Working from home…Are we having fun yet?

Hello, everyone! You may have already learned that the changes in work environment due to the quarantine probably require more flexibility and open-mindedness than originally expected!  Having spent many years successfully working from home, I thought I could offer a few tips and tricks I learned the hard way!   
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First things first, GET DRESSED!!  You wouldn’t go into the office in your pajamas, would you??  Get dressed!  That doesn’t mean you have to be in a suit or wearing pantyhose, but it does mean you should be presentable if someone should see you.  Plan your work and work your plan.  Sounds simple, and yet…!  We are all tempted to sneak off and watch Netflix or engage in some other distraction.  Plan your work with breaks, just like you would at the office.  Coffee break at 10?  Instead of using the opportunity to veg in front of the TV or play mindless games on some other device, take a walk.  If you see your neighbor, they may admire your wearing apparel as you take that walk through the neighborhood.  It is a good chance to connect to another living soul while practicing social distancing.  
I have a love-hate relationship with my petulant printer / sinister scanner, and don’t even get me started about the fax.  Funny thing, swearing or conversely begging and beseeching gets me absolutely no-where.  All my ministrations and pleadings fall on deaf ears.  Same thing with idle threats.  I know those of us who are married, can relate.  Take my husband for instance.  He is the rock solid, analytical type (love truly is blind).  In fact, I have never seen my husband launch a printer off the back deck!!  When I do that, he looks at me like I have three heads!  He tells me I must “lighten up” (GRRR).  Don’t tell him this, and I will call you a liar if you repeat this, but I secretly know he is right.  If I want to successfully work from home, I actually have to act like an adult and not scream at the printer “I hate you!” (sadly, a true story).  It helps me to focus on breathing AND focus my attention on something else, by taking walks or at least staring out the window…stare at anything but electronics.  Remember, in the place formerly known as the office, we had human interaction (be that as it may).  Get to know the birds, and even your neighbors, as long as you keep social distance with both.  
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As the days progress to weeks and the weeks to months, the added stress will decrease longevity and increase OUR mortality if we are not careful!  Not good.  It is important to remember our track record as an industry, proves we are a resilient bunch.  We survived and thrived the AIDS epidemic.  Our industry was there to help finance continued treatment for insureds.  Science in time solved the problem, and the impact today from a formerly fatal disease is minimal.  We survived the 9/11 uncertainty, again, offering hope to many.  We survived the financial reversals of 2008, liquefying assets to help those in need.  Phil and I survived our dilemma in 2013, like now, surrounded by love and support from the industry.  This too shall pass, but we must hunker down, stay positive and keep supporting those in need…and wash your hands!