My mom worked from home as a seamstress all of her life. Customers brought their clothing to the house for tailoring and picked them up when she was done. I have vivid memories of the sound of her large, factory-sized machine as she worked, and images of her clients’ clothes hanging from the mantle and closet doors.
Grandma Jennie worked from home, too. As long as I can remember, she was an Avon lady. She didn’t have to leave home because most of her clients worked with Aunt Connie at the Yankee Maid factory. It was a family affair. My aunt handled the sales and delivery for her.
In contrast, I commute to work every day — or did until COVID-19. Thinking about Grandma and Mom made me realize how much of my environmental impact is caused just by going to work. If I didn’t commute, I would seldom use a car. I can shop at the local grocer and walk to the post office, bank, and library right here in my neighborhood.
And if I worked from home, I would need to do far less laundry and ironing. Mom and Grandma didn’t need a different set of “work clothes” to earn a living. Like them, I would just wear what is comfortable. And, though I wear a different outfit every day for my job, if I worked from home, I wouldn’t mind wearing the same set of clothes two days in a row. I would definitely use less makeup and personal care products if I worked from home.
I would also eat less take-out food and vending machine snacks — which I tend to eat when I forget to take my lunch to work. There is always something to eat at home — or available by a short walk to the store. Making my own meals is a healthier, cheaper, and more eco-friendly way to eat.
What if our current social distancing measures inspired more businesses to allow workers to telecommute — even after the pandemic? Although telecommuting doesn’t work for all jobs, allowing those who can to do it could drastically reduce our environmental impact.