Over the past year since the pandemic started, many people have struggled to find ways to connect with each other and to work alone from home. While this was a large change for many people, I was already in a solitary job, which has made this time easier for me than it has been for others. Working in a job that involves being alone much of the time has many advantages, especially now, but it also has disadvantages that I have had to try to overcome.

Some jobs are naturally more solitary than others. Computer programmers, designers, and artists, for example, tend to work best when they are alone. The same is true for the type of writing that I do. Much of my work involves researching topics from traffic laws to career options to animals like beavers and eagles.

With the wide range of topics and writing for audiences ranging from grade 3 to adults, I need to be able to control my environment. Being around people in this situation would likely be more of a distraction than a help, and so it is best to work alone if possible. Having the chance to work without interruptions from other people is useful, especially when a deadline is upcoming.

Another advantage of working alone is the chance to arrange my work for times when it suits me. I can work late at night or early in the morning, depending on my schedule and anything unexpected that might come up. I can control the work and decide when and how much to do. I make the final decisions on what the process of writing will be.

However, that independence can also be difficult. Each article is intended for a specific purpose, and I have to fulfill my employers’ wishes. My solitary job means that I have sole responsibility to finish all of the articles on time and to fulfill what each employer wants. If I am delayed for any reason, even illness, I still have to get the work done.

Even with the pressure of having all of the responsibility to get the work done properly, my solitary job has been an advantage during the pandemic. Working from home means that my chances of catching COVID-19 from anyone else are limited. I was already working alone and knew how to plan my day and arrange my work.

That independence can be a challenge when other personal interactions are limited. With no one to talk to at work, I need to be sure to find other ways of connecting with people.

Like others during this time, I need to balance the solitude of my job with the need for connections with people. Every job has its challenges. In the pandemic and beyond, the goal is to balance the advantages and disadvantages to have the best experience possible.

Whether in a lockdown or during a time when all of society is open, a solitary job is not suitable for everyone. For people who can handle its challenges, however, this type of work can give them the stability and flexibility they need to thrive.

Bibliography:

Murphy, Mark. “2 Interview Questions To Test If Job Candidates Can Handle Working Remotely.” https://www.forbes.com/sites/markmurphy/2017/11/26/2-interview-questions-to-test-if-job-candidates-can-handle-working-remotely/.

Reddy, Chitra. “Top 20 Advantages and Disadvantages of Working Individually.” https://content.wisestep.com/top-advantages-and-disadvantages-of-working-individually/.