How has your working life changed due to the coronavirus pandemic?
Our series Where I Work is taking a look at the working spaces of people who are getting stuff done from their homes in lockdown.
Today we’re chatting with Jennifer, a florist, designer, and the founder of Into The Wild Florist.
Jennifer usually specialises in bespoke floral arrangements for weddings, workshops, and events – all of which have been cancelled or postponed due to the pandemic.
She’s adjusted by now delivering bouquets to doorsteps around Clapham and Brixton, doing it all on her bike as a one-woman operation.
Here’s how (and where) she’s working in lockdown.
Hey, Jennifer! How has coronavirus changed the way you work?
Usually, as a wedding florist, I would either work from home or at the venue. Now that weddings aren’t happening, I’m 100% working from home!
Talk us through your working-from-home space
I have a foldaway 6ft table – that’s all I need really with the exception of good scissors, paper, string and ribbon. I’m working towards the dream of owning my own studio someday!
I set up and create my workspace before the flowers arrive so I can work on them straight away and have enough space. So I will often move furniture around to make space work for me.
I try to make my workspace as soothing as possible. My work table is in front of the window so I can see dawn and the changing colours of the sky (and sunset on some days) listen to the birds and generally get to know the local wildlife which is mainly birds, cats and foxes.
How have you found working from home? Have you come up against any challenges?
It’s great not having to travel, but in a small flat in Clapham, space is always an issue and I do tend to expand sometimes into the communal hallway (I am friendly with my neighbours).
Carrying heavy boxes of flowers up two flights of stairs at 3 am can also be quite challenging especially when you’re still half asleep in your pyjamas.
What’s a working day in lockdown like?
The flower delivery arrives typically between 2am – 5am, I either stay up or start working depending on the time and how many orders I have that week.
I will always start my day no later than 5am, with help from my good friend, coffee.
I will start to strip the foliage and condition the flowers whilst admiring the sunrises and the birds waking up.
I then start to arrange the flowers and write the handwritten notes to all my clients. This will go on until about 4pm. I start delivering at 5.30pm.
How do you stay focused when working from home?
When you have tight deadlines and deliveries to meet, staying focused is my only choice but a break with a coffee can refresh you and help sustain the focus, along with great music.
How are you doing mentally in lockdown?
The first few weeks were challenging, wondering what would happen to my business and a strong sense of loss for friends I’d see all the time.
I guess as my business has had to adapt over the weeks, I’ve also mentally adapted. It doesn’t make it easier, but it makes you appreciate people and what you thought were normal things, a lot more.
And how are you looking after yourself?
My partner is a good influence on me and reminds me to take breaks. I also have a very close network of friends and neighbours who have kept me sane with endless supplies of home-baked cakes, hummus and TLC.
I love cycling – delivering bouquets has been a welcome break. I’d recommend changing your environment, even for just half an hour can lift your mood, problem solve and refresh your brain.
I try to pack away anything to do with flowers at the end of the day, so I can separate work and ‘homelife’. This is a big help to separate work from home, even if I have to get it all out again the next day.
Floristry is a messy business so I also tidy no matter how tired I am. A rug is useful for hiding the worst marks on the floor!
What advice do you have for other people newly working from home?
To think carefully about two senses thatcan affect anyone’s mood dramatically, sight and scent.
Make sure your environment is clean and nice to look at and have lovely scents around whether it’s candles, flowers or nice cooking or baking!
Do you have an unusual working-from-home setup you fancy sharing? Get in touch by emailing Ellen.Scott@Metro.co.uk to get involved in Where I Work.
Share your views in the comments section below.
MORE: Where I Work: Carla, a celebrity and entertainment photographer teaching courses in lockdown
MORE: Where I Work: Carla, a celebrity and entertainment photographer teaching courses in lockdown
source https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/19/where-work-jennifer-florist-delivering-flowers-around-london-bike-12723824/
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