Distancing Diaries: Giving In, Not Up

Wearing: LSNUP sweatshirt

The good news is that I’m still reading one book a day; the lukewarm is that I officially gave in—not up—to the daily sweatsuit, even for Zoom calls. At the start of this self-isolation, I approached working from home as if I were going to the office: I would dress up (even more so than I usually would; my home is a judgement, rule-free zone!) for the eight to ten hours, and at the end of the work day, would strip out my clothes and into some slinky slip.

Within a week and a half I abandoned my wardrobe in favor of sweats. Sweatshirt, sweatsuit, sweatpants, all of it—because the truth is, I love leisure wear as much as I do anything else. And the comfortable clothes get much less love: when better than now is there seize the day sweats and learn to live (lounge?) a little?

The pros to this new workwear is that where I work within my condo is unlimited. I could work from bed (I would never, and would not suggest it); on the floor, mid-straddle, stretching (this I do do, and highly recommend); or on the couch (which I have not yet done). A whole new world has opened up and yet—yet!—it brings me to a major con.

It’s now all too easy to keep working.

Fab for my employer, or even for my ego since productivity is something I take pride in, but the lack of demarcation between “Work” and “Personal time” has blurred. I’m already relaxed; what’s another hour then? Which inevitably leads to an additional two? (I might as well, I’m already here is the mentality.) After eight-plus hours locked within a singular mindset, I need to break out of it, physically and mentally, in order to set boundaries and rewire my brain for my personal life. As someone who already has trouble separating career from self-identity, it’s especially important to keep those lines clear—even if it’s achieve with something as simple as a quick-change. And so, starting tomorrow, my new schedule:

6:00AM: Wake up, get ready, throw on a new sweatsuit. Read while stretching. Make breakfast, drink all the hot tea. Contemplate making a matcha latte, but decide to save the caffeine for a midday pick-me-up.

7:30AM: Change (perhaps into this, because it’s too good not to wear again). Light a candle—I’m currently burning Boy Smells Cinderose, which I bought at the Guggenheim’s gift shop. Ambiance is everything.

7:50AM: Open the window in my office. Line up my plants against the sill for some sun, and mist the shades with Heritage Store Aura Smudge mist. Breathe in. Thou shalt not let work consume you.

8:00AM: Clock in, officially, and without meaning to, never surface for air until the light outside starts to dim.

5:00PM: Slip out of the trousers and back into sweats from this morning. Ahhh. 

Let the weekend begin.

.   .   .

xx