AdNews brings the stories of those working from home (WFH) in the advertising and media industry during the coronavirus crisis.
Ricky Chanana is head of sales for Australia and New Zealand at Twitch.
How do you deal with WFH?
Anyone who knows me both professionally or personally, knows that I'm an extrovert. In my opinion iso life was not built for me and my fellow extroverts. I initially found it a real struggle not having the corridor chat, the after work drink and the weekend of socialising with friends. I learnt just how far on the extrovert scale I was, and how much I rely on and need regular interaction. It took me some time to adjust, I had to find new ways to get the social aspect back in some capacity. On a personal front, I downloaded the houseparty app, which allowed me to see friends again on weekends. And instead of my daily visit to the gym, I have taken up running in the park - inviting friends to join at a social distance.
What’s the upside?
I am grateful to be working for a company which is set up to WFH, and the team has been incredibly agile and supportive. I feel even though we might not be meeting in person, we are more connected than ever via our team huddles, happy hours on Friday and daily check-ins. There is a real sense of camaraderie amongst the team about everyone’s health and safety before getting stuck into anything else.
The downside?
For me the biggest challenge continues to be where work finishes and home starts! However, I’m really fortunate to have a very supportive wife who also works in the industry. We set boundaries to help create space between work and home, as well as strong companaiship that really helps to get through isolation.
Tips for making WFH work?
Routine is everything - set your alarm for the same time every day, and follow the same routine you would if you were going into the office. Have your shower, get dressed and remain presentable. This will give you time between getting out of bed, and facing your laptop, which both your body and brain need to wake up and get into gear before starting the day. Maintaining a morning routine also ensures you’re ready for the increase in online video conferencing that is no doubt happening throughout the day, as a result of no face to face meetings. And no one wants to be caught on camera in their pyjamas.
I am looking forward to getting back to the office because…
To go back to some level of normality i.e. having more face to face contact with my team and our clients. A coffee in a cafe experience, have a beer at a pub, Friday catch ups with clients, team offsites etc. Most of all I am really looking forward to connecting with people. Reminiscing about the good days, the bad days, and how fortunate we all are to have each other in this industry that has brought everyone even closer during these challenging times.
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