Here’s a peek at Baltimore technologists’ work-from-home setups

What a year it’s been these last two weeks.

Plenty of companies around the Baltimore area have closed their offices in an effort to help slow the spread of COVID-19. And with nonessential businesses shuttered around the state this week, it doesn’t appear like a change will be coming soon. So let’s settle in, and figure out how to make it as comfortable as possible.

While working from home is hardly a new concept in 2020, this very necessary change to protect health and safety nevertheless brought a shift. Many companies are set up with multiple options for how folks work. But now, pretty much everyone who normally works in an office setting is doing the same thing.

Still, it’s clear that there’s still lots of variety to be found. Some had years of experience working from home to tailor every chair and accessory exactly to their liking, while others had to adjust on the fly. Personally, I’ve got a new shared office with a dedicated desk and two big windows nearby, but the decorating that I’ve been meaning to do since moving to a new place a few months ago was still behind schedule. And it’s also a change, since I’m used to spending lots of time at a coworking space.

After putting out the call to Baltimore for folks to show off their WFH space, we’ve seen some anecdotal evidence that there are lots of different approaches.

For instance, one monitor is doing it wrong:

https://twitter.com/jessgartner/status/1242855033819013123

pic.twitter.com/5GWAG1idUL

— Dan Ivovich (@DanIvovich) March 25, 2020

pic.twitter.com/tctfcepv7q

— Kieron KW (@KieronKW) March 25, 2020

The last-minute Ikea trip was a good call:

The rolly chair is my most recent upgrade – emergency Ikea trip when we went to indefinite wfh. And yes, I do use a copy of the Hitchhiker's Guide as a laptop stand. pic.twitter.com/VPN6nB8paQ

— Rose Burt (@RoseHammerBurt) March 25, 2020

Rooms can vary:

Attic hideaway…. #getpixilated pic.twitter.com/01OgzXx0S6

— Patrick Rife (@PatrickRife) March 26, 2020

My desk may or may not be in a closet (you never have to clean it up when people come over…just shut the doors!💁‍♀️) pic.twitter.com/14NIYuASwa

— Pava LaPere (@PavaLapere) March 25, 2020

Plants make everything better:

Cozy room full of about 30 plants! pic.twitter.com/Ds4WLEtNJH

— Gray L 🚲 (@GrayDeeLee) March 26, 2020

Standing desks can take many forms:

https://t.co/Jy6q8B1LMN

— Brian Seel (@cylussec) March 26, 2020

There are new coworkers to set boundaries with … or, maybe don’t:

How I'm living right now. pic.twitter.com/VGUcFlyYPN

— Sean Sutherland (@SeanJSutherland) March 25, 2020

And we may all be working from home, but don’t sleep on the chance to catch up with old friends:

I’m not in Baltimore anymore (sad panda) but the company I work for is based in Columbia, MD! I’m usually remote and here’s my workspace- what you can’t see is the dog bed behind the chair 😉 pic.twitter.com/RGeaMYBLeA

— Rachel Davis (@SheHacksBrands) March 26, 2020

Find all of our Baltimore coronavirus coverage here, and send tips to baltimore@technical.ly.