What Mister Rogers Taught Me About Working From Home
One of my biggest saviors during this pandemic/shelter-in-place/remote work situation has been establishing a solid routine and mastering the transitions between “work” and “not work”. It has been so important for me to shut my brain off when my workspace is haunting me from across the room like the furnace in Home Alone.
Except for the other day, while I was changing into my night-time sweatshirt from my day-time sweater, I realized that everything I do has been influenced heavily by none other than Mister Rogers. It could have been because I was singing “It’s A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood” while doing it. Just kidding. I was singing “Baby Shark”.
Here are the top tips I learned from Mister Fred Rogers:
Change outfits. I like to, AT THE VERY LEAST, put a sweater on in the morning, even if I’m wearing leggings on the bottom so that I appear put together on camera. However, when I shut down my computer, I head over to my closet and swap my sweater for a sweatshirt or comfy pajama top. It helps me get into a state of “me time” where I’m not worried about how my Snuggie looks to others.
House shoes. Another favorite part of my routine is taking my dog to the park immediately after shutting my computer down. I change from my slippers (yup) to my sneakers and leave them by the door. As soon as I come back, I don’t fuck around. I’m back into those house slippers SO QUICK.
Pets = puppets. Don’t worry, I’m not totally crazy. I don’t have a train that goes through my apartment to a secret puppet land. Because that would be CRAZY, right? Right? Just asking. I don’t have puppets to chat with (she says as she types this with a literal custom-made Muppet right behind her) but I do have my pets that keep me company, and whom I talk to throughout the day.
Strangers = colleagues. Mr. Rogers was a man who created a community around him. He lived alone, but he never seemed lonely. When he received the mail, it wasn’t a transaction. He spoke and hung out with his postal worker and other people in the neighborhood. I live in a large apartment building and the community is non-existent. When I see the facilities team, I say hello and talk to them. I have also befriended many people at the nearby dog park. While I don’t see my UPS guy face-to-face, I was once close enough with a UPS guy that he tried to set me up with his son AND dropped something off at my home (instead of my work) when he knew I was out that day. Basically, building relationships with all people you interact with brings more joy and meaning to your day. During a time when we’re not interacting with as many people on a daily basis, it brings some much-needed connection and joy.
You've made this day a special day, by just your being you. There's no person in the whole world like you, and I like you just the way you are. Every day, I look in the mirror and say that to myself, just like Fred Rogers said to his viewers. Just kidding. I don’t do that. But those are some solid words to live by and advice I like to think I take into my days while I work from home… in a bedroom covered in children’s art… that people often mistake as a nursery.