Ten Feet Makes a World of Difference

Being a freelance writer means I've been working from home since before quarantine started—since October of last year, to be exact. I was able to go out when and where I wanted nonetheless, whether that meant to Florida to visit my best friend or to NYC to just be in NYC. (God, I miss my city.) Forced to stay inside, now even that much has been taken away, which... well, sucks. Not that I need to tell anyone how it feels; it's a relatively widespread sentiment, I'm sure.

Cold weather kept me indoors, too, but I tended to stay inside regardless of the weather. Weeks passed with my only time outside consisting of taking out the garbage, running a quick errand, or picking up groceries ordered online that were dropped off at the door. I'd become a shut-in's shut-in without even realizing it.

That's the kind of thing that can change your mood right under your nose, which definitely happened to me. It was subtle, slow, and subconscious, but I began feeling more and more comfortable with the lack of vitamin D. My mom must've noticed, because she suggested that I either get outside more often or start taking a supplement. I brushed off both ideas.

Earlier this week, though, the weather finally seemed to settle on consistently warm, breezy days. (Anyone living in the NYC area knows just how erratic the temperatures have been lately, so this is more than a welcome reprieve.) Irresistible days, the kind that make people want to disregard quarantine entirely and drive down to the beach. I don't intend to break quarantine anytime soon, but when I opened the window one day and felt a rush of wind on my skin...

I just had to go outside.

My room is adjacent to the back porch. So while in reality I've only moved about 10 feet from my desk, I feel as revitalized as I did the night of my first kiss nearly six years ago. An extension cord makes it easy to keep my laptop charged, the wire snaking through the window, and the bright blue sky just beyond the screen keeps me charged. It's a truly wonderful feeling.

It feels a little silly, to be honest, to have an epiphany so simple as this. It's not even like I was the kind of kid who stayed inside all the time, which only compounds that feeling of silliness. I grew up playing sports, going to the park with friends, loving the sights and smells of nature, camping with my family—the whole nine yards. Yes, I've definitely spent more time in than out, but both worlds were always essential to who I am as a person.

Silly or not, though, I'm just glad to be here. The table we have on the porch may not be as sturdy as my custom-built desk, the fold-out chair not as kind to my butt as my office roller, but nothing can quite replace a whiff of fresh, outdoor air. I won't be working out here every day, of course, especially when the temperature turns from cozy to cooking; bugs are also a detriment, many finding their way inside through my open window (laptop charger, remember?). Still...

The end of quarantine can't come soon enough, but a change of pace like this helps stave off the monotony, if only a tiny bit.