Now that summer has begun and things are opening back up a little bit more, it seemed like the perfect time to reflect on what our team has experienced over the past few months in quarantine. At Loop Creative, we’ve been busy working — virtually, of course — making sure our clients are getting their crucial messages out to the world. But while our team has been chugging along, we can’t deny the challenges (and wins) that cropped up as we got used to our “new normal.” Here are three things each Loopster has learned during the coronavirus lockdown.

Hillary

My musings on quarantine life –

1. Being a successful freelancer means constant hustle. When the shutdown started and gatherings and events got cancelled, I got some of my free time back. Who knew that slowing down could be so rewarding? Uh, everyone apparently. A special shout out to evening walks, staying in bed until 8am, and not having to dress up for video meetings.

2. As a writer, it’s easy to get caught up typing away on my computer. Timers and alarms have been the only way to keep track of my new formless schedule — including my half dozen or so weekly Zoom calls. Thank goodness Alexa is always there to remind me to stop and turn on my webcam (or drink my hot tea before it gets cold, grab some lunch before my next meeting, etc).

3. I’ve recently had the chance to reconnect with an old friend — baking. This perfect quarantine activity has led to the birth of two signature recipes. And as a person with a dairy allergy, it’s been fun to see how I can create delicious desserts from nontraditional ingredients. Sadly, my husband’s already dreading the end of this golden age of carbs. 

Melissa 

Personal lesson: I am a hugger. I’m well known for hugging everyone, and I didn’t realize how much my feelings of connectedness were wrapped up in that habit until I couldn’t do it anymore. I will have to work harder to communicate my feelings now that I can’t rely on hugs to “tell” people that I care about them.

Work lesson: Working virtually is super efficient. Being a part of a team and listening to my teammates inspires me, teaches me, makes me happy, and makes me better at my job — but video calls are effective for bringing a team together. More can be accomplished virtually than I would have previously thought. 

Fun lesson: I’m pretty sure that my dog and I have begun to communicate telepathically.

Enoch

Three things I’ve learned during three months of quarantine.

1. Having designated time-slots for designing, reading, and assembling was a joy.

2. My tri formed space is an amalgamation of machines, tea, and books.

3. Learning to be patient with those whom I serve and to be content in whatever state I am in is an ongoing lesson. Alas, this season has been humbling. Also, I want to thank my parents for crafting me into a particular type of centipede. Shalom.

Mel 

1. During quarantine, I’ve learned that it isn’t as scary to do things on my own as it always feels. Taking initiative is scary, but if I want to keep up with people or the things I like when my usual routine isn’t feasible, I have to get through the uncertainty. It’s hard!

2. Time management is so important. I’ve always been fairly good at not procrastinating, but with even less ‘oversight’, I didn’t realize how hard it could be without the usual structure of my daily routine to stick to managing my time to do the work I need to do. 

3. Learning how to draw more effective action poses has been the most fun! At some point, I stopped finding it easy, but I think I'm getting back to it.

Emily

1. You do not have to be busy to be happy. Especially kids. My children – ages 4 and 6 – are typically on the move. We visit museums, they attend preschool, and have playdates and other various activities that keep us all busy. When quarantine began, I was the one going crazy – not them. They were just as happy to play outside or go for a walk as they had been in a crowded children’s museum. While they do miss their friends a lot, they’ve learned to appreciate nature, their toys, and especially each other much more than they did at the beginning of quarantine. For that, I am incredibly grateful.

2. Technology is amazing. While I deeply miss talking to friends, relatives, and co-workers in person, the way we’ve been able to migrate to virtual events is amazing. As someone who lives many states away from my family, we’ve actually been able to connect more now – even if it’s virtually. I’ve attended birthday parties, happy hours, graduations and even a funeral over Zoom that I otherwise would have missed out on due to distance.

3. The value of essential workers. While a lot of us got to work from home and stay safe, many people did not have that choice. Grocery store employees, health care workers, and so many other people whose work can sometimes go unnoticed or under appreciated, now have our attention. I will never again take for granted the luxury of a fully stocked grocery store, having my trash removed, or being able to get medical care when needed.

Robyn

What I’ve learned during this 3+ months of lockdown is that IT’S STORMY. Yes, we are all in a huge “storm” but WE ARE NOT IN THE SAME “BOAT.” The boats will all look, perform, and feel different. None of our boats are the same. And when you open your eyes to really look around, you realize that many don’t have a boat at all. They are just treading water. The hardest truth is that some won’t make it. I didn’t come up with this concept, but what I’ve learned is that it applies to everything. EVERYTHING. Also – THE ABILITY TO PIVOT IS VITAL. Being flexible, nimble, and open minded has made the difference for us and for our clients. LOVE & KINDNESS will take you further. It might take longer and it might not look how you thought, but it wins the race. Every. Time. During this storm, there have been a lot of totally amazing essential workers that have gone above and beyond. To be honest, what I’ve figured out during this experience is that we are all essential and connected. We are all in this storm together. Let’s act like it.

Tanya

A few things I have learned during this pandemic are:

1. That being sick and bed ridden for a month made things real! Also made me grateful and appreciative that I was healthy enough to get through it and that I have amazing family, friends, and co-workers. 

2.  That I don’t always have to be going somewhere. In the past I was always on the move. Now my mornings are less stressful and my days easier. Thanks to the power of Zoom and FaceTime, I see some of my friends and family more often now than I did before quarantine.

3. That having a new puppy is a lot easier when you’re quarantined! My daughter just graduated from college and decided to get a puppy. Having my grand pup and kids around 24/7 has its challenges, but as a mom with adult kids it was all I could have ever asked for. They had to stay home! I loved it. I’m grateful for this precious family time, and although I know it will be ending soon, I’m happy that we had it.