One of our goals for The Message over the next few (very unusual) weeks is to try to turn social distancing into a shared experience across the entire industry. To that end we created the Quarantine Diaries.
We’ve been sending out questionnaires asking people to tell us everything from their best working from home habit (and their worst) as well as their go-to selections for books, music and TV.
We’ll be updating the list as long as the situation lasts, and we’ve also incorporated a Spotify playlist that we’re adding to with each submission (see below). Anyone interested in sharing their own diaries with us, contact either David Brown and Chris Powell.
March 23 (see last week’s below)
Shelley Smit, UM
Have you developed any good habits about working from home? I find I’m taking more notice of sitting too long so I’m getting up more and taking a walk around the house…maybe throw in a few stretches…hug the dogs. Anything that gets me moving more.
Any bad habits? Emptying the dishwasher while on conference calls. I don’t do that at the office.
Favourite quarantine meal? Any kind of baked good…yes for breakfast, lunch or dinner (and the occasional snack)
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… It’s not advertising but I continue to belly laugh when I watch the video of the guy trying to give an interview on the news and his daughter dances in and then his baby strolls in on the walker. Never gets old and very relatable right now.
Thing you miss most about the office… People, people, people… I miss everyone so much.
What books are you reading? I just finished American Dirt. Makes my self isolation struggles seem very small.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? I just started The English Game on Netflix. One of the creators is Julian Fellowes who also created Downton Abbey. So far, so good.
What song best represents your current state of mind? Or what is on your quarantine playlist? I have been doing 80s fun runs on my Peloton app. Love the energy!
Any technology challenges/triumphs? I have fallen in love with Teams.
Matt Di Paola, Huge
Have you developed any good habits about working from home? The trick for me about working from home as an individual or now as a company is to maintain positive rituals and routines as much as possible. I still get up at the same time every morning and have a healthy breakfast and coffee. At the office, we are maintaining our Monday morning share outs and Wednesday afternoon shout outs. We just do them through Google hangouts now.
We have also added a few new ones like virtual lunches and coffees and just an open Google hangout that anyone can join in case they feel like talking to someone. At this point, maintaining normalcy and finding excuses for face time are the best habits of all.
Also, I have been making more time to talk to friends and colleagues and check-in on them and they have been checking on me, too. Maintaining mental health in times like these is difficult and we can all use a little extra support.
Any bad habits? Losing track of time. Luckily, my dog forces me to go outside for some fresh air and much needed breaks.
Also, snacking. So easy to snack. And no gym to go to. Exercise has fallen off a bit and I need to get more disciplined about it in the coming weeks. I have made it to High Park for a few 5-km runs and also have a mini-workout that I do when I’m travelling (100 pushups, 100 sit-ups, 100 squats and 4 one-minute planks), but at home I have to be really bored before I feel like doing it.
Favourite quarantine meal? Pizza. Always pizza. Quarantine or no quarantine.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… Honestly, just give me a steady stream of memes, GIFs and internet comics and all is good.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? I have powered through Succession, McMillions, The Outsider and The Pharmacist recently. Currently, watching season 2 of The Kingdom while writing this, cuz you know, Korean period piece with zombies at midnight on a Sunday night is about right.
What song best represents your current state of mind? Or what is on your quarantine playlist? Anyone who knows me knows how much I love live music. So, I have been really enjoying artists like Metric, Ben Gibbard from Death Cab for Cutie, Dan Mangan and Choir Choir Choir, as well as the Rivoli in Toronto, which is bringing people together online through regular livestream events. I am also looking forward to Twitter listening parties this week from bands like the Charlatans, Franz Ferdinand, Blur, Ride and Oasis.
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now… Be present, be nice, be empathetic and take a moment to check in with how people are doing. The economy will return to normal before we all do.
Kristina Elkhazin, Google Canada
Have you developed any good habits about working from home? Eating meals with the kids.
Any bad habits? Forgetting to take breaks and then realizing I’ve been on video conference for four hours straight.
Favourite quarantine meal? Salad with iceberg lettuce and ranch dressing.
Thing you miss most about the office? The people. I miss sitting with my team, miss randomly running into someone at the coffee maker and having a random chat or being able to pop by someone’s desk to say hello.
What song best represents your current state of mind? Everything is everything by Lauryn Hill.
Everything is everything
What is meant to be, will be
After winter, must come spring
Change, it comes eventually
Any advice for yourself six months from now? Be all in. And wash your hands.
Curtis Begg, PUMA Canada
Have you developed any good habits about working from home? Lunch time walks with the family.
Any bad habits? Taking over the home office and wearing my headphones all day long (even when not on a call).
Favourite quarantine meal? BBQ hot dogs.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… Geico.
Thing you miss most about the office? Colleagues around with a similar goal.
What song best represents your current state of mind? Or what is on your quarantine playlist? The End. The Doors.
Any advice for yourself six months from now? Elbow bumps are better then knuckles.
Nicolas Boisvert, lg2
Have you developed any good habits about working from home? Jogging every day with my wife. I communicate more than ever with my colleagues.
Any bad habits? To pass the time, my daughter cooks pastries. And I eat them.
Favourite quarantine meal? See previous answer.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… It’s not advertising, but I read smart jokes on Twitter every day. When I’m about to cry because of what’s going on, I go on Twitter for two minutes because I know I’m going to find something that will make me laugh.
Thing you miss most about the office… My chair. (see the image of the chair I’ve got at home to understand)
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations?
Anything that’s not about the end of the world.
Any technology challenges/triumphs?
Learned how to use Google Drive, Slack and Hangout in one day.
Adriana Ivory, The Garden
Have you developed any good habits about working from home? I was always bad at taking the time to make or have breakfast or set scheduled meals. Being at home with a two year old that requires to be fed and watered at regular times has helped me find the joy in slowing down and eating our meals together.
Any bad habits? I’m still trying to get the hang of “working hours.” When there’s no structured time to go home, I tend to blur the lines a bit.
Favourite quarantine meal? Making every meal at home has really helped with food waste and unique recipe creations. I’ve been experimenting with warm and comforting soups as of late. Great tip: Make big batches with fresh veggies and freeze portions out for times when you need a hug in a bowl.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… Well, think we can all agree that toilet paper commercials have really lost their meaning right now.
Thing you miss most about the office… We’re all a little family so I miss all of the silly jokes, fun side-bar conversations and simple things like sharing lunches and snacks.
What books are you reading? Loving it? Hating it? Having to now entertain a two year old at all time, my reading is currently limited to the literary classics The Hungry Caterpillar, Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What do You See? and we’ve taken a real interest in Disney Classics books over here.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? Brooklyn Nine-Nine is always a classic guaranteed to make you laugh, Top Chef is my go-to reality/cooking show and my fail-safe is always Law & Order. Dun Dun…
What song best represents your current state of mind? Or what is on your quarantine playlist? The Weeknd just released his new album today so that’ll be playing in the house for sure. Definitely need a balanced mix of upbeat music with a mellow twist.
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now… Recognize that not everything is the burning fire you need to put out like you used to think. Give yourself permission to breathe and slow down.
Any technology challenges/triumphs? Turns out it’s not as fun to make sarcastic jokes or roast people via slack or video chat.
Lindsay Eady, The Garden
Have you developed any good habits about working from home? I work from home around two days a week (even during non-quarantine times) because The Garden has a legitimate ‘Work from Home’ policy. But when I do, I eat less snacks because I am not next to my personal candy drawer at the office.
Any bad habits? My couch posture is reprimanded by four out of five doctors.
Favourite quarantine meal? Whatever my quarantine partner is kind enough to make.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… Combos “man-mom”.
Thing you miss most about the office… I miss my pals. Making fun of people’s sad lunches. How cold our water cooler keeps our water. I miss the office dogs. And complaining about the temperature. But most of all, I miss my candy drawer.
What books are you reading? Loving it? Hating it? I’m reading Virgin Suicides. Do not be alarmed. This is not a reflection of my current emotional state.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? Everyone, but especially advertising folk, should watch Nathan For You, A docu-reality comedy about a man who uses his “business background” to help struggling businesses, parodying methods of marketing. It’s on Crave!
What song best represents your current state of mind? Or what is on your quarantine playlist? I have made my own Spotify playlist called ‘Quarantunes,’ full of upbeat tracks to get me through the quarantimes. Prince’s 1999 (2019 remaster) is the banger of the week.
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now…
- Always have a supply of toilet paper.
- Advertising really isn’t that important.
Any technology challenges/triumphs? This is a “plug” for one of our clients: Womanizer– The Original.
March 20
Alan Madill, Good&Ready (above)
Have you developed any good habits while working from home? Doing household chores while on conference calls. How many creative directors does it take to change a lightbulb? The official answer is 1.
Any bad habits? Eating lunch at 10:30
Favourite quarantine meal? I made a fantastic chilli on Sunday night. I had the last bowl for lunch Thursday… at 10:30.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… Any jewellery buyer commercial. You can’t ignore them. I saw one a week ago saying his store is constantly being cleaned so you don’t have to worry about your safety. He produced the commercial and got it on air before most agencies could say “So uh, what’s the brief?”
Thing you miss most about the office… Afternoon tea with [partner] Terry Drummond.
What song best represents your current state of mind? What’s Going On by Marvin Gaye
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now? Remember all things you appreciated back then and don’t ever take them for granted.
Karine Courtemanche, PHD Canada
Have you developed any good habits while working from home? I stay physically active every day, and I walk around the house every time I speak on the phone.
Any bad habits? I am sitting anywhere, with no fixed office. I will have a membership for a chiropractor soon.
Favourite quarantine meal? Not found anything yet… and I miss the coffee from the office.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… I like very bad local ads.
Thing you miss most about the office… my colleagues.
What books are you reading? Fiction. The Great Believers, right now.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? I am revisiting Lost. It aged very well.
Advice you’d give to yourself six months from now? Enjoy business travel. I never thought I would miss it.
Ben Tarr, Leo Burnett
Have you developed any good habits while working from home? At 5 p.m. every day (weather permitting) I play with my kids in the back garden. Something I can never do when commuting!
I keep work downstairs so I say goodbye to my family in the morning, give ’em all a kiss and ensure I’m all done before heading back up. I get the occasional special guest joining a video call here and there, which is lovely.
Any bad habits? I’m eating like it’s Christmas.
Favourite quarantine meal? We are sitting down with the kids and doing traditional English roast beef dinners with Yorkshire puddings (until the eggs run out).
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… Tide “Talking Stain.” Timeless.
Thing you miss most about the office… Being with people and the jokes and banter.
What books are you reading? (Loving it? Hating it?) Treasure Island, kickin’ it OG.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? Luther, The Fall & Happy Valley (what can I say, I love a British crime drama).
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now? Kids grow fast. Take time to enjoy the little, everyday things with them.
Elana Schachter, Sid Lee
Have you developed any good habits while working from home? I am getting up early and going for a walk when I can. I miss the gym but realize how privileged I am to live near one of Toronto’s amazing ravines. Seeing nature and opportunity to wave to a friendly face (from six feet away) helps me face the day.
Any bad habits? I used to only give in to chip o’clock or a glass of wine by Thursday. Now that I can’t tell the days apart…
Favourite quarantine meal? My family loves making miso gravy with rice vermicelli noodles and roasted veg. Pre and during quarantine it’s a winner. We just had it tonight and it tasted like old times.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… I love this ad by Tushy (below) that came out a week or two ago. Tushy is a super clever brand from Australia that one of my colleagues introduced me to. It just nailed the right tone at the time.
Thing you miss most about the office… My friends!! Quick texts and the occasional FaceTime or DM does not replace the five-minute drive by or coffee and hihellohowareyouhowwasyourweekend.
What books are you reading? Loving it? Hating it? I was reading Ronan Farrow’s Catch and Kill which is excellent, but when Weinstein was arrested and the pandemic became full on, it started feeling too real. I ordered Eleanor Oliphant Is Completely Fine and it just arrived. I’ve heard good things and am excited to dive in.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? We have been watching an episode of Kim’s Convenience as a family every night and we are loving it. Nice to see our city reflected—even when you’re stuck at home. Also started watching Red Oaks on Prime with my husband once kids are in bed. It’s the escapism I need right not. Oh and the latest season of Curb on Crave—so good!
What song best represents your current state of mind? Was supposed to be at the Caribou concert last night so been playing his new album on repeat.
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now? Stay calm, things will work out. Focus on what matters—health and your family. Oh and don’t forget to floss—your next dentist appointment is unknown.
Caitlin Keeley, Union
Have you developed any good habits while working from home? I have been waking up before sunrise and doing some yoga, this gets my circulation going and wakes me up before I head to my desk. That, and espresso.
Any bad habits? I’m definitely going through more Mini Eggs than I expected. But that’s not bad.
Favourite quarantine meal? We had an eight-person five-hour video chat on Houseparty for by best bud’s birthday and that was super fun and memorable. We all ate our dinners together, then just hung out and laughed.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh… I am loyal to Starburst’s Berries and Cream ad circa 2007.
Thing you miss most about the office… I miss getting up, walking to someone’s desk and quick chitty-chatting. This sorts out email confusion real fast. Makes work more fun. Annnnd means we don’t sit as much.
What books are you reading? Loving it? Hating it? I finished Darius the Great Is Not Okay by Adib Khorram. It’s a beautiful book about friendship and feelings of isolation. I’m looking forward to reading Talking to Strangers by Malcom Gladwell next.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? Pose is an amazing show on FX with the legendary Billy Porter. Also, my friend produced a docu-series called Pride on OutTV where he travelled to Pride celebrations around the world to learn about LGBTQ+ history. That’s what I’m watching next.
What song best represents your current state of mind? Love in the Dark by Jessie Reyes is definitely on rotation. I’m really enjoying Diplo’s live quarantine sets too.
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now… We don’t quite know what the future holds. But I’d say right now I’m trying to focus on being content and sharing my good fortune. Working from home is not an ordeal. Many of us are very lucky and very comfortable.
Any technology challenges/triumphs? I accidentally video-joined someone’s Instagram live and I’m mortified.
Kevin Kivi, Horizon Media
Have you developed any good habits while working from home? It’s given me the opportunity to discover some new music on Spotify, that I wouldn’t always be comfortable listening to at the office. Today was about discovering The Weeknd’s new release, whereas yesterday I was rediscovering Duran Duran.
Any bad habits? Like most working parents, I’m likely struggling with balancing time with the kids and time working. By and large, I’ve tried to stick to a routine of getting up and working out, but after that things start to get messy and the lines are blurring between home life and work life.
Favourite quarantine meal? Kimchi! Great probiotics for the gut and immune system. Also, celery juice: drinking a ton of that.
Piece of advertising that can always make you laugh…[Yellow Pages’ “Not Happy Jan”] may only resonate with those of us old enough to remember our reliance on the Yellow Pages, but it’s undoubtedly my favourite piece of advertising, and the catch phase of “Not Happy Jan” is still very much used both in my office or at home, when upset or in need of a quick release.
Thing you miss most about the office…Honestly, the people. It’s great spending more time with my family and seeing them regularly. But I really miss my team, my colleagues and the staff. They’ve done a tremendous job in the last week adapting to this new and changing situation we are all dealing with, but video conferencing can never replace the human interaction we all fundamentally need.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? Kim’s Convenience on Netflix has become a nightly favourite to unwind and reground ourselves. For something a bit more suspenseful, we’ve gotten into The Stranger, The Sinner and The Outsider—all great, but a little tense!
Advice you’d give to yourself six months from now…We made it. You made some mistakes along the way. But we made it! Learn from those mistakes and keep looking forward.
Emily Brade, The Garden
Have you developed any good habits while working from home? Lunchtime walks.
Any bad habits? I’ve totally messed up my sleep schedule watching Netflix and scrolling through live Covid updates.
Favourite quarantine meal? Spaghetti with tuna: sautee some canned tuna with a clove of garlic and olive oil, add chili flakes and pasta water.
Thing you miss most about the office… The pals. We can’t be quite as spontaneous making each other laugh when we’re all at home.
What books are you reading? Loving it? Hating it? Homesick for Another World by Ottessa Moshfegh. Loving it. Very dark, very funny. A Paradise Built in Hell by Rebecca Solnit. Loving it. All about the amazing communities that emerge in disasters. An interesting read for these strange times. The Decameron! Bocaccio! It’s the perfect time to read plague fiction. This is one of my favourite story collections of all time.
Any TV, Netflix or streaming recommendations? I think I’m Netflixed out.
What song best represents your current state of mind? Or what is on your
quarantine playlist? Courtney Barnett.
Advice you’d give yourself six months from now… I reject the premise of the question! I think it will depend a lot on what the world looks like in six months. But I think we all have a lot to learn about our priorities as a society, and what can happen if we take care of each other (and what can happen if we don’t).
Any technology challenges/triumphs? My friends and I are now on Google Hangouts.
