The Pyjama Pandemic

Art of chilling at home and, now, office.

Chill even if it's a bit messy. [Pic: Suranga D. Wijeratne]

As we come to the end of 2020, some of us are surfing the second or third wave of the global COVID pandemic.

The first time when we were forced to lock ourselves inside homes, the prospects of losing freedom of mobility drove most of us into anxious madness. Some though, instead turned inward to find new ways to amuse ourselves and others.

Yet, the most significant repercussions of the lockdown and restrictions were the sudden encroachment of the office into our homes. Suddenly, the strict imaginary borders that kept the madness of office and house separate crumbled into pieces. Small kids invading online work meetings, deciding to prepare food, or to work? To some, it may have felt like colleagues bringing their whole families into the office, while to others, it might seem that all their colleagues have invaded their home.

I think as the second and third waves of restrictions hit, we are a bit wiser. We no longer pretend it’s cool to be working post 5 PM. We are more sensitive to colleagues’ home situations. Also, we now need to learn to chill at home. Not in a pub or club.

I hope the following tips might help you establish a better chill environment:

1. Communicate clearly working hours. Hours that you can be expected to return calls, emails more frequently, and attend meetings.
2. Lunchtime should be +30 min to help prepare food and enjoy with the family.
3. Make sure to communicate private commitments: take a child to school/preparing meals/attend to sick family members during work hours so colleagues can much better communicate with you.
4. If you run the show, make sure the employees know you are not there to invade their homes and ask them to be reasonable and sensible in conducting D2D activities.
5. TURN ON THE CAMERA! At least at the beginning and end of online meetings to be more connected and responsive to colleagues.
6. Understand your employees and colleagues no longer have a well-designed office environment to support their mental health during work hours.
7. Be strict on not responding to non-urgent emails and looking up work after office hours.

One way to avoid being sucked into working without limit is to know when to quit in a physical sense. I actually dress up slightly to move into office mode. Reminding myself to be presentable for online video meetings. However, soon as work hours are over, I move myself to extremely comfortable clothes. Sometimes that means slipping directly into my pyjamas.

It helps to stock up on some wine, spirits, or beer and also good food. Best to always think of experimenting with recipes for dinner.

When your off work try some tips as follows:

1. Don’t relax in the same spot. Try to figure out a couple of locations in your home you can throw back a beer and snack.
2. Netflix is NOT the all-time solution for your boredom.
3. I enjoy experimenting with making food. Just do it.
4. Try to do that youtube video or garage band project you always wanted to.
5. Cheese, Wine, repeat.

Of course, none of this matters if you live by yourself as I do. Coz then every hour is pyjama hour.