#WFH Diaries: Andrea Lisbona of Touchland
Even as the world begins to open up amid the pandemic, most folks are still working from home. We're continuing to check in with creative people to see how they're faring. Here's an update from Andrea Lisbona of Touchland.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
My name is Andrea Lisbona and I am the founder and CEO of Touchland, a beauty-inspired brand of hand-sanitizing solutions that make hand hygiene fun.
Where are you living right now, and who's with you?
I live in Miami with my husband and my two dogs, Chippy and Coco. We just added Coco to the family and I'm obsessed with her!
What's your work situation like at the moment, and how is it evolving?
We've been working from home through the whole outbreak and slowly we are returning to our office two days a week. We have some team members who are not based in Miami, so we were already used to conference calls and working with remote team members, but working from home every day has been unusual. We actually signed a lease on a gorgeous new office space right before quarantine, so we are looking forward to being able to use it regularly.
When will you be fully back in the office?
We expect to be fully back to "normal" by July—whatever that means! We'll be implementing safety measures for everyone, like maintaining physical distance from each other and deep cleaning work stations on a daily basis. Of course, we already have plenty of hand sanitizer for everyone.
Describe your socializing strategy.
I am originally from Barcelona—I moved to the States recently to run Touchland here—so I was already used to FaceTime calls to keep in touch with family and friends! We have definitely been keeping up with those more than ever; my brother and his wife had their first child—my first nephew!—right before quarantine happened. While I'm heartbroken that I haven't been able to travel to meet him yet, the regular calls, videos and pictures have helped.
How are you dealing with childcare, if applicable?
I don't have kids, but I am a mother of two dogs. We just brought home Coco a few weeks ago. Fortunately, they can come to the office with me, which brightens everyone's day.
What are you reading?
I love reading books. Currently, I'm reading Tools of Titans by Tim Ferriss. As an entrepreneur, I spend a lot of time studying the success (and failures!) of other entrepreneurs. We can learn so much by observing others.
What are you watching?
My go-to TV shows are Friends, Suits and Money Heist. My newest favorite is White Lines on Netflix. Sometimes, I need to disconnect from all the stress with work, so these shows help!
What are you listening to?
I'm always listening to podcasts featuring entrepreneurs, as well as Ted Talks. Most of the time, I'm listening to Spotify playlists throughout the day.
How are you staying fit?
I have done tons of sports in my life—10 years of judo, basketball, skating ... but since I started working, I basically just do stretching in the mornings and that's pretty much it. I should do more, I know!
Have you taken up a hobby?
Reading, meditating, walking my dogs. I started really appreciating the little moments.
An awkward moment since all this started.
The day I had to wear jeans again after two months in sweatpants. That was ... uncomfortable.
An aha! moment since all this started.
I never thought I would really enjoy being at home all day, every day, but it actually calmed me down! Being at home all the time has helped me see things differently and, I think, be able to handle some of the stresses of work a little bit better.
What's your theory on how this is going to play out?
If we are responsible for the next months, we will return to a semblance of normal life with a new perspective. I believe these past few months have actually changed many things for the better: Parents have been able to play with their kids more, couples got to talk more, etc. By placing our old lives on "standby," we have been able to take the time to appreciate the little things more. I really do believe we all have changed the way we see the world. As the country reopens, I look forward to returning to the day-to-day—in a socially responsible way, of course!—with that new perspective.
