The North Dakota Governor opened up the state with some guidelines this last Friday, May 1st. And, in tandem so did my office; opening back up today, Monday, May 4th. I haven’t been physically back in my office more than an hour at a time since Tuesday, March 18th. Wow! I can’t believe I’ve been working from home for seven weeks! I have to say it went fast even though we witnessed seasons change during our hiatus. Although some of us are physically back to work our children aren’t physically back to school or daycare. So, my husband and I worked out our schedules where I go back to work for half days in the morning and work from home in the afternoons.
Even though we are back to work and back with co-workers we have some strict safety precautions in our office. Those on the top floor are encouraged to stay on the top floor and same for those on the main floor. We are to remain in our offices and meetings continue to be via online. We are to stay six feet apart and if we have to communicate face-to-face you are to do so outside a person’s office. Email correspondence is preferred, however. We have hand sanitizer stations throughout the building and we are obviously encouraged to wash our hands.
It’s nice to get back to some normalcy and see familiar faces in person rather than over a video. Although it has been a blessing to have technology during this time, nothing replaces the in-person interaction we as humans need. Some people need that more than others. I am not a touchy, feely person and I could live on my own personal island if I had to, but that is not for everybody. As you go back to work make a point, at a distance of course, to see those individuals and say, hi. Again, this is social distance not social isolation.
And, although the Governor has opened up the state that doesn’t mean go back to normal as usual. We still need to take the necessary precautions. Still be mindful of social distance when out in public. Wear a mask, if not for yourself but for the safety of others. Hopefully ND Smart Restart is the start of our lives getting back to the new normal and we do it safely. Honestly, I am a little afraid of all this opening up but it has to start at some point and as long as everyone does it right, we can all be safe. Please be respectful of people’s decisions no matter what they are and please those that maybe don’t take this as serious as others respect those that do and take the advised precautions, again if not for you but for the safety of others. I have always felt that North Dakotans and Midwesteners in general have more common sense than most so hopefully we prove this to be true during this reopening. Remember Stay Calm and Wash Your Hands.
