“I stopped wearing makeup, I stopped buying clothes, I gained 15 kg.” The IT specialist complained that remote work “destroyed her psyche.” Almost a hundred comments under her post: how IT professionals react

Valentina Pascal, entrepreneur

I have something similar, but I look at it from a different perspective: I save on cosmetics, clothes, and shoes — in reality, my expenses are several times lower. Communication with friends has become better.

Maria Kuznetsova, Project manager

Oh, I’m not the only one. I understand you very well. The format of the work itself, in my opinion, is a bit artificial: artificial rallies, artificial conversations. There is also absolutely no feeling of fulfillment, exchange, or mutual support: your resume is growing, as is your experience, but in fact you are sitting at the same desk at home and you don’t feel any changes at all. All your colleagues are somewhere far away, and the results of your work are somewhere in a photo on a social network or in reports.

Victoria Mirkevych, recruiter

I have a positive experience. Because I had/have more time for myself. Because if I go to the office, I spend a little longer on the way. And so almost nothing has changed.

Anya Skirko, Software Reverse Engineer

Nothing like that happened. I lost weight. Not much, but when I moved to the States, I gained 5 kg in the first few years. Now I’m in the same shape as when I was 25 (I’m 40). I wear the same jeans as then. I quit vaping. I adjusted my diet. I started taking better care of myself. My stress has decreased. I walk for about an hour every day. I also work out. At home or outside. There were periods when I went to a kava bar (this is what we have in the States, like a soft drink and a bar, they serve kava/kratom) almost every day. There were periods when I didn’t go. I started talking to my neighbors more. Overall, there are some pluses. And I don’t wear makeup. And when I go for a walk. I don’t like the feeling of makeup. Plus, it’s not so good for your skin. I think it’s about being your own mom. Which not only allows you to play, but also explains that without forcing yourself a little sometimes, you can’t achieve anything. Like in training. If you only do those exercises that are comfortable, then there will be no progress. If external factors force, then such a need for self-control seems to disappear. But it is constantly there.

Volodymyr Hural, UI/UX Designer

Eight years of freelance work. I also stopped drawing… There is a bit of that, I don’t have enough sociability, probably the only thing that was difficult for me to leave the company where I worked was the team. I did the work and it was fun to chat at the same time, besides work. I sat at home, so now I’m hungry for people, in this sense this is probably the biggest minus. The positive is that I earn more and have a lot of free time, although sometimes it’s not very good. Also, the work is more interesting and I can choose.

Natalia Ponomarenko, developer

I was looking for a remote so I wouldn’t have to wear makeup and leave the house only to walk the dog.

Anna Tarapygina, QA Engineer

My life has taken on new colors under remote conditions — due to the lack of commuting across most and larger/more comfortable work-apartment areas: from more time for myself to a better mood, because I don’t have to travel in congested traffic in the rain and heat. I don’t have to conduct a survey of 20 people, sitting elbow to elbow, whether it’s okay if I open the blinds/window/change the air conditioner temperature. Plus, no office will be as quiet as my home (unless I’m in the office alone). I also left the office because a ton of snacks, which I usually don’t buy, were always in the kitchen. The pomodoro tracker really helped me establish the distinction between rest/work.

Volodymyr Golubenko, Senior Business Analyst

I’ve been working remotely since 2021, I miss the office a little, but I wouldn’t go more than 1-2 times a Sunday.

Olga Maksimova, Frontend Technical Lead

I’ve been working remotely for 9 years. You just have to develop a routine right away and stick to it. I run in the morning, walk in the evening. For socialization, there are language courses, speaking clubs, bike rides, and the market every Thursday, you just have to force yourself to talk to people, which I didn’t like before remote work. I don’t turn on the camera when I have a «bad hair day», I sit in pajamas when I’m not in the mood to go on a marathon and don’t eat anything, because I have the opportunity to cook fresh. For me personally, it’s ideal. I can go to the office from time to time, when I need to, but no one will notice me there anyway, because I always sit in the darkest corner with headphones on.

Olga Kaminska, QA Engineer

I’ve been working remotely for a year. The desire to go outside only increases, because no walk in the fresh air can replace a treadmill (although it’s useful for me in rainy weather). When I worked in the office, I had more snacks «for the company» with goodies, now I don’t have enough time for that, and I try to buy less junk food at home.

Regarding self-care — I still want to look good on daily errands (but it’s probably about something more, I always want to take care of myself for my own sake). And going out for coffee on the weekend is like a holiday, so I pick a nice look.

Olena Shpylova, QA

I like working remotely because it’s quiet at home, no one is bothering you, and you’re working, everyone is smoking, and you’re not. Also, as for the office, it’s like there’s a bunch of people in the office, and there’s not always anyone to talk to. The windows are often closed in open space, someone is blowing, someone is cold, everyone is looking at your monitor, it takes at least an hour to get to the office one way. You need to have a nanny, because you have less time to get everything done. It’s good to go to the office if you don’t have children, or if you have children and you’re tired of sitting at home, when you’re single or have children, but you don’t have a family.

If a person likes to dress up, then they will always find time to spend money on clothes and jewelry. Maybe clothes have become more practical than when I went to the office. But for the past 3 years I thought that, in general, you need dark clothes and comfortable ones, otherwise you might have to run and escape somewhere. But I also miss the office a little. Maybe 1-2 times a week

Olga Rudenko, Agile Enthusiast

I’ve been working remotely for the second month, lost 2 kg, saved a lot of money on food (because I cook at home), started walking more, do yoga twice a day, and consciously communicate with friends more. I dreamed and planned to switch to remote work, and now I finally got it.