There is no question that 2020 was a year of change and upheaval globally, within both our personal and work lives. Remote work has affected all of us differently, and through it all, we’ve managed to find some silver linings within an incredibly difficult year. Today, we’re sharing our report on some of the silver linings we uncovered in 2020, and understanding how we can carry those small wins with us into 2021.

We surveyed 1,000 full-time employees in the U.S. to learn more about what kept them going and how remote work has impacted their collaboration, productivity, and communication.

“It has been incredible to see the different ways newly distributed teams are learning to adapt and thrive in this constantly changing work environment, said Leah Walters, Head of Communications at monday.com. “While the COVID-19 pandemic has undoubtedly brought on so much hardship, we’ve learned from this report and our global community at large that there are some positive trends here to stay as well.”

Here are the key findings of monday.com’s survey on the Silver Linings of 2020.

We still work well together

  • 54% report communication with colleagues wasn’t affected by the pandemic
  • 26% implemented more video calls to maintain team relationships

We indulged and learned new skills

  • 66% binged more TV during quarantine
  • Over half of respondents (52%) spent more time listening to music; 31% spent more time listening to podcasts
  • 13.5% started a side hustle business
  • 53% spent more time perfecting their baking skills
  • 27% allocated more time to pamper, cuddle, and look after pets
  • 39% spent more time reading

Households are connected

  • 27% feel closer to their families and roommates at the end of 2020
  • 43% are most grateful for their family in 2020
  • 26% made more time for family dinners
  • 21% say their communication is better
  • 34% are spending more time connecting and bonding with housemates
  • 56% have become kinder to colleagues, family, and friends

We had fun 

  • 23% voted “I hope this email finds you well” as their favorite icon of 2020
  • 23% voted that Mike Pence with the fly was the best meme of the year
  • 20% voted “How it started / how it’s going” was the best meme trend of the year
  • 10% voted that “Everything is cake” was their favorite meme of the year

Desks are out; the bedroom is in

  • 75% of people have ditched the office for a more comfortable working environment
  • Over half of respondents (56%) take their Zoom calls in their bedrooms and living rooms
  • Only 25% worked in a traditional office set up (desk and chair)
  • 4% are a little too comfortable…taking calls from their bathroom

As we kick off 2021, we believe communication and automation will be the keys to unlocking more creativity and collaboration among employees.

With a rediscovered appreciation of our personal and family time, we’ll see a continued desire to automate redundant tasks to stay focused on what’s most important and carve out some much-needed balance.

We’ve successfully stayed connected to our colleagues and know that will continue to carry us through this coming year too.