It is generally accepted that copywriters are used to working from home. So during the enforced period of home working as a result of coronavirus, you’d think it should have felt like business as usual for copywriters. But even those used to being without an office (myself included) experienced periods in which they struggled with the ‘new normal’.
I spoke to two other copywriters, both of whom found working from home harder than ever during lockdown.
Living Alone
Sarah lives by herself in a two bedroom flat in Manchester city centre. At the start of 2020, her freelance copywriting business was flourishing. By day, she enjoyed working from the spacious home office she had created in her spare room, creating copy for software development companies. During her leisure time, she was able to make the most of Manchester’s urban amenities. Dinner with friends, tickets to the theatre and visiting museum exhibits all formed part of a normal week.
With the arrival of COVID-19, Sarah found herself trapped in her flat, unable to even see friends. All social events were forgotten, and without a garden she was limited to leaving the flat only for exercise or essential food shopping.
Despite being used to working from home, being in the flat 24/7 started to take its toll. The working space that usually felt inspiring suddenly felt demoralising, and she missed seeing friends and family.
Lockdown with Children
Joseph had worked in marketing for 15 years before going freelance five years ago. With two children in primary school in Leicestershire, working from home became nearly impossible when trying to meet the demands of also managing their home schooling Monday to Friday.
Joseph confided that he found it difficult to feel motivated about work. He started submitting fewer proposals and worried about meeting deadlines. When he was able to commit to a few hours work, the kids were left watching TV which he said was a “depressing sight” as one hour of screen time rolled into four or five. He is hopeful that their return to school in September will help him get back on track.
Getting Through the Storm
Before writing this blog I didn’t need to go far to find copywriters who had struggled with one aspect or another of working from home during lockdown. One friend commented:
“We might be in different boats but we’re all in the same storm.”
COVID-19 has affected many freelancers. Fewer opportunities for paid work, loss of earnings, health anxieties, too much work to handle, loneliness and juggling childcare have all put enormous pressure on our community. Despite being used to working from home, for many it has taken on a very different feel with lockdown measures or social distancing in place.
Copywriters emerging from lockdown have every reason to feel proud. Remaining creative from the confines of your home with little external input is no easy task. It will be interesting to see if working from home begins to feel easier as and when restrictions are lifted.