The Oath
sir i queue better from a distance yo waddup elessar GIFGiphy"I have sworn an oath of solitude until the pestilence is purged from the lands."
The Box
There's an XKCD for that: https://xkcd.com/2346/
"Haunted plague box" is the best description of a house.
Roll camera...
"I'd love to meet, but I don't want to risk it. Do you want to video chat though?"
Yes oh god. Last year I moved from FL to CA and everyone back in FL wants to come visit. Like id love for everyone to come out but it's just not safe. They ask every few months and it's always the same answer: let's wait until spring next year.
Truth
Truth Reaction GIF by moodmanGiphy"I don't want to meet because I'm scared of Corona." jibsand
Just be upfront yeah. Sometimes I'll indicate it's because I see older relatives often to take the burden off of me a bit.
ZOOM
"Hey, I really want to hang out but I'm worried about the Corona Virus." If they're really your friend they'll respect your opinion. Then maybe suggest doing something like a zoom conversation or online game.
My friends and I meet on Zoom every week now. Sometimes we all start the same movie at the same time, sometimes we play games. We were all learning how to cook a dish together a few weeks ago. There are tons of options to get people together without seeing them in person yet, OP.
never too careful
I work in healthcare. Be cautious. We have regular meetings and emails where our doctors keep us up to date. There's so much we still don't know.
I almost died earlier this year and was (maybe still am) immuno compromised. I've chosen to self isolate as much as possible.
I recently had a coworker acquaintance harrass me about visiting me. She knows my situation but continued to insist it was ok for her to visit. I've never invited her over for various reasons. It got so bad that I had to block her.
My elderly disabled mom tested positive for covid-19 a week later. We aren't sure who infected her and she's currently in isolation. You can never be too careful.
"Be in"
Got a whole friend group who care about each other and want to take the most precautions we can to protect each other. Then there's one guy who's been teaching summer classes for children for the last three months who's always the first to "Be in," and constantly flaunts protections to the point those of us who are taking this seriously can't hang out without excluding him or hurting his feelings.
For Mom
Mothers Day Love GIF by Animation Domination High-DefGiphyI've had to tell my friends several times that despite wanting desperately to hang out with them, that I'm still paranoid about the virus and I don't want to risk getting my mom sick, so I've been staying self isolated.
Looking Back
Learning to advocate for my/your own health was very tough, but the rewards are limitless with effort.
On the few times I've been rebuffed, the response I give is, "I'd rather look back on this and say I'm embarrassed about how I overreacted than wish I hadn't let myself get so sick." That's placated everyone I've used it on.
Cut Ties....
cardi b ok GIF by PepsiGiphyI have cut ties with one friend during the lockdown because of this. She didn't freak out but she got snarky after I turned down her request to meet in a park for a walk. Then she became very weirdly passive-aggressive. I had been having issues with her before the pandemic, and realized I just had no interest in dealing with her weird personality anymore.
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Now that the whole world is at home hiding from COVID-19, a lot of people have to bust out some serious "art" seriously fast. If you've never worked from home, it can take ages to figure out how to do it productively.
This article is here to be your personal Bob Ross and remind you that anyone can be an artist.
One Reddit user asked:
You've got to keep in mind that not everyone's work style is going to be the same, so not every tip may apply to you. Your situation may be entirely different from someone else's. Maybe background music works for you. Maybe you're one of those people who can't have any on because it turns into workeoke and you don't have enough people in the house to provide solid backing vocals for when you do Bohemian Rhapsody. We don't judge. We appreciate your commitment to the high harmony.
In any case, there are a few things here that most of you will probably find useful. Doesn't mean you're going to listen to the experts, though. We get it. Chillin on the couch with a bag of hot cheetos DOES sound like a good time.
Best Use Of Time
Pick a room, close the door, and use noise cancelling headphones. Everything is a distraction when working from home. Suddenly, checking the mail and doing the dishes seems like the best use of your time.
Time To Stop
If there's one thing especially to be disciplined about it the TIME TO STOP WORKING! It's very easy to convince yourself it's ok to keep reading a report because you might just finish it today or to finish making all of the entries because tomorrow will be that much easier or you'll finally be done with a project.
Work at home starts to bleed over into your home non-work time/life very quietly and quickly. Pretty soon it will be a habit. I've worked at home for the last 15 years and got so much more work done but I had to fight hard to win this battle.
Get Dressed
GiphyDo your usual morning routine and get dressed! Be sitting at your desk by your usual start time and stick to your usual break times. It's tempting to stay in your pyjamas and work from bed but you'll feel much better if you put yourself together each day.
A 20 Year Veteran
I have been working from home for 20 years, since before my first kid was born. It has been great. My biggest habits:
- Have a dedicated space and keep regular hours.
- Make sure your family knows they can't interrupt your work unless the house is on fire.
- Keep a journal so nobody can question your productivity.
- Use your saved commute hours to read the paper in the morning and/or exercise.
- Eat lunch out of your fridge.
- Keep good coffee in the house.
You can actually be more productive at home and live a better life this way, if you stay disciplined.
Hot Cheetos
Instead of standing by the coffee machine or wasting time gabbing in someone's office I take that time and take my dog for a 10 minute walk or play some fetch in the yard, I do some stretches, work on a craft for a few minutes. Staying productive in your "down time" while working from home directly correlates to staying productive during your work time. If you take a 30 minute break to lounge on the couch and eat hot cheetos, you'll be a lot less inclined to get back into the groove of working than if you had taken that time to do something active or productively fun.
Tasks Not Time
Set tasks not time. Don't tell yourself "oh I've been working for X hours [translation: browsing reddit] , I deserve a break". Make a list of what you need to get done and don't give yourself an out till you've gotten it done.
If you can talk to your coworkers on Hangouts / Slack / whatever. Hold each other accountable to your lists.
Routine
Set a routine.
I wake up every morning, check my emails, respond to anything urgent, open up all the files I'll be working with for the day.
Then I make coffee.
Then I attend morning meetings, eat breakfast and drink coffee.
Then I take a 20 minute break.
Then it's about an hour of work. Then lunch. I'll usually pop on an episode of the simpsons while I'm making lunch (or big mouth, or disenchanted, or some anime, or whatever)
Then another couple hours of work.
Then afternoon snack.
Another hour of work, then it's time to pick up the kid from school. Bring her home, sit her in front of a movie, and bang out another hour of work.
Then it's quitting time. I shut my laptop and resolve myself to not touch it again until morning.
Yes, it's broken up a lot, but I don't have people hanging over my cube just wanting to "chat".
Not The Couch
I've been working remote for ~8 years now.
You have to have a dedicated work space. Your job happens at your workstation. Not everyone has a spare room or a desk but make it as official as possible. Do not, under any circumstances, work from the couch.
Take an hour to wake up and get moving, have some coffee, do some stretching, read the news, listen to 15-20 minutes of a podcast. Then officially start your work day. You'll really start to appreciate the time you don't have to scramble to get ready.
I don't have an opinion on showering and "dressing up". I shower most mornings but always just wear a t-shirt and joggers.
Take a break and go the fck outside to walk around, try to get at least a mile.
Drink lots of coffee because it's awesome.
Take a 30-45 minute lunch and actually cook a really good lunch. I make a salmon, potato, egg hash every day. I'll pickle some peppers, chop some garlic and really focus on cooking for a few minutes.
Don't feel guilty about taking a few 10-15 minute break. My normal work flow even when I was in the office was 45-50 minutes of actual work and 10 minutes of di*king around.
4:00 work beer
Before you go on your walk and before you start lunch throw in a load of laundry.
Without office and co-worker distractions try to get 6 solid, honest hours of work between when you start and when you finish.
You'll miss it when you have to go back in the office.
- tpxnu16
The Zone
GiphyHave sht you will get done by a specific time or by the end of the day. Not a "oh I'll do 3 hours of work". No. Get tasks ready or you will get distracted and lose focus.
Also put on some music or something that is not too distracting get comfortable and you may end up getting in a "flow" or "the zone". That is when you really get a ton of work done. You end up doing better than in an office.
- Tearaken
24 Hours Of Wear And Tear
My husband I have worked from home since 2002. Something you're going to realize: your house now gets 24 hours of wear and tear. Be extra diligent about cleaning up after yourself and putting things back where they belong, otherwise your house, especially your kitchen, will "silt up" with mess.
- Fladagal
Blocked
If you keep finding yourself on Facebook or reddit (like me when trying to do my online college course) download something like "cold turkey" to block distracting sites during certain time frames. I have 10-15min breaks in my schedule to get some down time, but other than that don't touch social media when I'm supposed to be working. Helped my productivity level a ton!
Bedroom Blues
Don't work from your bedroom. It is meant for sleep not work. You may get tired if you try to work from there.
A Trial Run
I work from home most of the year.
GET UP AND BE GRATEFUL! Wear comfortable clothes and be productive.
This may just be the trial run for tele-work that many people have been hoping for, so shine! Lots of companies have been resistant to it and now have no choice, maybe it could be the norm.
My tips:
-Set-up a desk-like area, use the same travel mug you normally do!
-Don't turn on the TV and don't work in bed!
-Take breaks and take a lunch.
-If you have pets, enjoy your time with them, this is a perk. It will make you want to work harder to preserve this.
-Keep a log of the tasks that you are getting done, at first managers are more vigilant to be sure that you are working and not slacking. Once you prove that you are working, they tend to back off.
-Stop working at the same time you normally do, don't get sucked in to working late.
-Go outside and take a walk - get some exercise so that you don't get sick of your home.
- birdvery
Communication And Availability
Be online.
Be available over whatever IM your company uses. Communicate with your co-workers at least as much as you do in the office. Write brief status reports even if nobody is asking for them.
Communication and availability are important to maintain because this is what is most at risk when people aren't in a shared environment.
Status reports are useful to help you maintain focus, but also can help your manager keep track of what's going on with people. If you have daily stand ups, then this isn't necessary. Your managers are going to get asked about how the team is doing in this new environment; give her tools to effectively answer those questions. The best updates are short and frequent; daily and brief, not an essay once a week.
- sxan
You've Left Work
Start your day exactly the same as of you were going in to work. Get up at the same time, shower, shave, put on real clothes, and eat your usual breakfast. Then 'go' to work and have the same tea and lunch break you usually would. And when the work day finishes, do NOT check your work email or answer work calls. You've left work, you're home now.
- LilMaece
But, there are a lot of distractions at home that you won't find in the workspace. Like, that giant TV begging you to stream The Office instead of doing work. Yes, it's ironic.
And, since we can't go to our favorite coffee shop, here are some items that create an ideal working environment at home.
Monarch Specialties Hollow-Core Corner Desk
The first thing you need to make your home feel like a home office is a desk. Every good home-based professional will tell you that working in the same place where you rest can get really tiring, really fast. So, this corner desk is perfect.
It's not only minimalistic and beautiful, but it adds extra storage space.
SMUGDESK Office Swivel Chair with Armrests
With a great desk, you need a great chair. If you're going to be sitting in the same chair during work hours, you might as well invest in a chair that is comfortable. Also, swivel chairs are really fun. Since it's your house you can even swivel to the kitchen and get a snack anytime.
Trust me, you need a good chair.
GLCON Power Strip Tower Wireless Charger
An average workday lasts 8 hours. So, you're going to need to charge your cell phone, computer, tablet, etc. We might depend on our electronics way too much.
Unless you somehow have 7 plugs next to your desk, this power strip tower might be a good idea.
TIJN Blue Light Blocking Glasses
Everyone should be using blue light blocking glasses. We spend so much time looking at screens that our eyes start to overwork and get tired. No matter if you're working full time for a tech company or are the owner of a small business. Computers are a central tool for our jobs.
Plus, these glasses look really cool. Like you're smart and look good, but you aren't really trying.
Laptop Bed Table Tray
One of the best perks about working from home is not getting up from bed until you're hungry. Your bed can be your workspace, and social media and Slack is the only connection you have to the outside world. That sounds ideal in my book.
Anyway, this laptop tray will make sure you're comfortable under your covers wearing your coziest pj's while you're killing it at work. Living the best life. Actually, if I can do this everyday I might start looking at the best work at home jobs.
Succulent Plants
This desk plant will help you remember the happiness of being outside.
Remember that feeling when you walked through the park, birds in the trees, sunlight on your face, one hand in your pocket, etc.
This is not that, but it's as close as you can get while staying indoors because we're quarantined.
Simple Desktop Weekly Planner Pad
When working from home, things can fall through the cracks. It's easy to lose track of your priorities when you're not in the office. So, this weekly planner pad will help you stay on top of everything.
Plus, it has been proven that writing things down can help reduce stress, so that's a bonus.
HP OfficeJet 3830 All-in-One Wireless Printer
I know you're using your office printer for everything from printing documents, to printing pictures. Turns out printers are not that expensive. And, it saves you that trip to Staples.
This one is a wireless printer (give me wireless everything), that is small enough to fit in any home office and looks professional and sleek.
Adjustable Desk Organizer
Messy desk messy mind. Or something like that. Having an organized desk will help you focus on the work instead of where you last saw those post-its.
This desk organizer is perfect. It allows you to move and adjust every part so you can personalize it in a way that makes sense to you. So, whether you have a thousand color pens or two pencils, you deserve an organized space.
Bright Colors Style Motivational Classroom Posters
After long days at work, you're going to need colorful posters to keep you motivated. These do just that, without being too corny. I think we've seen enough "Keep Calm" posters for the rest of our lives.
Which one is your favorite?
Lumbar Support Pillow
With the perfect chair, you need the perfect lumbar support pillow. This is the perfect pillow to prevent back pains. You might think you're young and fit, and don't need it. But you do. You're spending hours on a chair, the least you can do is make sure your back is straight and relaxed.
Funny Mug
No matter where you're working, coffee is life. And, you can't really use these passive-aggressive mugs in the office around your boss, but you can definitely use it when you're at home alone and have a meeting through Google Hangouts.
Tihoo Keyboard Vacuum Cleaner
When's the last time you cleaned your keyboard? Actually, don't tell me. I know y'all are gross.
This tiny vacuum cleaner will make it really easy to clean the keyboard and keep your computer germ free. Especially with the virus outbreak.
COWIN E7 Active Noise Cancelling Headphones
There are distractions everywhere. Even at home. These noise-canceling headphones will ensure you focus on work and not on your neighbors' fight.
Plus, they're cheaper than many other brands but work just as well.
AmazonBasics USB-Powered PC Computer Speakers
But, if noise-canceling isn't your thing, these speakers will blast your favorite music. I mean, who doesn't blast Metallica while filling out spreadsheets?
You can plug in these speakers to the USB-port and pretend to work while watching YouTube videos.
The Coronavirus is a serious problem. The threat has spanned multiple parts of the globe, taken the lives of 2,707, and infected 80,370.
But something must be pointed out: the overwhelming majority of people across earth do not have the virus. This is true even for people in or from China, where the virus first broke out.
Unfortunately, many people apparently think every single Chinese person has the virus.
Those people also think that every person of Chinese descent living in another country also has the virus.
They also think every Asian person is a Chinese person.
A slew of incorrect conclusions like that creates a plenty of day-to-day issues for people.
harmony-rose asked, "Asians, what type of racism have you endured since the Coronavirus came out?"
Multicultural When It’s Convenient
My favorite Chinese restaurant has lost massive amounts of customers in the past month. It used to be one of the most popular places to eat, but because the entire staff is Chinese, people are afraid to eat there anymore.
I'm just enjoying the uncrowded buffet.
Year of the Brat
My parents put up some decorations on their front door for chinese new year's (red banners with gold lettering around the door frame) and someone egged the house.
Weird When They Make an Errand of It
Am Chinese. People. Keep. Shouting. At. Me.
I'm a pretty small 14 year old girl and I literally had a grown man follow me down an alleyway shouting about how I should go back to my country and how I'm infectious.
Mic Drop
I was at a groccery store in the alcohol department. I was minding my own business and then these college students begin to slowly walk towards me whispering and giggling, "Pst. We need to put on our masks."
They stopped about 6 feet away from me. I looked at them dead in the eyes and coughed. Then I said, "Your health care should be able to cover for that."
GiphyWouldn’t Do Much Anyway
I was on a Delta flight, and as people boarded the plane, they would see me and cover their face.
I'm a Korean-American, and have been living in the Midwest for 30+ years.
THAT PERSON KNOWS MORE ABOUT ILLNESS THAN YOU
A friend (Chinese doctor in the UK) had a patient walk out of the room as soon as they saw she was Chinese.
Has Never Been Subtle
The amount of times I've been picked up by an uber driver who then "subtly" puts on a mask is hilarious.
GiphyA Lot Going on Here
I'm not even Asian but someone asked me if my mother brought the "Kung Flu" with her.
We're from Mexico.
Opportunist
If I'm waiting in line and it's really long, i just cough and say "man this cough has been getting worse ever since I got back from China."
Line clears up pretty quick after that.
GiphyScattering Twerps
My Asian friend said that as he was passing outside of a primary school a group of kids yelled at him "its Corona time" . He stopped and approached the gate and said " oh no i feel a sneeze coming " and the kids ran away.
Even if the Assumption was Correct, Would NOT Recommend Charging Into Closer Contact
Some lady demanded I leave a public area next to a shopping center. When I refused, she left, and then charged at me a few minutes later, this making me slam my head into a metal trash can.
Kids are Always the Cruelest
Not an Asian but there is this one Asian kid at my school and he got shut in a cupboard during math because he needed to be 'quarantined' while the teacher wasn't looking. Then they pushed a table in front of the cupboard so he couldn't get out.
A Very Poor Response
I went to Hong Kong and Taiwan to visit family during fall break and my teacher who had known about the trip and announced it to the class.
The entire class mutually agreed to put me in the back corner and make me wear a face mask every time I step in.
It Spreads Through the WIRES, man!
I'm not even Chinese. I'm Indian. I made the mistake of saying that on a Minecraft server and got myself banned lmao.
Reason by one of the admins "cause of corona virus spreading around the world."
Zero Subtlety Whatsoever
Recently got blood work done at a lab. The waiting room is split into two halves. About 9 chairs on one side wrapping around the walls, and another 7 chairs on the other half. I'm on the side with 9 chairs and seated at the very end.
I look up and see everyone is sitting next to each other filling up the 7 chairs and staring at me and whispering.
A Gigantic Escalation
I coughed because I swallowed my water incorrectly and someone near me told me to go back to where I came from.