These are unprecedented times folks. Just the other day, I called my sister and told her my mother is filing for unemployment, and she said, “What?? She told me she’d wait for me so we could do it together over a glass of wine.” In a time when people are making parties out of filing for unemployment, it is incredibly important to not only be thankful for the ability to work remotely, but if you are a manager, to take a soft approach to remote management.

As a creative freelancer, I have spent most of my career in a remote working situation and I have experienced the good, the bad, the ugly, and the downright ridiculous, so today we will discuss the “do’s and don’ts” of remote management from the perspective of your employees, so that you know what they need from YOU.

Tip #1: DO NOT MICROMANAGE.

Just because you aren’t in the same room as the people under you doesn’t mean they need constant check-ins from you via Slack or Google Hangouts. Let them get their work done. When you message them, they have to stop what they are doing and lose their thought process, just to reply. Trust that your team is doing what they need to, and frankly, if they aren’t, you’ll notice fairly quickly.

Tip #2: INVEST IN TELECONFERENCING.

Yes, you’ve used Google Hangouts, or Skype and those totally working, but that’s just because you’ve never experienced Zoom or UberConference. The former options seem good until you try the latter. A top sirloin steak tastes amazing until you’ve had a bacon wrapped Filet Mignon … and your life changes forever and you can never go back to discount meat again. Zoom and UberConference offer features that are specific to managing teams and working together …

Tip #3: LOOK INTO WIFI HOTSPOTS.

The most important thing right now for your team is a reliable internet connection. Despite what you may think, not everyone actually has access to reliable internet where they live. Some people live in apartment buildings where the apartment management is in charge of internet, and getting it fixed or restarted sometimes becomes a bureaucratic process that takes months and a few bribes to the right government officials to execute. WiFi hotspots are an altogether inexpensive way of getting people a secure connection at a time when internet is the second most valuable resource behind toilet paper.

Tip #4: KEEP THINGS LIGHT.

Whenever I’m on an airplane and there is some turbulence that makes me uncomfortable, I look to the nearest person that looks like they fly a lot. If they look panicked, I start saying my final thoughts and prayers; if they look calm, I assume I have nothing to worry about. You are the North Star, so keep things light, keep things fun, make meetings a conversation rather than a doldrum of what needs to get done. Send an email of a funny meme you saw, spark a conversation via group chat about something silly your dog did. It’ll add humanity to our isolation.

But the single most important thing you must do is give everyone time to adjust. You must factor in the idea that not only are people getting used to a new work schedule, but they are also managing their own stress, their parent’s stress, and maybe their three children who have by this point rearranged all of the chairs in the house to create a death fort in the living room.

Let this be a time of transition and join the team in being fallible and human as everyone adjusts. Your leadership comes from your empathy in times like this, so let everyone have their time to find themselves in this new normal.

About the author.
Greg Berman is a stand up comedian, writer, and actor in Los Angeles, CA. Although he spends most of his day as an artist creating content in any and every medium, he also moonlights as a copywriter and data analyst at night, in order to make enough money to feed his dog. A dog, he’d like you to know, that eats better than he does.

As we adjust to the new normal of social distancing during the COVID-19 pandemic, lots of emotions are running high. People feel worried, disoriented, lonely, sad, and uncertain about the future. If, as a freelancer, you’re also adding financial disruption to the mix, it’s a lot of change to handle. Here are some tips to manage stress and support your mental health right now.

The limbic system, the part of the brain which regulates our stress response and controls our emotions, is certainly being stimulated during this historic moment. The amygdala responds to potential threats to our safety (think: the primal “fight or flight” response). It elevates our emotions — particularly, fear, anger, and anxiety. That warning system has its place, but over-stimulation in the form of chronic stress also has long-term health consequences. The trick is to switch gears to more rational thought, to slow things down. That’s not to say that denial is a good approach. But there are ways to nurture ourselves and approach the situation with a greater sense of calm and resilience, in order to support our overall wellbeing.

Limit Media Exposure

Studies show that exposure to bad or negative news takes a toll on your mental health. Find the balance between staying informed and triggering yourself. New information continually arises as the medical community works to better understand the spread of novel coronavirus (COVID-19). Some good sources include the WHO and CDC, and your local or state government (for updates on closures, rules, and recommendations). You probably don’t need up to the minute stats or a never-ending dose of theories or opinions.

If you have trouble avoiding the temptation to go down a news or social media rabbit hole, try to set a specific time of day when you will tune in. Perhaps that’s after you do your first chunk of work in the morning or in the early evening. You can use apps on your phone or browser extensions like WasteNoTime or StayFocusd to limit screen time.

Also consider the type of entertainment that you are viewing. While it’s tempting (and very popular) to binge all the movies about pandemics, this might be a better time to focus on humor and lighter fare, particularly before bed.

Learn to Adapt

One challenge of dealing with stress right now is that you might not have access to the same resources that you rely on to manage it under normal circumstances. Your gym is closed, there are limitations to how you can spend time with friends, maybe you can’t visit parks or get out of town.

But, at the same time, new opportunities are opening up. There’s a wealth of free classes available online, free movies, and even free audiobooks to check out. People have more time available and suddenly everyone — including millennials who normally avoid chatting on the phone — wants to catch up, often over Zoom or FaceTime. Reach out to your support network and schedule time for social interaction during your day.

The Headington Institute, which works with emergency responders on resilience and trauma recovery, explains that “adaptive engagement” is critical right now. That is, “remaining flexible to changing conditions around us and leaning into what we can do and what we can control.”

Sure, you might not be able to buy plane tickets for your next adventure, but you can start researching a trip. Maybe you can’t take an in-person CrossFit class with your favorite trainer, but you can workout at home. Spend some time working on the things that you never seem to be able to get to.

Getting back to the basics means getting sufficient sleep, eating nutritious food, and moving your body, says Jill Dovale, a master of social work candidate at NYU. She suggests doing at least one thing a day that brings you joy. She also recommends making lists and posting them on the fridge or near your desk. Some ideas: write out the things that soothe you, list the people who you find safety and connection with, or post the things that you’re grateful for. These reminders can serve as a “visual trigger to take care of ourselves,” she says.

Acknowledge What’s Coming Up for You

“You’re a human being having a human experience,” says Dovale, so it’s important to acknowledge that we have feelings and thoughts about what’s happening in the world around us. The key, she continues, is to work to establish “consistency and stability for the body and mind.”

Resist the temptation or pressure to think that it’s possible to be productive all of the time. Create boundaries for yourself and have self-compassion if you just need to space out and watch TV. You might not be able to attack every single home project that you suddenly have more time for.

Dovale suggests setting a timer for two minutes at least once a day to simply check in with your emotions. You can ask yourself, “what emotion is coming up for me?” and “where in my body?” to get valuable information about how you’re really feeling and to center yourself.

Have an Accountability Partner

With social distancing, it can be tempting to slip into bad habits or to lose our balance and spin out of control. Try to find a friend or loved one who you can check in with about any goals, whether work-oriented or personal habits, or even to check in about your mood. Consistency is key.

Some Tools if You Start to Panic

If your mind is racing or if you feel like you’re struggling, try to get centered in your body. Dovale, a serious meditator, points out that centering in the body is skillful because the body moves more slowly than the mind.

You can pause, breathe, then look around the room and find an object for each color of the rainbow (ROY G BIV). Alternatively, you can check in with each of your five senses. Ask yourself what you see, hear, feel, touch, and taste. Dovale encourages using these grounding activities or other useful exercises for self-regulation and self-compassion.

If you need additional support, the PinkyMind app is an option to connect with a licensed therapist, and many cities and states are providing mental health hotlines. Ask for help if you need it.

COVID-19 is changing many things about the way we work and live. We will get through this. Try different things along the way to encourage and support yourself in this uncertain time.

About the author.
Jess Powers writes about marketing, food, and wellness. She has experience in nonprofit communications and emergency management. Follow her @foodandfury.

Breakfast. “School.” Zoom meeting with my class. Walk. Lunch. More “school.” Walk. Bike ride. Zoom meeting with my friends. Dinner. (If my brother and I have been good, some Wii time.) That’s pretty much my schedule lately.

At this point, I’ve been out of school for three weeks. Coronavirus is taking over the world! The school district is telling everyone to stay home and practice “social distancing.” “Stay six feet away!” “Don’t spread germs!” Our district says that it’s more dangerous to the teachers than the students. My teachers even let us bring hand sanitizer to school before school was canceled altogether!

It’s kind of insane, but I am starting to get used to having “school” at home. I have a few tips and some pros and cons for adjusting to homeschool (from a kid’s (my) perspective).

Take lots of walks.

I know it may sound silly, but it’s definitely helpful, and I don’t even like to walk that much! Walks have been helping me clear my mind. My parents even let me walk two blocks with my dog by myself now, which is new and pretty fun. (My dog Maggie is the only one who loves this change of routine – we’re home all the time now!)

Be good to your parents.

This one probably doesn’t seem as “silly.” I bet if you go show this article to your parents and ask them which tip they like best, they will probably (and definitely) say this one. Try not to scream when they are on work calls and it’s better if you just get dressed and brush your teeth before they have to ask you a thousand times.

Have a workspace.

It is actually harder than I expected to keep an organized, neat workspace. It can be anything, from a nice, neat desk, to the kitchen counter (that is where my workspace was until I got a new folding table for my room). (It was horrible because I had to share it with my brother, and his stuff is always everywhere!) Now I have a spot in my bedroom with my books, pencils and erasers, highlighters, and a ruler.

Try your best.

I am speaking mostly to parents (and adults) right now: It is surprisingly hard for parents (and adults) to not have a meltdown. (It happened to my mom the other day.) My parents have to work their regular jobs at home and they say it’s hard to do that AND help us with our work. SO, kids: just do your work! That way, it’s easier for your parents who are always on their computers or on video meetings. My parents think it’s hard to keep my brother on track (I stay on track on my own, but that’s because I’m in 3rd grade and he’s in 1st.) (I’ve tried to help him, but it doesn’t go well.)

Enjoy your family fun time!

Even if everything is closed, you can still have fun with your family! Solve a jigsaw puzzle (we’re doing a 500 piece puzzle but worried our dog ate several pieces)! Exchange jokes (I like riddles)! Play a board game (we like the game Ticket to Ride)! Build a house (or anything else) out of Legos! Try baking! (But not by yourself, unless it’s Jello!) You could even just draw a picture (that’s one of my favorite hobbies, second to reading)!

Pros:

It’s not so bad staying at home. You don’t have to rush anywhere or wait too long to be able to cozy up on the couch and read a good book. Currently, I am reading all the Harry Potter books in reverse order.

Cons:

No matter how much I think about it, I will never like homeschool better than real school. It’s just too different. At school, you have so much interaction! At home, the only interaction is through Zoom and family. And I miss doing all my out-of-school activities, like theater and swim team. My theater group was about to perform Frozen, and it was postponed. 🙁

I hope I can go back to school this year, but I might have to wait until next year to see some of my friends. In the meantime, my parents tell me that because we are staying home, we are helping our community stay safe, and I think that’s important too.

To everyone reading this: stay safe and healthy! If we all stay home for a little bit, hopefully things will be normal by the time I start 4th grade in August.

About the author.

image-of-author-harper-8-years-oldHarper Forbes is 8 years old and is in 3rd grade at Pacific Elementary School in Manhattan Beach, California. She likes reading, dogs, acting, and swimming, and she is definitely going to follow her tip #2 from this article!

The CARES Act, while imperfect, has given unprecedented attention to freelancers in its relief efforts. Here’s everything you need to know about what you may be eligible for and how to get it.

Direct Payment

All tax paying Americans will receive one-time payment of $1200 (for single filers making up to $75,000) OR $2400 (for married couples making up to $150,000), plus an additional $500 per dependent child. If you make between $75,000 and $99,000 as a single filer OR $150,000 and $198,000 as a married couple, will receive a reduced rate. If you make over $99,000 or $198,000 you won’t receive anything, even with children.

If you make under $12,200 or fall into any category that doesn’t require you to file taxes, you are still eligible, but it may take longer to see the funds. You can file now to potentially expedite this process. You must have a Social Security number.

As of right now this payment will be based on 2019* or 2018 tax filings depending on if you have filed already. If you end up making less in 2020 and become eligible this year (for example if you made $120,000 in 2019 and end up making $70,000 in 2020 as a single earner), you will receive your check when you file your 2020 taxes next year.

These payments will be mailed to the address you have on file with the IRS or will land in your account if you’ve used direct deposit. The department of treasury is apparently working on a way for anyone to enter direct deposit details to expedite receiving funds. The goal is to start sending out stimulus funds 3 weeks for now (so late April), but it could be longer if you’re waiting for a check to come in the mail.

Find more details and calculate how much you’ll get here.

*There is a nationwide tax deadline extension for both payments and filing from April 15 to July 15, so if you haven’t filed your taxes yet, you have time.

Unemployment Benefits

With a $250 billion infusion, unemployment eligibility has been extended to the self-employed, independent contractors, and gig economy workers through December 31.

First, you have to start with your individual state. Most states offer 26 weeks of unemployment benefits for people who lose employment through no fault of their own. Some states extend that to part-time workers, but not all. Get details for every state here.

In addition, the CARES Act has added Pandemic Unemployment Assistance which extends benefits to the self-employed, independent contractors, gig workers, and anyone else who cannot work because of the coronavirus pandemic (losing work due to illness, caring for a relative, mandated isolation, etc.) who may not have previously qualified. You will be eligible for half of your state’s unemployment benefits plus $600 per week.

After your state’s allotted benefits period ends, the CARES Act adds another 13 weeks to your benefits if you are still unemployed or unable to work, you may be able to file for an extension after that. Unemployment benefits count as taxable income.

Read more details on the changes to unemployment benefits here.

More from the Department of Labor here.

Health Insurance

There is now nation-wide coverage for all COVID-19 testing costs, but NOT treatment. If you are uninsured and become ill with COVID-19, you will not be covered if you need hospital care.

That said, health insurance enrollment has reopened in some states. Check out which ones and how to buy it here. If your state isn’t listed, you may qualify due to a recent job loss or other qualifying event. Click here check with your state. You can also check if you qualify for Medicaid, which is available year round.

If you’re not eligible for Medicaid and you can’t enroll in your state, you can check with your State Department of Health which may refer you to local resources that might be able to help you. Find a full list of state websites here.

*If you’re a Creative Circle freelancer, Benefits in a Card has offered special open enrollment until April 5, which you should have been notified about by email about on March 21.

Emergency Paid Sick Leave

The new legislation adds emergency paid sick leave for illness, inability to get to work because of isolation or quarantine, or taking care of a sick family member.

Full-time employees can take up to 80 hours of paid leave. Part-time employees are eligible for the average number of hours they work in 2 weeks. There are some exceptions and stipulations as far as monetary amount, so check out the details here. This will be provided in addition to any existing leave.

Independent contractors, freelancers, and the self-employed are also eligible for emergency paid sick leave in the form of a tax break. Details on how that works can be found here.

Disaster Loan Assistance + Paycheck Protection

Small businesses or cooperatives (under 500 employees), sole proprietors, independent contractors, private non-profits — among others — are eligible for federal assistance. This includes low interest loans (that can be forgiven depending on use and need) and up to $10,000 in grants if you are eligible.

To learn how to apply for the Paycheck Protection Loan click here.

The Small Business Administration is also backing up bank loans. All loans will qualify for forgiveness if used for payroll, mortgages, utilities, salaries under $100,000, etc. Details on eligibility and expenses can be found here.

For a breakdown by state click here.

To review all SBA assistance click here.

Payroll Tax Deferral

Employers and the self-employed can defer their payroll taxes through the end of the year. Those payments would be due in two portions at the end of 2021 and 2022.

Additionally, if a business’s operations are fully or partially suspended due to government restrictions, it may be eligible for a credit. More information here.

Student Loan Relief

The CARES Act automatically suspends payments on federal student loans through September 30 with no accrued interest. It also halts collection on defaulted loans. (This comes on the heels of an announcement saying you have the opportunity to halt payments for two months.)

This does not include private loans, but you can still request hardship forbearance by contacting the distributer of your loans.

Get more details on student loans here.

Charitable Deductions

Anyone who doesn’t itemize their charitable contributions can claim $300 as an “above-the-line deduction” on their 2020 tax returns. There are also breaks for large charitable donations.

Use of Retirement Funds

The 10% penalty has been lifted from withdrawing from retirement funds such as a 401K for amounts up to $100,000. Weigh the pros and cons here.

You can also read the CARES Act in its entirety here.

Beyond government aid, there are companies and collectives providing relief to artists, freelancers, and small businesses. Check out some options for loans, grants and other resources below.

Additional Resources

Gig Workers Collective

Freelance Artist Resource

Freelancer’s Relief Fund

Gusto Resource Hub

PHLearn Resources

About the author.
Alessandra is the mentor, educator, and writer behind Boneseed, a private practice devoted to deep self-inquiry through a range of physical, energetic, and mental modalities. She has over 500 hours of yoga, mentorship, and facilitation training and can be found slinging knowledge on her website, newsletter, and @bone.seed.

When Madame Marie Curie first arrived in the United States in May 1921, she had already discovered the elements polonium and radium, coined the term “radioactive,” and won the Nobel Prize. Twice. She was a woman triumphing in science, in what was then a man’s world.

Born Maria Salomea Sklodowska in Warsaw, Poland (1867-1934), the youngest of five children, to two poor school teachers — Marie Curie became one of the most significant scientists of all time in a Victorian-era where academic opportunities for women were scarce. While many of her achievements have been lauded, not all her ingenious inventions are as well known. And one of this iconic researcher’s achievements is central to today’s fight against COVID-19.

In 1903, Marie Curie won the Nobel prize in Physics with her husband, Pierre Curie, and the physicist Henri Becquerel, for their work on radioactivity — she was the first woman ever to receive that honor. Curie later carried out the first research into treating cancer with radiation and founded the Curie Institutes, which are important medical research centers to this day.

In a tremendous nod to the number two — the second Nobel Prize she won in 1911 was even more epic: with that win in chemistry, Curie became the first person to receive the Nobel Prize twice. And to this day, she remains the only person to ever win Nobel Prizes for work in two different branches of science. The second Nobel Prize that Marie Curie received acknowledged her research and discovery of two new elements that were added to the periodic table: polonium and radium. The first she named as an homage to her home country, Poland, and the second element for the Latin word for ray.

During World War I, Marie Curie invented something that has proven critical to today’s fight against COVID-19 — the “Little Curie” — a mobile x-ray unit, which could be transported right to the battlefield, where army surgeons could use x-rays to guide field surgeries.

Today — as nearly all hospital and healthcare systems nationwide (and soon, globally) battle to avoid becoming deluged with new and suspected cases of COVID-19 — radiologists are waging their own fight to provide imaging while keeping equipment clean and ready to go. “The chest x-ray has taken center stage as a frontline diagnostic test for the new coronavirus,” shared Samanjit Hare, a chest radiologist with the Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, in an editorial published recently in the British Medical Journal.

With a field hospital under construction on a grassy meadow in New York City’s iconic Central Park — and the Jacob Javits Center transformed into a 1,000-bed makeshift hospital to combat COVID-19 — we have brilliant Marie Curie to thank for making portable, on-site radiology possible.

You cannot hope to build a better world without improving the individuals. To that end, each of us must work for our own improvement.
Marie Curie

About the author.
An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist — Karina writes, edits, and produces compelling content across multiple platforms — including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties.

As news about the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) shifts from bad to worse, the public craves leadership and inspiration. Our healthcare system and federal government struggle to keep up, and more and more bad actors are exposed. But we’re beginning to adjust to the new normal and stress of prolonged social distancing. Marketers face the challenge of remaining relevant and communicating effectively during a crisis. Some brands are doing this well, by speaking with care and compassion.

Marriott International

The travel industry was impacted early on, with cruises docked, many airlines forced to offer flexible tickets, and hotels emptying out. Marriott International President and CEO Arne Sorenson spoke in a moving video on Twitter. In treatment for stage 2 pancreatic cancer, he begins by acknowledging his new bald look. Sorenson expressed concern for associates and opted to not take a salary this year. He spoke frankly and with emotion about the “common crisis we face” and the actions Marriott will take. That includes furloughing workers so they have job security and qualify for unemployment. The video demonstrates leadership and hard choices during tough times. On Instagram, Marriott Bonvoy, the rebranded Marriott loyalty program, reminds us that “we will travel again.”

sweetgreen

Restaurants and bars took a massive hit, and foodservice work is precarious. Too many businesses focused on reminding us that they’re still open and providing delivery. In contrast, in a series of emails to app users, sweetgreen’s communications focused on the actions they are taking to protect the public and their team. On March 16, they moved to a “digital ordering experience,” and they are working to connect frontline hospital workers with free healthy, fresh food. As a chain that is transparent about its core values of sustainability and authentic relationships, they mobilized quickly to show those values in action.

Tito’s Handmade Vodka

The Austin, Texas producer of craft vodka, Tito’s Handmade Vodka, will produce 24 tons of hand sanitizer in light of a nationwide shortage. They are also donating two million dollars to efforts to support people in the food and beverage industry. Recipients of support include the Children of Restaurant Employees (CORE), the USBG National Charity Foundation’s Bartender Emergency Assistance Program, Southern Smoke Foundation, and World Central Kitchen.

Nike

Nike launched a campaign to encourage people to #PlayInside and #PlayForTheWorld in support of social distancing. They saw a 17 percent increase in brand mentions compared to the previous day (March 20). Athletes and influencers like Portuguese soccer sensation Cristiano Ronaldo and football quarterback Russell Wilson got in on the action by sharing the campaign. Nike leveraged its position as a brand to encourage collective action.

Ikea

The U.S. is now first in confirmed cases in the COVID-19 pandemic, but Spain was hit hard early on. Home furnishing giant Ikea launched this moving commercial produced by McCann Madrid. It depicts people in good times and bad in the refuge of their homes. The voiceover, from the perspective of the home itself, reminds us: “I am your home, and I’ll be here for you, no matter what.” The campaign urges people to #StayHome (#YoMeQuedoEnCasa).

Coca Cola

Similarly, in a billboard ad in Times Square, Coca Cola encouraged people to “stay apart.” It features the script of their brand name in their iconic logo with a space between each letter to mirror the message. Conceived by Mercado McCann, the beverage giant also pledged $13.5 million to charities including Feeding America.
coca-cola-billboard-times-square
Image credit: The Coca Cola Company

Planet Fitness

With so many people staying at home and not getting their daily steps in or social interaction at the gym, at-home workouts are gaining traction. Planet Fitness launched “United We Move.” These are livestreamed “home work-ins,” offered daily from Monday through Friday on their Facebook page. They saw mentions rise an incredible 760 percent the week of March 15, and the workouts are a free public service.

Fender

For people seeking creative pursuits, iconic guitar maker Fender is offering three months of free video lessons. It’s a trial of their Fender Play, which tracks progress as you learn, and doesn’t require payment details to get started. Social distancing could be the perfect time to pick up that guitar, bass, or ukulele sitting in the corner. As Fender put it, “we need music more than ever.”

Governor Andrew Cuomo

Here in NYC, the current epicenter of the crisis, it’s been two weeks since public gathering spaces and schools closed until further notice. Restaurants were limited to takeout or delivery. Last week, all nonessential workers were mandated to work from home. People in other states are now watching how the pandemic plays out here.

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo emerged as an unlikely hero for our embattled state. After much criticism last year over passing the buck on the failing NYC transit system, he is taking the Federal government to task for their responsibility in a federally declared disaster. In response to outrageous claims that older people are willing to be sacrificed for the economy, he sent a moving email: “My mother is not expendable,” it read. “Your mother is not expendable. We will not put a dollar figure on human life.” He continues to demand ventilators in a public battle with the President. The state launched a mental health hotline and other measures to protect residents.

Rubin Museum of Art

Cultural institutions are also closed until further notice. Early on, the Rubin Museum of Art, which specializes in art of the Himalayan regions, offered the Rubin care package on their website. The site allows visitors to stream a Tibetan Buddhist shrine room with two hours of meditative chanting. The Rubin is also known for public meditation talks. The care package includes articles about using meditation to quiet the mind and manage the stress and anxiety of COVID-19.

These brands are communicating effectively by demonstrating leadership and care in a time of crisis. The public is looking for positive messaging and support during the COVID-19 pandemic. Brands that speak from the heart remain relevant and build social capital. We will persevere.

About the author.
Jess Powers writes about marketing, food, and wellness. She has experience in nonprofit communications and emergency management. Follow her @foodandfury.

Known as “the most beautiful woman in the world,” the legendary Hollywood icon Hedy Lamarr, star of Ziegfield Girl and Samson and Delilah, was featured in more than 30 films over her 28-year career — but there was more to her than meets the eye. Born Hedwig Eva Maria Kessler (1914-2000) in Vienna, Hedy Lamarr was many things: a hardworking actress, prolific producer, wife (6 times over!), mother. What you might not know is that she was also an ingenious inventor, engineer — and mother of WiFi, GPS, Bluetooth, and other wireless technologies. Digital nomads and remote workers have Hedy Lamarr to thank for their connected existence.

Before arriving in the United States, a 19-year-old Hedwig had been married to Fritz Mandl, a wealthy, domineering, Austrian munitions manufacturer who sold arms to the Nazis. While with him, she had been privy to high-level conversations about weapons design that later came to inform her most important invention. She fled to the United States in the 1930s disguised as a maid, signed a contract with Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Studio, and became the Hollywood box-office sensation: Hedy Lamarr.

But despite her international stardom, Lamarr was bored with life as a screen star. She devoted a room in her home as her lab for inventing — and worked away at her drafting table instead of making the Hollywood party rounds. She was prolific. Her first invention was a fizzing tablet, which dissolved in water to make a carbonated drink. She sketched blueprints for new machines. Deciding that “airplanes were too slow,” she drafted a biomimetic design for the wings of her lover Howard Hughe’s racing plane — inspired by her study of the fastest fish and bird. Lamarr invented a tissue-box attachment to hold used tissues, a new type of traffic light, and a device to help movement-impaired people get in and out of the bathtub. But her greatest invention was born one sultry summer night in 1940 when Lamarr met her Hollywood neighbor, the avant-garde composer George Antheil. The two shared a passion for creating and a deep curiosity for discovering how things work.

In 1942, at the height of both her career and WWII, they created a “frequency-hopping system” inspired by Lamarr’s knowledge of weapons design and Antheil’s of musical instruments. This secret communications system (patented in 1942) manipulated radio frequencies at irregular intervals, preventing classified messages from being intercepted by the enemy. Although her ideas were ignored at first, the technology was later used by the military during the Cuban Missile Crisis in 1962 — and later formed the fundamental structure of devices we rely on today — like wireless internet, GPS, fax machines, and Bluetooth.

She received very little credit for her achievements — until recently. In 1997, The Electronic Frontier Foundation bestowed her the Pioneer Award, and in 2014 — fourteen years after her death — she was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame. Lamarr also became the first woman to be awarded the Invention Convention‘s BULBIE Gnass Spirit of Achievement Award. Lamarr never made any money from any of her inventions — “frequency hopping” alone is thought to be worth some tens of billions of dollars — but the United States military has publicly acknowledged her contribution to this enduring technology.

Pioneer. Movie star. Inventor. Scientist. Icon. Hedy Lamarr invented the underpinning technology that makes our smartphones and WiFi work. Basically — we might not be WFH today if it were not for Hedy Lamarr.

“Hope and curiosity about the future seemed better than guarantees. That’s the way I was. The unknown was always so attractive to me … and still is.”
Hedy Lamarr

If you want to learn more, check out Bombshell: The Hedy Lamarr Story.

About the author.
An award-winning creator and digital health, wellness, and lifestyle content strategist — Karina writes, edits, and produces compelling content across multiple platforms — including articles, video, interactive tools, and documentary film. Her work has been featured on MSN Lifestyle, Apartment Therapy, Goop, Psycom, Pregnancy & Newborn, Eat This Not That, thirdAGE, and Remedy Health Media digital properties.