The Lockdown Log | Interview with Lauren – Event Manager

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Welcome to The Lockdown Log!

In this new series, The Lockdown Log, I’m going to be interviewing some of my friends from New Zealand, to hear a little about what their experience was like during the COVID-19 (coronavirus) Lockdown that our country went through in April (and continues, in some degree until we’re told otherwise). For some of my friends, life has radically changed, for others, it’s only a little different. But whatever has happened in the last few months, whatever their situation has been or will continue to be, they have a story, and one that I believe is worth sharing, if not for now, then for the future.

In this first installment of The Lockdown Log, I chat to my friend Lauren, who is an event manager in Auckland.

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Hey Lauren! Thanks so much for chatting with me today! We’ve been in some form of Lockdown for the past 41 days now; outside of Lockdown, what would a usual week look like for you, as an Event Manager in Auckland?

Basically no week for me looks the same. Sometimes work is quiet and I’m in the office Monday to Friday, 9am – 5pm. Most weeks there are events outside typical work hours though. If we have a huge event coming up then in the week leading up to it I’ll probably be working 12 plus hours a day to get ready.

Outside of work I’m usually out a couple of nights a week with friends or at church or youth group as one of the leaders. So that combined with work events I’m often only home a couple of nights a week.

Sounds like a ‘normal’ week is pretty full on! In terms of work, how has that changed for you? Have you been able to do any of your Event Management from home?

Yes, I have been able to work from home. It’s a lighter workload and, of course, with not being able to run events and only being able to plan for events towards the end of the year so much, I’ve taken on a few projects that I normally wouldn’t do.

And do you enjoy working from home? I know a lot of people really don’t like it, and struggle with things like setting up a work space, and sticking to some sort of routine. 

I’ve actually loved working from home. I roll out of bed at 9am and I’m ready to start working. Like I mentioned, my workload has lightened so I’ve been enjoying taking things a bit slower. My desk space is my bed. I know that’s not recommended but all through high school and university I worked from my bed, so why start using a desk now? Plus its so much more comfortable.

Haha! Fair point! For those who aren’t used to working from home, and who may need to continue working from their desks (or beds!) for the next wee while, do you have any tips? 

Take breaks. Normally at work you actually spend quite a bit of time just talking to your co-workers. Give yourself a break every now and then.

Excellent tip. I’ve definitely missed just chatting with colleagues! Work aside, is there anything you’ve found really hard about Lockdown? About not being to just go out and do ‘normal’ things? 

Yes! The fact that there was no bakery! I love heading down the road and grabbing lunch from the bakery on the weekend. I know I could just bake the stuff myself, but its not the same. Also I’ve found not going to Op-shops difficult; I miss op-shopping. [For non-New Zealand readers, an opshop is a charity store, or thrift store.]

Oh I hear ya on the opshops!

We went from what we thought was a ‘normal’ sort of existence to one that was very different. It’s been quite the month or so! What have you been grateful for during Lockdown? 

I’m grateful that I still have a job. A lot of people in the events industry have lost their jobs, and I can’t imagine how hard that must be. I’m also grateful that I have a dog that forces me to go for a walk and leave the house each day. Being an introvert means I’m also perfectly happy to spend quite a lot of time by myself, so I’m also grateful for that.

I’m definitely grateful for our dog too! Though I think she’s definitely over all the walks we’re taking her on! Enjoyable for us, but I think she’s looking forward to us being out of the house and having her days back!

Is there anything that you’ve actually enjoyed during this time?

I’m definitely a night person, so I have loved rolling out of bed at 9am each morning … but I don’t think I’m going to be allowed to continue that. I’ve also really loved having the time to do all my craft projects, and not wearing makeup every day!

I think I’ve saved so much money on makeup this month by not wearing much either! Have you got any tips or tricks for surviving isolation? 

Haha be an introvert? Have video calls and virtual happy hours with your friends. There’s a big difference between actually seeing peoples faces and talking to them via typing on messenger or text.

It’s so important to keep in touch with people, eh?

On a lighter note, watched anything good on Netflix recently?

Yes! I finally watched The Crown and The Adams Family. That second one is a weird one but I reference the movie quite often and I realised I had actually never watched the whole thing.

Oh nice! I started watching The Crown a few years back but never got around to continuing it! Perhaps I’ve missed an opportunity during Lockdown.

Okay, last, but certainly not least, in fact possibly the most asked question about Lockdown … did you do anything drastic to your hair?

Haha! No, but I did give my hair a trim and re-dyed it but that’s pretty normal for me.

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Thank you so much, Lauren, for chatting to me about your time in Lockdown! It’s been a real pleasure having you on This Splendid Shambles.

Stay tuned for another edition of The Lockdown Log coming soon!

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To learn more about New Zealand’s alert level system, check out the COVID-19 website.