The gloomy headlines say New Zealand just flagged its 28th case of coronavirus. Great.
But as Twitter inevitably explodes again about nation-wide self-isolation policies, I’m starting to think the outdoors isn’t all it’s cracked up to be.
Most of us will miss seeing friends over a weekly Starbucks coffee, walks on the beach, being in the sun and – my personal favourite – golfing. But as the outside temperature drops and the normal flu season kicks in (yes, other types of flu still exist), to be honest, it’s hard to think of anything good about sweaty gyms and crowded coffee shops.
Besides, winter means more rain. I hate the rain. The upside of working from home is that it’s cosy, dry and it’s always the perfect time for hot chocolate. What’s not to like?
Walking to work is also literally a pain in the backside. I certainly won’t miss travelling to and from the city every day, up and down hilly streets with a sweaty back.
And if I’m not in the office, there’s no need to look ‘civilised’ in a suit. I can wear pyjamas from 9 to 5 and it’s not as if the cat will complain to HR. Besides, the best thing about casual clothing is the lack of ironing, giving me more time for Netflix in the evening.
But my advice is to keep a collared shirt and a blazer within arm’s reach if you can’t rule out surprise Skype calls. Just make sure to lock the door: the last thing you want is a toddler bursting in during a video chat with the CEO.
The home office is also way cheaper. No more unnecessary $4 morning coffees or expensive $15 Pad Thai for lunch. And the commute from couch to spare bedroom will cost pennies (depending on the size of the house, of course). Bonus: the lower emissions of trudging across the hallway will also be far cleaner for the environment. Again, depending on what was eaten for dinner last night…
I do expect a lack of vitamin D to boost my immune system. But pulling my laptop closer to a north-facing window will probably solve that problem. Also, we humans are social animals and since no one will be walking the streets then not even a window will help fill that need. That could be an issue.
But it’s only for a few weeks. The outside world will still be there when I get out, right?