Tuesday, April 6, 2021

Working From Home Commute: Having Fun During COVID-19


Working From Home Commute: Having Fun During COVID-19

For many of us, our commute has been greatly shortened into a trip from our bedroom to our makeshift office.  While that's a wonderful perk of the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, it does present us with a few problems.  We aren't properly prepared for work.  We're still not awake.  We're not in the right mindset.  And then we're not productive during the day and burned out by the evening.  One solution is a work from home commute routine.

1) Drive - I do not miss driving at all.  Not the traffic jams.  Not the angry aggressive road rage.  Or the parking fees, maintenance, construction, accidents or any of the million other issues. 

What I do miss is the music.  It's the only CD player I have and when I'd listen to my old albums entirely without interruption.  Now, I've uploaded my CDs and listen to an album as I eat breakfast and brush my teeth.  

2) Walk/Run - The best commute I ever had was a 20-minute walk from my home to work.  It'd wake me up, allow me to think and plan for the day, and to relax my mind as well.  And for the return trip home it's calm me down from the stress and prepare me for the evening with loved ones.  So, I plan to walk once a day.

3) Bike - What is said about walk/run is true about biking as well.  Starting and ending your day with a 30-minute bike ride around the neighborhood is great.  You can see what's going on quickly.  But, you can also slow down and stop to appreciate something that's interesting.  


4) Carpool - We used to carpool to jobsites.  And it's created some great friendships.  Especially on long distances when we'd get breakfast on the way.  With Zoom, Skype, Facetime, and other platforms, we are still able to do this with co-workers, clients, friends, and family.  The more informal; the better.  Just a 5-10 minute conversation while you're making and eating Pop-Tarts.  

5) Train/Bus - I was fortunate enough to take the "L" to work when I lived in Chicago.  As we flew past the traffic gridlock below, I'd read, listen to music, a podcast, audio book, work on a crossword puzzle, play video games, and call friends and family.  It's like having a chauffer without the snobbery.  I can still enjoy that every day.  Just a few minutes before and after work.

6) Coffee- This is a special ritual for many people.  And I suggest spoiling yourself and indulging in it.  Most of us have a standard drip coffee maker.  But go ahead and get a single-serve, pour over, French press, AeroPress, cold brew, espresso, stovetop, grind and brew, turkish, steeped, Vietnamese, siphon, percolator, or whatever else you like.  Become your own barista and learn a useful skill for something you use every day.  

7) After Work Commute - As a bachelor, I had a pretty great routine after work.  I'd get a couple drinks with friends and colleagues, pick up dinner at the store, and play video games while I cooked and ate.  And that still happens, just a bit differently.  We'll informally use Zoom after work while having cocktails and playing online games.  And continue through making dinner or waiting for delivery.  

AND DON'T FORGET TO HAVE FUN! And, please feel free to contact if you have any questions or suggestions!


UNVACCINATED
Health and Safety Considerations for gathering:
1) Wear a mask and practice social distancing (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html)
2) No indoor activities
3) No sharing bathrooms
4) Wash hands before and after gathering. Don't touch your face.
5) Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, and utensils.
6) Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.
7) Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).
8) Limit attendance to a few people. 
9) Talk with everyone about comfort levels. Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations.

VACCINATED (2 weeks after final dose)
Health and Safety Considerations for gathering:
1) Wear a mask and practice social distancing in public (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/social-distancing.html)
2) Indoor activities safe with a few vaccinated people.  No indoor activities with unvaccinated people
3) No sharing bathrooms
4) Wash hands before and after gathering. Don't touch your face.
5) Bring your own food, snacks, drinks, and utensils.
6) Do not attend if you have asthma, heart disease, diabetes, overweight, have/survived cancer, or 50+ year old.
7) Do not attend if you have or have had Coronavirus or showing symptoms (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/symptoms-testing/symptoms.html).
8) Limit attendance to a few people. 
9) Talk with everyone about comfort levels. Expect and allow non-participation and last minute cancellations.

Mike Kraus was born on the industrial shoreline of Muskegon, Michigan. After earning his Fine Arts Degree from The School of the Art Institute of Chicago, he attended Grand Valley State University for his graduate degree. From there, he gained varied experiences from the Chicago Architecture Foundation, Art Institute of Chicago, Hauenstein Center For Presidential Studies, Lollypop Farm Humane Society, and the Children's Memorial Foundation. And every place he worked, he had his sketchbook with him and found ways to be actively creative. In 2014, Kraus became a full-time artist by establishing Mike Kraus Art. Since then, he has sold hundreds of paintings that are displayed in nearly every state and dozens of countries. Currently, Kraus lives in Rochester, New York with his beautiful wife and goofy dog.

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