You Don’t Have to Be Productive Right Now.
We are told that Isaac Newton did some of his best work in the year of the plague . Shakespeare may have turned to sonnets when theaters were closed. Now everyone you know is working on a project while working (or not) from home. But do you know what other option you have? I do n’t do any of this .
Staying at home while businesses close down around you and the number of people infected is growing is a strange, unprecedented and frightening situation. If you don’t know what’s going on with your work or, you know, with society in general, is that okay, maybe a little nervous? And maybe I know this is a wild idea, take it easy on yourself?
I have worked from home for most of my adult life, and I can tell you that even under the best circumstances it doesn’t give me a lot of free time. Of course, I don’t have commutes, but that means I miss an hour of reading or listening to podcasts, which my friends at the office take for granted. These days, when social distancing is at full power, my children are at home with me. There is still more to clean up, more quarrels over the break and revision of the negotiations between me and my wife about who does what mental work .
I guess I’m saving time in the evenings because I don’t have to take the kids with me to their events now that they’re canceled, but I also leave my home office at 6:00 p.m. completely exhausted mentally and emotionally trying to keep up. with the news while I do my job. Just let me sit down for a minute and relax.
This is not summer vacation. And unless you’re a self-centered, self-centered college student with people doing your work for you (ahem, Newton), there’s no reason to expect this to be a relaxing and productive time. If diving into a hobby or project can help you deal with stress, that’s great! Dive! But you don’t have to take advantage of this difficult time or feel guilty about “wasting” it. Take care of yourself and let yourself be off the hook.