How Acrylic Painting Makes Me a Better Remote Worker
Remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic largely passed me by. After a few days of company-wide shutdown, I was one of three people back in the office — just me and the robots. For the past month I’ve been recovering from a surgery that’s kept me homebound, and this sudden shift to remote work has left me searching for ways to enhance my productivity and maintain well-being while at home. To my surprise it wasn’t frequent Zoom check-ins or better home-office setups, but the answer lay in a new hobby: acrylic painting. Here's how this artistic endeavor has bolstered my remote working capabilities.
The Calm Amidst Digital Chaos
Acrylic painting, with its vibrant colors and tactile nature, offers a respite from the constant screen time that remote work often entails. Taking breaks to paint has not only reduced my digital fatigue but has also provided me with moments of mindfulness, essential for mental well-being.
No one’s ever accused me of being a good acrylic painter — but that’s a topic for another blog post.
Time Management and Patience
Just as a painting requires layering and drying time, remote work tasks often need careful planning and patience. Setting aside specific blocks of time for painting has improved my time management skills, allowing me to allocate focused intervals for work tasks and breaks.
The Art of Communication
While a visual medium, painting has honed my ability to convey ideas and emotions without words. This skill has translated into more effective written communication in the remote workspace, enabling me to articulate thoughts clearly in emails and chat messages.
Creative Problem-Solving
Facing challenges in painting—whether it's mixing the perfect shade or mastering a technique—has enhanced my problem-solving skills. When faced with work-related obstacles, I now approach them with a more creative and open mindset.
In acrylic painting and in diagram drawing, I have yet to master the perfect horizontal line….I’ll settle for one or the other.
Building a Comfortable Workspace
Just as a painter organizes their palette and brushes for optimal efficiency, I've been inspired to optimize my remote workspace. From ergonomic furniture to the arrangement of digital tools, the principles of organization from painting apply seamlessly to remote work.
My first week I was content with the standard dining room setup, but this was far from optimal bouncing around on crutches. Like a painting you keep coming back to and tweaking, I’ve honed my setup into a place of comfortable productivity. My parents have been helping while I’m on the mend, and my mom has come to appreciate a good mechanical keyboard — she’s gone so far as to declare Cherry MX Black keys as her optimal setup.
Celebrating Small Wins
In our digital age, it's easy to get lost in the endless cycle of screen-based achievements. There are only so many video games to conquer or books to finish on the Kindle before those accomplishments begin to feel monotonous. Over time, even these victories can start to feel like work, as they're bound to the same screens that dominate our professional lives. However, stepping away from the digital realm and into the tactile world of acrylic painting offers a refreshing change of pace.
Each brushstroke in a painting is a step towards the final masterpiece, a tangible reminder of progress made with one's own hands. Similarly, in remote work, it's essential to recognize and celebrate small achievements, even if they aren't always tangible. Painting has underscored for me the significance of relishing each small win and has taught me the value of appreciating the journey, not just the destination.
While it might seem unconventional, acrylic painting has been an invaluable tool in enhancing my remote working skills. The parallels between the world of art and the digital workspace are numerous, and by embracing them, I've found a harmonious balance between work and well-being. If you're a remote worker seeking a fresh perspective, consider picking up a brush and canvas. You might be surprised at the insights and skills you gain, extending far beyond the painted surface.
