It is a full year since the Seven team began working from home, we thought it would be for a few weeks, a couple of months at most, and here we are 365 days later. With the pandemic easing thanks to vaccinations, and the tantalisingly close prospect of lockdown and distancing measures coming to an end, this week, we’re reflecting on a year few of us will ever forget.

WFH365: Robyn

On Monday 16th March 2020 – when everyone in the UK was being told to work from home – I was sipping a cocktail on a beach in the Maldives. I was on day two of my honeymoon and I had no idea how quickly things would change back in the UK.

Within days we realised we would have to cut our honeymoon short, and landed back home in the midst of the first national lockdown – not quite what we’d expected for the start of our marriage.

Since then, like everyone in the UK, I’ve had my ups and downs. BC (Before Covid) I liked to work from home one or two days a week but doing it every day was more challenging than expected.

Luckily, we moved from our flat to a house last August and I’ve been able to set up a dedicated home office space, but I’ve missed being able to chat ideas through over the desk, working lunches with journalists, and even just being able to pop to Pret for a coffee with a colleague.

While some elements of home working are great (and arguably more efficient) the loss of the social element has been difficult – particularly in such a creative industry.

My highlights of the past year have been the few days we were able to meet up for working team lunches last summer and – in the latest lockdown – Zoom cocktail-making and cookery classes.

It feels like the end is finally in sight though and I’m really looking forward to being back in the same room as the team soon!