1K Blog Marathon: Day 7
“Kriiing… Kriiing… Kriiing…”
It’s 5:30 in the morning. I should run panicking to the bathroom. I should brush my teeth while foaming my hair with shampoo and pouring water on my body. Within 10 minutes I should be getting dressed, and by 5:50, I should be waiting on the 6 o’clock Jeepney on the street. After an hour of sleep, I should be getting off the vehicle, going up the stairs of our building, and logging my thumb mark on the Biometrics. I should be doing this as an office employee. But not now.
Not today folks!
Because of the Covid-19 pandemic, we are prompted to work from the comforts of our home. Our boss allowed us to take home our computer units – a CPU Tower, 2 monitors, mouse and keyboard, few cables and a UPS. Right now, I am a remote employee, a Work-From-Home App Developer.
It’s been 3 months since I woke up 6:30, brushing my teeth, optionally taking a bath, and logging on to my computer. And these 3 months gives me diverse experience and a new way of life. Let me start…
Benefit #1: I am not rushing every morning!
To me, this is a benefit that is very practical – I don’t have to rush to the street just to take the early jeep so I won’t be late (for the record, I am rarely late!).
Drawback #1:
Because I don’t feel the need to rush, I rarely take a bath in the morning! ^_^ (Exception: if the weather is hot, I take a bath early morning, during lunch time, and in the evening – wait, why do I have to explain myself?)
Benefit #2: I now get more sleep
Because of benefit #1, I can stay in bed until 6:59! (But I have to jump before it hits 7 o’clock!). My sleeping time is either 10 pm (if I don’t have any house chores left) or 12 pm (if I have to help my wife do the laundry). I can still get my 6 to 8 hours of sleep, vs getting up at 5:30 am where I can only get 5 to 7 hours.
Drawback #2:
It may sound counterintuitive, but I also lack sleep. Why? Because my mind is set to thinking that “tomorrow, I can stay in bed until 6:59 am, so…”
“I can stay late until… 3am!”
Benefit #3: I have more time with my family
Yes! It’s my greatest benefit so far! I’ve always wanted to work from home, so I can still see my daughter grow, I can still help my wife doing household chores, and I can still monitor the changes that will happen in our house. Lately, we had house renovation. We changed few of our old roofs, getting ready for the rainy days.
Drawback #3:
Working from home right? That means my daughter is crying while I’m having a Zoom meeting, hopefully it’s okay to turn off video and microphone. I’m the best daddy of the year!
Benefit #4: I discovered (and acquired) new skills
Level up! During these times, I have plenty of hours to learn more. But I’m not talking about things that I see or read on the internet, oh not sir. I’m talking about the “manual” skills that I acquired, such as:
Carpentry. I reminisce in my mind the “New Yankee Workshop” that my uncle used to watch when I was young. My loving wife’s hobby is gardening, and I’m the one who created her plant cabinet, greenhouse and plant box. I also put pencil in my ear, signaling that I’m “in the zone”.
Masonry. I love listening to podcast about secret societies, and I always wonder how it feels to be a Freemason. I hold spatula, mixing vigorously the cement and sand, pouring water gently so not to damage my little “volcano” that I created – only to realize that the mix is saturated with more sand and less cement (I wonder if it will become concrete). I guess I’m now a level 1 “Mason”.
Gym Instructor. Despite my dad bod, huge belly and two chin, I exercise. I don’t go to gym, but because of my spare time, I downloaded an app that helps me lose weight. I choose the Advanced Level of Abs Program. When I go back to office, I will boast my 1k pack abs!
Stuffed Toy Whisperer. My daughter likes to sleep in my arms. She also likes to make her toys sleep in my arms, with matching pillow and blanket. Did I tell you that I memorized “Rock a Bye Baby”, “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star” and “Skidamarink”?
Botanist. Because my wife loves gardening, it also follows that I should love gardening. Did you know that you need to disinfect first your cutting tools before removing rot in Keiki? You can use 70% Isopropyl Alcohol or Hydrogen Peroxide. But if both were not available, you can kill bacteria by heating your knife or scissor with flame from lighter or candle. While propagating succulents you can blah blah blah….
Drawback #4:
Smashed finger, inhalation of cement dust, excess weight (I craved for more food after I exercise), Last Song Syndrome and Paranoia (when one rose dies). If symptoms persist, consult your doctor.
Benefit #5: I can save more money
One of the best part of working from home is that you don’t have to spend for your transportation. You don’t have to buy expensive food, fearing to be seen “cheap”. You don’t have to join impromptu gatherings where you will shell out money.
Drawback #5:
What’s a drawback in saving more money? ^_^
Benefit #6: I don’t have to wear uniform
It means less laundry, less spending for laundry soap (again, benefit #5), and after 3 months my uniform still looks new! I also don’t have to buy clothes for Friday (wash day). I usually go to work (in our home) wearing shorts – no top!
Drawback #6:
Because you don’t use it, you don’t have time to check its status. Be aware of bugs and rats or else you will buy another uniform!
Benefit #7: I finally got the drive to start blogging!
I’ve always wanted to work online, start my own business, or start my own blog. I remember 3 years ago I created my first free WordPress blog – it only has 3 post. I created another one last year, on my birthday, but it didn’t have any following post. But this time, having more time because I’m working from home, and with the inspiration, I challenge myself for a 1K Blogging Marathon. I wish I can continue blogging every day until I finish my goal. I also wanted to learn more in content writing. I wish I don’t have to come back to office again (just kidding!)
Drawback #7:
It’s a challenge. It’s been 7 days but I experience writers block. But here I am, writing my last drawback in my last benefit of WFH!
Working from home definitely suits my lifestyle – it’s one of my dream. How about you, what are your benefits and drawbacks in working from home?
“And that’s one blog, stay hungry!”
“Working from home is great for a lot of people because they get to spend more time with their family, their kids, and their pets.”
– Brian Peters, Strategic Partnerships Manager at Buffer
This is originally posted in my tech blog, Curbside Coder
Top comments (1)
I completely agree with you. I like staying at home and working from home. This is very convenient. Moreover, I have big beautiful windows which make my rooms full of light. Unfortunately, now I need professional window glass repair Miami and it would be hard to work during the repairing but I'll try.