So, how are you doing?
We’re roughly seven months into this pandemic, and I thought it would be a good time to check-in. There have been so many changes to our personal and professional lives in ways we are just starting to comprehend, I thought I’d write something a little more personal about the things I’m doing to help with the chaos in hopes that you’ll find them useful, too. I’m also hopeful you will communicate back to me your thoughts, suggestions, reviews or comments and together we can support each other and share resources to get through this.
The day before the quarantine, I had two meetings. The first was in Wallingford and afterwards, I raced back to my studio for the second, which ended at 5pm on a Friday. It was my seventh meeting that week, which was typical. On Monday, Governor Lamont announced a lock down in our state; it would be months before I could safely meet (outdoors, with a mask) any of my clients again.
Here is what I have embraced — while I miss seeing my employees and clients regularly, I’ve never been more focused or productive. I now have long spans of uninterrupted time for creating and writing. I’m feeling less rushed and more able to stay on one task until it’s completed — and that feels satisfying. Life has slowed way down … and I can’t say that I hate it.
A funny side story: we were preparing a few gifts to be mailed before the quarantine (some of you may have received them)! We were debating on the messaging to go inside the box, suggesting to clients that we meet virtually; I had written the copy “We value you so much, we don’t want to be near you. Let’s Zoom!” but the general census was that not enough people knew what “Let’s Zoom” would mean, so we changed it to “Let’s Skype!”. That was in March, and by April, everyone in the world was familiar with Zoom.
Tech that we’re using for virtual meetings: Zoom, Skype, GoToMeeting and Microsoft Teams.
Working remotely got a great, big boost in March. What once was met with skepticism and distrust became immediately necessary. I’ve always been in support of my employees working remotely; in my 22 years running a business in Connecticut, we’ve been hit hard with Nor’easters, hurricanes and for good measure — and just because 2020 continues to disappoint — we experienced a very scary, very destructive 6-minute long tornado that knocked out power, closed roads, stranded motorists and scared the pants off of us (we aren’t used to twisters here in New England). We are still cleaning up downed trees and wires. But the lesson here is that we have learned that we can share just as successfully remotely, and this year has shifted that gear — maybe permanently for some of us.
Tech that we’re using to work remotely: Slack (for communicating and sharing files) and JumpDesktop (for remote access).
Stress has been overwhelming, and we all cope in different ways. What works best for me is regular exercise, reading, journaling and going outdoors as often as possible. Oh, and baking. Lots of baking!
Tech that I’m using for stress management: Peloton, Peloton app, Spotify and Apple Watch
TIP: I recommend Spotify’s ‘Daily Wellness’ podcast, which has a curated mix of music, meditation and motivational content. I’ve made it part of my daily routine.
I read … a lot! I’m always learning, too. Audible is the perfect app for me because it saves me time (I can read one book and listen to another), money (cheaper than purchasing books) and space (I have more books than shelves at this point). I use Goodreads to set goals, keep lists, read reviews and connect with friends to learn what they are reading.
My Instagram feed looks like a beautiful cookbook because I follow so many food brands and bakers! If I had to pick just one to recommend it’d be King Arthur’s Flour — their recipes never fail to impress. It’s also where I found our seasonal favorite recipe for Inside-out Pumpkin Muffins; try them and thank me later!
