#WFH Diaries: Bri Foster of Pinterest
As the coronavirus pandemic staggers on, particularly in the U.S., most folks are still working from home. We're continuing to check in with creative professionals to see how they're faring. Below, we chat with Pinterest's community manager, Bri Foster.
Give us a one-line bio of yourself.
I am Bri, better known as Briyoncé. I am on the social team at Pinterest. I love social trends and all things culturally relevant. I can catch you up on the latest Real Housewives episode or break down the metrics of your latest social campaign and create an optimization strategy. Or we could do both, just as long as we can do it over a nice glass of champagne.
Where are you living right now, and who's with you?
I live in Nopa, which is a cute neighborhood in the middle of San Francisco. I'm currently living with three roommates in a four-bedroom apartment with a backyard that I recently decorated, a huge living room for movie nights, and my own patio attached to my room!
What's your work situation like at the moment, and how is it evolving?
Still working on hours that really work for me. Social is always on, even in normal times, so my hours are really at a rolling basis anyways. I finally caved and got a monitor and an office chair. Turns out working horizontally on your bed is terrible for your back. I used Pinterest to help find a desk solution that wouldn't compromise my pink glam room aesthetic. So it's evolving in ways that I'm finally understanding the importance of ergonomics.
When you do you expect to return to the office?
I could see everyone gradually coming back to the office in January 2021. However, I am secretly thriving in the current WFH situation.
Describe your socializing strategy.
Mostly outdoors. I have a love-hate relationship with Zoom, so I try to limit my appearances. I'm really lucky to live in a city that's only 7x7 and all of my friends are in walking distance-ish (can't forget about the hills). I'm usually social distancing at the park or the beach, or walking/skating/surfing with friends!
How are you dealing with childcare, if applicable?
No human children, but I did accumulate four plants at the beginning of quarantine, which have turned out to be a full-time job. Nonetheless, I love them all the same. I am expecting a fiddle leaf fig soon. I'll send the Zoom invite for the baby shower! ;)
What are you reading?
An absurd amount of Twitter, but also juggling a few books off and on. At the Existentialist Café, Call Me by Your Name and Eat, Pray, Love are all in my rotation.
What are you watching?
Also an array of things. The Baby-Sitters Club and Laguna Beach for nostalgia, Betty on HBO to keep up with the cool girls, and whatever romcom I can get my hands on.
What are you listening to?
I'm terrible at finding new artists and love a bunch of different genres, so I'm usually listening to playlists I find on Spotify. I also listen to Who? Weekly to keep up with celeb drama and have a good giggle once in a while.
How are you staying fit?
I basically have to be tricked into working out, so if I'm doing something fun like surfing or skateboarding, I can get a decent workout in. I go through running phases, but honestly just listen to what my body wants. If she wants to just go for a walk, we walk. If she wants to just stretch, we stretch.
Have you taken up a hobby?
I got a surfboard and a skateboard at the beginning of quarantine and basically just doubled down on practicing and getting better. It's a great after- or before-work hobby and a great way to get some outdoor time. I also taught myself how to knotless-braid my own hair and then further decided to go blonde for the first time ever. #pinterestmademedoit
An awkward moment since all this started.
Realizing how much money I was saving by just staying home. Before all this, it was super easy to get into a city routine of Uber-ing everywhere, eating out, going out, etc. So there was definitely an awkward moment where I looked at my bank account and was surprised at what a difference staying home made.
An aha! moment since all this started.
I actually thrive without a routine. Working from home has created so much flexibility in my work-life balance that it's actually helped me improve my productivity and stress. I tried to stick to a routine at the beginning of quarantine because I thought it would make the transition easier, but it actually made it worse. Once I threw the routine out of the window, I felt so much more free and relaxed.
What's your theory on how this is going to play out?
Like economically, politically or logistically? No clue. But I do know this is really forcing everyone to realize what's really important to them. On what actually makes them happy. Especially living in the city, it's such an aggressive work vibe, and now I feel like no one will take work-life balance for granted ever again.
