I am a designer based in San Francisco and have been working from home, or more specifically from my couch since the pandemic started. I started daily drawing and posting these on Instagram to help cope with stress and blow off some steam. In these drawings, I explore blessings, challenges, and absurdities we have to deal with while working from home.
In fact, I was sitting on the couch so much in the past two years it completely broke down. For convenience, I ordered a new one and it arrived in such an enormous box that it had trouble fitting through the door. These types of everyday work-from-home situations have been an endless source of ideas and inspiration. I try to create one new drawing every day. I’ve enjoyed drawing these, and hope you’ll like them too!
If you've missed my previous posts that are in a similar vein, you may find them here: I, II, III, IV, V, VI, VII, VIII, IX, X.
More info: Instagram
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While remote work is more convenient (and safe), the line between life and work becomes increasingly blurred. I’ve created this series of charts and drawings illustrating this concept.
At times, working from your house all the time feels very lonely, like you are trapped on an uninhabited island just staring at the screen all day until your eyes pop out. I miss human interaction the most. I found that creating a list of things that I miss about working at the office and drawing it has been very therapeutic.
Another thing that freaks me out about Zoom calls is seeing yourself in a little video all the time, it’s just weird. Also, I am not sure why working from home makes you so tired. Somehow drawing pictures of people being tired makes me less tired.
My creative process is pretty simple. I start with writing down ideas. Sometimes ideas come randomly, sometimes I get inspired by reading the news. My usual process is thinking about my day and finding something interesting about it. Some days I have a lot of ideas and some days I don't. It's pretty unpredictable.
I think because the drawings are inspired by daily life, it's more like a commentary on what's happening right now. Every drawing is a thought, and once I put it on paper it becomes my favorite for a moment. After that, I move on to the next thought, the next drawing. I draw very fast and sloppy, it takes any time from 5 to 30 min to finish each illustration, but coming up with concepts may take longer.
It's funny how you want to sleep when your working but you lay down and want to finish your work
CreativeBlok is actually my Instagram handle. I think the best way to deal with the block is to keep on going. Usually, we are our own toughest critics… but the key is not to let it stop you. Once you are unblocked you have to continue drawing, and if you struggle just move on to the next concept. I find Tibor Calman very inspiring. I also get inspired by Ze Frank, Larry David, and Matt Groening... and of course Gary Larson.
I think the way to be original is to draw about your own experiences... Each person has a unique point of view, we all see the world differently. I enjoy the process of daily drawing and creative routine. My goal is to continue drawing, having fun, and sharing joy with others.
Don't you love when the alarm goes off you sleep for 5 more minutes then wake up to find you've slept for 8 years.
This is one of the things I just don't understand about my current employer trying to get us to go into the office more. For years, most of us have been on teams that have members in multiple locations. We were having all our meetings via teleconference before the pandemic. Whether I'm in the office or at home, doesn't matter. I'm still not seeing most of my team in person and never have.
This is why I don't want to go back to the office. I don't ever want to feel that way again.
I have a dedicated spot I work from and I don't use it for anything else. Don't work from your couch or dining table, people.
It’s not ignorance, Martha; some of us just don’t have a library wing with a private study.
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The office was distraction after distraction. I have more tech support from home and I have my pets and daughter who I haven't spent this much time with since she was 9! I love it.
Funny that you said the office has many distractions and then go on to name the distractions you have at home lol the only main difference being distractions in the office are usually work related. Your employer doesn't pay you to snuggle with your cat on the clock 😬
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Feeling Lonely- you shouldn't if your company is doing it right. Fear of Missing Out- Don't be a slacker and instead try to stay 2 steps ahead so you don't No Tech Support- That's BS. Just because you don't physically see them does not mean there is none. Get in tough with your leadership team No Work Life Boundaries- That sounds like a you problem. Don't work in a public space. Never Leaving The Office- you should be on breaks and lunches. Try getting up and stretching and walking around. Zoom Fatigue- Try Adobe Connect. Much more interactive and less boring. Bad Posture- get a brace for your monitors and attach it to your desk and elevate them to eye level Constant Snacking- focus on work not snacks Distractions- Be in a controlled environment behind a secured door. Kinda easy. Single moms have it harder but there's resources out there to help with that. Constant Deliveries- Then stop ordering stuff....again this would sound like a you problem. The You being not the creator.
A bit judgy. Not everyone can choose the meeting software. Some people get deliveries to avoid going to the store. You have to have supplies and eat. Not everyone has a dedicated office to shut the door. Not everyone has a great tech support team. I've worked in places where a savvy coworker was often our tech support.
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I work in the office of a chocolate factory, so I snack a lot less at home!
A lot of this I actually already had to deal with at the office. I would rather be home with the kitties 🐈⬛
I don't depend on my coworkers for companionship or entertainment. I canceled those subscriptions to my coworkers issues a long time ago.
Even easier than setting up a desk is continuing to get dressed for work and wearing a name badge. Then you can work anywhere and when you change out of your work clothes and take off your name badge you are no longer "at work". I've remoted in from the backyard, the couch, the park, etc. You need variety for mental health and you need the separation of work/life for sanity. Heck, grab a cup of coffee and go park outside a public library and use that wifi for an hour or two! You can watch people walk by and be "out" while still being isolated. There are many ways to keep that life separated that doesn't involve having a separate room dedicated for your home office.
But then again if you had discipline/patience then many of the office problems people complain about wouldn't be an issue as well.
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You have really captured my life over the past two years. It's comforting to know that others feel the same way.
I'm a fan of a hybrid approach. 3 days wfh, 2 days in office. Gives me 3 days to actually get stuff done, and then two days to explain what it was that got done to people who will just stare at me blankly.
That's how my highschool does it, it's very nice to be able to see my friends and also get days to do all my school work.
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I propose letting people decide where they can work the most efficient and not forcing people back because some colleagues and bosses see office as a replacement for social life.
Replacement for social life? What about those of us who have moved away from where they grew up chasing a career? Where do you meet friends when you're in your thirties? You just go to a bar and start drinking with strangers? Most adults meet their friends at work 🤷♂️
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No. I don't want a return to office just because some people use the office to socialize because no one wants to hang out with them if they literally aren't being forced to by a corporation. Just let me continue working from home in peace please.
Just build a cabin in the woods already lol doesn't sound like anyone would care judging by your attitude about socializing.
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I have been working remotely before the pandemic 19. So, I enjoyed it not dealing with the commute, office politics, the wardrobe, and that routine. I now work for a fully remote company...we have meetings...they are okay. I see the need to meet bc we are fully remote.
Fully remote work probably will not be a reality for most of us but there is no reason why we can't have a hybrid work environment in the corporate world.
First time I agreed with a post. I enjoyed the "me time" when I was working from home but realized I was the only one doing my share in my team so I spent most times rallying coworkers and staff members to complete tasks. I also had to showcase work at home whereas the office, I could wonder around. Hybrid is the best honestly!
Loved this trip with a creative mind. Much appreciated. For the great unwashed, however, the experience has been a bit different. Time to get up, put your big girl panties on, and pick whichever is more productive. If lounging in your PJs is an option, go for it. Your work presented here is great, if only for a quite limited audience. Now please present another set for the rest of us.
I don't know, if your entire job can be done at home on a computer is it really that important.
I would say the programmers, who write updates for the software from home, and silently keep the WFH world running would scoff at your ill thought out utterance.
Load More Replies... Hates the deliveries, gets the deliveries themselves. A real genius over here. What really got me was the bitter attitude towards people who enjoy H-O, maybe work on your mental health instead having a corporation fulfill most of your needs like socializing and unwinding? I really enjoy not being forced to fakely smile at people who I see everyday and actually do my job in a set time frame. And no commute, glorious
I'm a fan of a hybrid approach. 3 days wfh, 2 days in office. Gives me 3 days to actually get stuff done, and then two days to explain what it was that got done to people who will just stare at me blankly.
That's how my highschool does it, it's very nice to be able to see my friends and also get days to do all my school work.
Load More Replies... I propose letting people decide where they can work the most efficient and not forcing people back because some colleagues and bosses see office as a replacement for social life.
Replacement for social life? What about those of us who have moved away from where they grew up chasing a career? Where do you meet friends when you're in your thirties? You just go to a bar and start drinking with strangers? Most adults meet their friends at work 🤷♂️
Load More Replies... No. I don't want a return to office just because some people use the office to socialize because no one wants to hang out with them if they literally aren't being forced to by a corporation. Just let me continue working from home in peace please.
Just build a cabin in the woods already lol doesn't sound like anyone would care judging by your attitude about socializing.
Load More Replies... I have been working remotely before the pandemic 19. So, I enjoyed it not dealing with the commute, office politics, the wardrobe, and that routine. I now work for a fully remote company...we have meetings...they are okay. I see the need to meet bc we are fully remote.
Fully remote work probably will not be a reality for most of us but there is no reason why we can't have a hybrid work environment in the corporate world.
First time I agreed with a post. I enjoyed the "me time" when I was working from home but realized I was the only one doing my share in my team so I spent most times rallying coworkers and staff members to complete tasks. I also had to showcase work at home whereas the office, I could wonder around. Hybrid is the best honestly!
Loved this trip with a creative mind. Much appreciated. For the great unwashed, however, the experience has been a bit different. Time to get up, put your big girl panties on, and pick whichever is more productive. If lounging in your PJs is an option, go for it. Your work presented here is great, if only for a quite limited audience. Now please present another set for the rest of us.
I don't know, if your entire job can be done at home on a computer is it really that important.
I would say the programmers, who write updates for the software from home, and silently keep the WFH world running would scoff at your ill thought out utterance.
Load More Replies... Hates the deliveries, gets the deliveries themselves. A real genius over here. What really got me was the bitter attitude towards people who enjoy H-O, maybe work on your mental health instead having a corporation fulfill most of your needs like socializing and unwinding? I really enjoy not being forced to fakely smile at people who I see everyday and actually do my job in a set time frame. And no commute, glorious
