{"id":1875,"date":"2020-04-19T01:19:34","date_gmt":"2020-04-19T01:19:34","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/?p=1875"},"modified":"2022-03-21T13:04:27","modified_gmt":"2022-03-21T13:04:27","slug":"at-home-connection-work-self-during-lockdown","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/tahneyalexandramay.com\/index.php\/2020\/04\/19\/at-home-connection-work-self-during-lockdown\/","title":{"rendered":"at home: connection, work & self"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Over the last few weeks, I\u2019ve embraced a connection with these grim circumstances. Plodding around at home, adjusting dreamily in the forced recluse of my pokey, badly lit rental and its jungle courtyard. \u00a0<\/p>

In mid-March, I\u00a0was working a stall at the NGV Book Fair when the COVID-19 panic snapped in our naive minds from fear mongering to reality. Over the weekend, my senses became scattered then fatigued, unable to negotiate the clustered crowds, excessive hand-sanitation and incessant dystopian news alerts. But every day since, despite no improvement in global wellbeing, my body is void of social anxiety as it relaxes into the ebb and flow of homely habits. I\u00a0sleep nine hours a night, work fluidly surrounded by houseplants and art and take sunny mid-morning coffees outside. My evening runs are longer than usual and the air I breath is cleaner than when traffic heaved only weeks ago.<\/p>

There\u2019s safety in making a nest and taking reprieve from the hustling of my mid 20s. Isolated from community anxiety and grief, I am becoming lulled by a strange calm (which, I have heard, is quite a normal response for people who have already experienced traumatic events, thanks life!). I also know I can feel thankfulness in the slow, warmness of my new normal assured by secure employment and the good company of my lovely partner. I can pay my rent and rest inside my home easy. Not all are so lucky.\u00a0<\/p>

There is a lot of this internal conflict. I eat my Weet-Bix with a lump in my throat watching ABC Breakfast broadcast, again, New York\u2019s mass graves. Simultaneously, I’m smug that I get to curl up on the lounge and skip my morning commute.\u00a0The tropes of horror movies aren’t coming to fruition as I watch disaster unfold from the security of home. On the weekend, cocooned in my hammock, I refresh Worldometer statistics before rolling back over to my book.\u00a0Here I am, physically disconnected from the terror of this moment whilst psychologically very aware of it, cohabiting my unease with the comforts emerging from the burdens of change.<\/p>

Turning away from my already isolated state of mind, I wanted to seek connection on this shared circumstance by asking my friends – of the arts worker variety- to reflect on their unanticipated orbiting of home.\u00a0Experiencing copious times as our most domestic selves, in the midst of a crisis, how are we relishing small pleasures and awkwardly fumbling into new habits?<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t

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This is what they told me... <\/h2>\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t
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Winnie\u00a0Tsang,\u00a0Development Coordinator, Melbourne Writer\u2019s Festival<\/a> at home<\/strong><\/span><\/h5>
On connection<\/strong><\/h6>

I am still using a lot of social media, which is what I normally do anyway, especially with my friends and my family\/friends in Hong Kong. It feels weird that we couldn\u2019t hang out and do stuff together, but the connection is still strong.<\/span><\/p>

On self<\/strong><\/h6>

Happier than before, also surprised at how little I need to leave my house if I have enough food, internet access, books and Netflix to get by. Suddenly, I am feeling I have time to do things that I have been too busy to polish, like cooking and decluttering. It\u2019s like a nice holiday but with the anxiety of social and financial security. So weird. Happy but anxious and insecure.<\/span><\/p>

On work<\/strong><\/h6>

Super bad. I feel less focused as I can do whatever I need\/feel like to. It\u2019s like going back to Uni where you have all the time to work on your assignments, but you stupidly procrastinate and do other unimportant stuff. But is it not important if you have laundry to do, grocery to buy before business hour closes? I end up working after dinner and late after midnight, just to finish what I need to do which is really not healthy. I am hoping to re-tune my biological clock and start WFH with proper grooming and clothes. That should help me feel more ready in the work mode.<\/span><\/p>

When restrictions ease\u00a0<\/strong><\/h6>

I want to play helicopters in the beautiful wetland reserve behind my new home with my friends!<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Christa\u00a0Tom, Gallery Manager, Ten Cubed <\/a>at home<\/b><\/span><\/h5>
On connection\u00a0<\/b><\/h6>

I have been doing a lot virtual hangouts with friends, like brunch\/dinner and watching Netflix together. Personally, I have a mixed feeling with this new way of making connections with friends (or other human beings). I do miss the time when we can be out and about and physically talking to each other but at the same time this shift has allowed me to participate in more overseas’ webinars or talks which are now live streamed online.<\/p>

On self\u00a0<\/b><\/h6>

As an introvert, I am actually enjoying a lot of me-time, though I do miss having fun with friends. My stay-home quarantine to-do-list is actually quite lengthy: listening to broadcasts, playing the flute and occasionally making music audio clip with my friends (I haven’t had time to do that since I graduated…), drawing, sketching, painting… do something that I usually won’t do (i.e. bake cakes), keep a diary, grow herbs and veggies in my tiny apartment, (still) writing proposals for art projects, start reading with the kindle (I like paperback but it’s cheaper and easier to get e-books) and look for new (online) art exhibitions\/projects.<\/p>

On work\u00a0<\/b><\/h6>

Set up my work\u00a0<\/span>space ( I moved my desk to a new spot – right next to the window), use to-do\u00a0<\/span>lists, get changed before ‘going’ to work, taking short breaks, my work desktop\u00a0<\/span>is mainly for work. Use other devices for leisure\/entertainment.<\/span><\/p>

When\u00a0restrictions ease<\/b><\/h6>

Go to the beach<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Rima Lee, Executive Assistant, AsiaLink Arts<\/a> at home<\/span><\/h5>
On connection<\/span><\/h6>

Having lived in Australia for more than five years, away from my family and friends back in South Korea, I am used to keeping loved ones close through video calls and messages. However, it was more challenging not to see my friends being an outgoing extrovert. I find having group chats and virtual social hangouts on a regular basis very helpful, especially when that involves some kind of activity like Netflix Party \ud83d\ude42 I think we managed to build this sense of connection and evolve as a collective despite what is going on in the world \u2013 though I can’t wait for the day when the measures will be relaxed!<\/span><\/p>

On self<\/span><\/h6>

At first, my friends and family were so worried about me dealing with the whole lockdown situation but I am doing quite ok even to my surprise. My life before the pandemic crisis was crazy busy juggling work, study and other commitments at the same time. So, when everything stopped I panicked but also felt relieved in a way. I created a Gantt chart to make the most out of the current situation and layered that with a list of stress relievers that always work for me like gardening and aromatherapy. I’d say I am still in the process of taking stock of where I am in life and catching up on some overdue me time. The next agenda is to hone my skills to thrive in the workplace when we return to normal life although I find it difficult to stay focused.<\/span><\/p>

On work<\/span><\/h6>

I put my desk in the living room to set work-life boundaries and retreat to my room during conference meetings \u2013 I am lucky to have housemates who understand my needs. I noticed that I tend to work longer from home, so it helps to physically leave that space. Having a team check in every morning via Zoom helps me to go into a work mode too. And I use to do list apps a lot than before to track progress!<\/span><\/p>

When\u00a0restrictions ease<\/span><\/h6>

Party after party! I miss day trips a lot too.<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t

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Images courtesy of Rima Lee & Winne Tsang.\u00a0<\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Over the last few weeks, I\u2019ve embraced a connection with these grim circumstances. Plodding around at home, adjusting dreamily in… <\/p>\n

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