What It's Really Like Working From Home Full-time, Los Angeles and Boston

When working from home, I shoot for a comfortable and chic outfit. This is an example of what I wore to brunch, but also what I wear when heading out to nearby cafe.

If you don’t already know, I work from home and it’s 100p a blessing but it’s also not picture perfect. When I transitioned from being an intern to full time employee at the agency I work at now there was a lot of “new.”Among the changes that the company experienced, from staffing to caliber of clients, a major change was working remotely. 

I hate having to repeat myself, sorry if you already know all the T of my life but here’s some context on my job. I work at a boutique entertainment PR agency that specializes in nonfiction media. My boss, the company’s CEO, is a bonafide legend in the field of film PR thanks to his ability to champion films from Sundance to the Oscars. Because of his reputation, he started his own firm where filmmakers can go to him and our team for representation in all things film, festivals, and awards related. 

Our team of 4-6 people can survive and even thrive when our film slate is double our size. With dozens of projects from high level talent coming in, it’s important that we’re always doing the most we can to support the campaign in all the markets. This representation means that our whole team, including myself, travels for all major events. And if you don’t know entertainment, know that it’s always crazy busy and there’s never an off season.

That’s the T on what I do and why I work from home, but hold on for just a minute. I want to introduce you to one of my main girls Lauren Kane aka LK aka @LaurenKanee_ who also gets her grind on working from home.

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Follow Lauren Kane on her socials! IG @LaurenKane__ , Tik Tok @ImisstheoldLK

Hello, all! I am SUPER excited to be featured in the writing of the one and only, Will Samayoa. Truly, I am honored. My name is Lauren Kane, but you can call me LK!

While oftentimes I miss the ease of walking down the hall and seeing my friends at college, the next best thing is getting to see them shine through their professional career! Being in your early 20s is a crazy ride, and one I am super excited to do with the support of my college friends. One of the things I have learned in the short time being in the working world is that a balance between home and work life is crucial.

While I do not have a significant other or children to go home to at the end of the day, it is still very important to be able to have a healthy divide between your professional life and your personal life. Working from home is a rather newer concept and yet allows the humanity of companies to really show. 

Currently, I work in the Talent Acquisition department of one of the largest insurance companies worldwide. One of the most common phrases heard during an average day  is “WFH” (work from home). I have found that most people have maybe 1-2 days per week that they dedicate to working from their home office, and they are in the actual office the rest of the time.

When I first discovered this, I was shocked! You mean I am allowed to work in my sweatpants without makeup on? Sign me up! But in reality, it’s much more than that. It is knowing that you have a doctors appointment at 5pm and it would be much easier to head over at 4:45 from your home rather than take a half day and go from work. It is being able to see your child play in his first baseball game and being able to cheer him on, rather than texting “How did he do?” while still in a meeting at work. It is allowing and trusting employees to do their job without a microscope on them. 

This concept also tests employees and holds them accountable for their day to day responsibilities. Just because I am taking a call next to my dog does not mean I am expected to prepare any less than my coworker who is sitting a foot from my boss. It’s trust in your team, which at the end of the day is all that matters! Also, let’s not forget the test it takes to not eat your entire pantry when it is sitting right there!

Anyway, whether you are on board or totally against the concept, WFH is very 2020 (especially amidst all this COVID talk- YIKES!). It is time to embrace doing all of your work at Starbucks, and embrace getting emails at 6am because, hold up, someone isn’t driving into the office at that time? They are actually working? Groundbreaking! At the end of the day, WFH is here to stay. So be successful in your endeavors and embrace this new trend! If you ever need any tips and tricks, I know one savvy blogger that always has something to say….
You know you love me! 
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Xoxo,
LK 

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Now I totally love what LK said because YES! WFH has often been considered a luxury and something for "less traditional" jobs. However, I feel that most jobs can actually be done from home. Working in entertainment means long hours and knowing that 9-5 is an illusion. In this industry, you're constantly moving and meeting people. Working from home is great because it takes off different levels of stress that you may otherwise experience in commuting to an office, and then having 5 other places to go in 1 day. Sounds crazy? Well, I once drive from the SFV aka San Fernando Valley to Culver City then Hollywood all to end my night in Beverly Hills. I had like 2 hours to get that done and so mentally preparing myself at home made me oh so ready for that insanity.

Working from home is great, because as LK mentioned, you both feel trusted by your boss and can manage personal and professional manners. That being said, working from home isn't perfect whatsoever. Here's some cons, don't worry the pros are coming, I'm just a person that likes the bad news delivered first. 

When You WFH You Can Get Lonely
I have a home office setup in my room that honestly beats any desk in any office I have ever been at. I've got my fave plush chair, computer set up color coordinated to all my stationery, and I can play my music as loud as I want. But, I admit that sometimes I miss being around people. Have you ever gotten that urge of missing your college library? Yeah, there's just something to being around other people who are either working or just going about their day. Now saying that you don't have motivation when you're around people is insane. Like come on you don't wait for motivation you make it yourself! Jut every now and then, I do drive over to the nearest Starbucks and get like the cheapest drink just so I can pull out my computer and do some work. I'd say I'm actually less productive when I do this, I don't do it that often. It just happens that sometimes you want to be around people to feel like you're not isolated all the time, remember humans we're social creatures.

WFH Means You Got to Bring Your A-Game In Person
While I wfh most of the time, there are occasions where I meet with my boss or my team. And whenever we have these in person events there's the unspoken rule that you not only show up or show out. By that I mean, your energy should be high and you should be laser focused. I mean it kind of makes sense. You have been home all day, not in an office, so why would you be sluggish or moody on-site. Whether it's working weekends, or late night/early morning events, your not going to an office everyday so this makes up for it. Granted, I am a basic b!tch that is always moody but you see what I mean. That's 1 con of WFH, you're coming from the comfort of home so you better be ready to bring it all or nothing.

WFH Can Make It Hard To Balance Work and Life
There's been many a time where I feel anxious in my house because of work. Even though I don't always have to see my team I know the phone can ring any minute to check my progress. I had noticed that sometimes I'd tense up or feel drained, and walking to the kitchen and back didn't help all that much. I got to a point where I moved my office set up to another room that wasn't where I slept. That sort of helped. But you should know that even the comfort of home can be invaded by the real stress of work. Be mindful of this and see about working around the house to keep it fresh and keep yourself from associating emails/calls with your safe space. 

Now here are the pros of WFH, because as LK and I know, there are a lot! 

You Don't Have To Get Comfy for WFH You Stay Comfy
I have never felt more at ease when I can say that my uniform is a good pair of Lululemon joggers, an oversized hoodie, and some good ol' Gucci slides. Whether I'm going to the gym, lounging around, or working at my desk, being comfortable keeps my anxiety down even when my workload is piling up. Plus who doesn't love wearing sweats?! Again, WFH doesn't mean you dress like a human Snuggie - no! Get some cute athleisure or a nice groutfit because you can run from home, to Jamba, to the gym, to Trader Joes, all while you'd normally be stuck in an office. Of course you should do some work in between these activities! Don't pretend like WFH is a free pass - cuz it's not.

WFH Can Save Some Coin and Help You Stay Snatched
One of my favorite things that I can afford to do wfh is taking the time to eat well. From making a great green smoothie, to a rich salad, and picking out my healthy snacks, working from home let's me focus on my nutrition. Unless I woke up like super early or took the time to meal prep, taking in meaningful food couldn't be possible. For many of my friends who go into offices daily, they'll grab like a granola bar or have whatever cereals/snacks their office provides. Now some offices have some pretty good stuff, but for the most part it's sugary snacks or foods that aren't dense in good ingredients. Everyone is different and I do know people who do wake up early AF and also meal prep for the week ahead. But that is not me, I am a humble person who wants to make their avocado chicken salad when he wants it. 

WFH is More Normal Than You Think
Now working from home seems to stray from the corporate vibe, but it's really more common than it seems. At least in the entertainment and new media industry it is pretty common. Not all of us are influencers who work from home, but the sentiment is the same. In the digital age, a lot of work can be done virtually. Even meetings are sometimes more effective over Skype or on a group call because A it's hard to make an excuse for being late and B people just want to get it done with. I know for my work at a PR agency, I get a lot done at home. The only time I'm needed out is for screenings, events, and you get the idea. But those are things that can only be done in person. On a day-to-day vibe a lot of jobs just need a good WiFi connection and something to type on. 

I hope you enjoyed this piece on WFH because I know LK and I loved making it together! We are both huge advocates for working from home. Let me know what you think or if you're working from home now!