Working Online
with Cat C., web technology consultant
are launching blogs, setting up home offices, even
starting new businesses or developing side businesses
where they need a new website to develop a larger
online marketing presence.
Holly: Unlike many of us, you are used to working
from home. Has daily life changed at all for you in
the last two months?
Many AWCH members know Cat C. as the friendly person
who assists us with online application problems, logging
into and navigating our website, and managing our member
profiles. Did you know that she not only programmed the
current AWCH website and is currently working with
Jordan W. on designing a new one, but also programmed
and manages the FAWCO, FAWCO Foundation, and other
American Women’s Clubs’ websites around the world? She
offers her services as a technology consultant to numerous
other clients as well. Clearly, she has always been a very
busy person, but I was curious to know if and how her life
has changed during the corona crisis.
Holly: I think of you very much as a kind of computer
doctor. During these months of social distancing,
computers and the internet have become more
vitally important to all of us than ever before. I
am imagining that demand for your generally
sought-after services has spiked. Is that true? How has
this affected your workload and the nature of your
work?
Cat: Actually, the amount of work has remained the
same, but the focus has changed somewhat. I have
done less project consulting for larger companies,
and many of the small-to-medium-sized businesses
I work with regularly have scaled back during the
crisis. While I am doing less user-to-user support
for them, some have taken the opportunity to make
improvements and have kept me busy with backend
technical upgrading. Also, many more individuals
Cat: Because I have clients all over the world, I am
used to Skyping. But where possible, I usually try to do
at least one in-person consultation, and I miss those.
The other big change for me is having my husband
home all the time. Neither of us is particularly quiet,
and we both spend a lot of time on conference calls.
It has been an interesting challenge.
Holly: Many of us have been spending way more
time on the screen for work, for socializing, and for
entertainment. Do you have any tips for how we can
manage screen time better?
Cat: I have always spent a huge amount of time in
front of the screen, so I set time limits for myself.
I try not to sit in front of the screen for longer than
two hours without making a cup of tea or walking out
on the balcony. I have a headset so that I can walk
around during non-video conference calls. I also find
it critical to set a boundary between work mode and
home mode and to get out of the house now and
then. I take clear breaks. For example, I go running
at lunchtime. I also have rituals to prepare me to
return to work time. After lunch I make a pot of tea,
then sit down at the desk. And when I’m done with
work, I’m done with work. I may spend more time
on screen—I’m an online gamer—but I turn off my
email and notifications on my phone. In the evenings
I sing in two choirs and we go out with friends. This is
what I miss the most now.
20 Special Theme: Our New World