Sweatpants and Coffee
- Ryan Baechel
- Apr 1, 2020
- 4 min read
Well before the coronavirus made it topical to write about the top 10 ways to work from home, I had a 10 month head start to truly realize it sucks. I dove head first into starting my own freelance business, editing TV shows, branded content and more from my home office edit bay.
Trying to figure out an optimized work schedule that provides me the best environment to get the most done when the distractions of home can really derail any thought of that. With the fridge just a short walk downstairs, Netflix a click away and the laundry always waiting to be done and the many, many other chores and projects that I have on my list. I don’t have to look hard to find distractions. They are endless.
What makes it worse is when I’m in the zone editing, time flies by. Sometimes I don’t eat lunch because I have to go downstairs and make it. If I didn’t save leftovers I’ll just mix a protein shake and pour another cup of coffee fueling my jittery anxiety. Then by the time I get to the end of my work day I take over for the babysitter. I haven’t gone anywhere, sometimes haven’t spoken to anyone all day, most days haven’t showered, I’ve become a hot mess. What the hell has happened?
This cycle for weeks on end comes with a toll. My schedule bleeds into the night after the baby goes down, I’m more productive at night because I can’t do any chores while my wife and son are sleeping. I’m forced to sit and work. Working continuously on paid projects, while also developing new business leads and bidding on new projects and then browsing B&H and Sharegrid for new and used camera equipment to upgrade...see how the distractions just invade my day? It becomes a little overwhelming thinking about all the things I need to do to have a fully operational solo business from home in the media industry.
But good news for you, I’ve done everything the hard way so that you can learn from my mistakes and be the best version of the lockdown professional you can be. Here is my unsolicited advice:
Numero Uno, keep as close to your previous routine as you can. If you get up early and workout, do it. I fell off this train hard and am now paying for it with every pound my kid gains hourly. He's a tank and is only going to put the hurt on me more and more, so back to the garage gym I go! Make breakfast, watch the news, walk the dog, whatever it is you did each morning do it again. For me that routine sparks an internal clock and allows me to focus on the task at hand.
Number 2, create a distraction free work area. For most people working from home I’m sure a laptop is suitable to complete your work but for me I need my full edit bay suite so I can really pick that up and take it to my bed, so I guess wherever you aren’t distracted makes sense. One thing I love about my office is the windows, I get a great breeze coming through but I also am blessed with the shrill bark of my neighbors little pip squeak asshole dog that barks constantly all day whether they are home or not. Not much I can do about that other than turn my volume up in my headphones.
3, Enjoy your coffee. I get my coffee from Frazier Farms here in Oside and that ish is bomb. I’ll crush a pot in a day no problem. I make sure to accompany each cup with a glass of water though, I don't want any kidney stones. If you don’t drink coffee then enjoy your milk or something I don’t know.
4, Stay off your phone, social media will suck you in. Trust me the amount of facebook arguments that I’ve wanted to join could give me an ulcer. It's a pastime of mine to just read the comments for as long as they go. I mean once I’m 47 comments deep I feel like I owe it to myself to see it to closing points, or until it shifts to a meme argument that doesn’t make sense to me because its part inside joke part nonsense, then I spend time trying to diagnose how the meme makes sense and what kind of person created it and what their life is like and why it matters in the first place and then I snap back to reality and realize I’ve just wasted 20 minutes.
Number 5, go outside at least once. Feel the weather, breathe the air, internally scream at the dog that is still barking. If anything at all I use this time to refocus my eyes. As an editor I’m looking at screens alllll day. I’ll exercise my focus on short distances and then try to focus on the farthest thing I can see, it makes a difference for me.
6, When it's time to shut it down for the day, do it. It's incredibly easy to let work and home bleed together, next thing you know you are distracted from family time worrying about work. Make a drink, chef up some dinner, put on the tunes and enjoy your life.
Despite the circumstances, this is really an opportunity to take advantage of family time that we may never have again because as soon as we get back to normal we will be consumed with making back our losses. Make it count while staying safe. We are human and we will adapt, inspiration will come from this. Creativity will be a byproduct of isolation. And our resolve will be stronger than ever.
