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working from home during covid19
Hi, Everyone. I need to ‘vent’ a little, but it’s basically about my own thinking. My job has been working from home since the end of March. We’ve had a very minimal schedule of 2-3 people who go in to do things that can’t be done from home. We only go in two days a week, and just long enough to get done what has to be and then leave. Our team has been rotating who goes in.
About a week before my first day scheduled in office I got a notice from Johns Hopkins stating they recommended those with pulmonary issues work strictly from home. I debated about it for almost a week, then finally let my supervisor know about the notice. It was fine, and I’ve been kept off the in office schedule. I emailed the other people on my work team to apologize and explain why and they were great about it.
The notice I got from Hopkins said that outdoor activities were still ok as long as social distancing was observed and not more than 10 people involved. I’ve continued to do my volunteering at the equine assisted therapeutic riding center, based on those guidelines, and double checking with my Hopkins doctor’s nurse. I’ve volunteered with the horses for about 12 years, and would hate to give them up until/unless absolutely necessary. They keep me going, especially since my medical ‘issues’. I have my own routine as far as what I take care of (stalls, watering,grooming), and typically spend very little time with anyone else there – usually less than 5 people total, including me. I prefer hanging out with the horses!
The issue I’m having with myself is acknowledging that it’s ok to do the volunteering even though I’m not working in office. Those old ‘rules’ of growing up – if you couldn’t go to school you couldn’t go out and play. I’ve worked every single day, just not in office. I’d be absolutely lost without being around the horses. Both staying away from in office work, and continuing with the volunteering, strike me as taking care of myself.
I think part of the issue is that it’s forced me to acknowledge the very real threat to my health in this type of situation. I was very sick in January, with a horrible impact on my breathing, and don’t want to do anything that could put me in a situation like that again. It was extremely scary.
Any thoughts? Thanks.
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