for a decent length of time?

Mobile and iPad usage have gone up 50% (thank you, Apple notifications), just as I was starting to reduce my screen-time as a weekly goal. It would be ok if it was all work stuff, but the YouTube usage suggests otherwise. Oh well, I'm paying for the phone and broadband, I may as well use it!

But it’s not all bad though, I’ve downloaded a plethora of new apps to help me through (thank goodness I opted for larger storage on my last upgrade). 'Meet' and 'Hangout' have been a lifeline in continuing some sense of normality with work colleagues. And three hours on the House Party' app at the weekend made me almost believe I was sat right with my besties as we caught up, drank wine and played Heads Up.

I also reached out to a support group (this was pre-House Party with friends) and enrolled on Yale University’s 'Science of Wellbeing' course which was being offered for free. Yes, besides all the steps in modern technology (imagine how we'd feel if this occurred 60 years ago!), chats with friends and emails with colleagues, I couldn't quite adjust and feel normal. Confinement will do that to a person. It's like the first few months of being a new parent, except then you don't get as much sleep and have a new life to look after as a stressful distraction. Sure, you have the support groups and friends to reach out for, but there's no escaping the adjustment you've had to make.

Away from technology, I'm practising gratitude. It’s an easy thing to do when you've suddenly lost what you had so readily. It helps me to keep check and take stock. Things could be better. But they could be a hell of a lot worse too.

During one walk in the sunshine, I actually felt a sense of wellbeing and happiness, immediately followed by a feeling of guilt. How could I be happy with the awful state of the world? I liken it to when I lose a loved one. I feel you will never be happy again, nor should I, but then time heals and I feel happy again - but guilty too. I also think of life during World Wars I and II. The threat then was a lot worse than this, I'm sure. Besides, all we've got to do is stay indoors and stay safe.

However you're coping, look out for one another and keep on keeping on. What's so fun about being normal anyway?