I’ve always worked from home — at the desk in my bedroom, at the dining room table, or now in the corner of my apartment that serves as my home office. From a day-to-day labour perspective, the pandemic hit me less hard than it did others.
But familiarity with working from home is only part of the equation. Another is that my work is fully my own: I’m self-employed and my team is just me. Shortly before the pandemic began, I left a full-time position where others on the team relied on me, and I in turn relied on them. I physically worked alone in my home, but my work wasn’t a solo endeavour.
Months later, and despite years of experience in a PhD program that was almost entirely without structure, I still struggle when I don’t have structure. (Side note: Part of the appeal of coaching — the profession I took up after my PhD — is that it is a real solution to a problem I never solved on my own.)
What helps? Co-working sessions hosted by friends and colleagues. I’ve regularly joined two in particular:
- Anna Marie Trester’s Career Linguist Work Sessions (I’m writing this while in a session now), and
- Emily Crookston‘s Write The Thing! (subscribe to her newsletter to learn more).
I get work done! In community! And feel compelled to not just f off most of the time! And sure, there’s a bit of friendly chatter too.
I’ve now decided to host my own regular co-working meetings. Join me every Wednesday from now through December, starting at 10am ET.
Register (it’s free) here and make sure to add the meeting to your calendar so you remember to join.
Here’s wishing you well in your work and life this fall.