Remote work

I always had this crazy idea of the digital nomad on the beach in Thailand with his laptop. Typing here and there while enjoying some nice Thai food and drinks. This idea of “remote work” is one of the option to escape the rat race while still enjoying a nice steady income.

With the Covid-19 happening, the impossible happen and I am working at home. But, it’s different from that Thailand beach dream.

Everyone is stuck at home. No one can go outside or travel. OUF! Nevertheless, it’s a good opportunity to experience “remote work”.

Pros:

  • Save time:

    • No commute time to office.

    • No need to dress yourself and do your hair, wear comfortable clothes

    • Do house chores or errands during work hours

      • e.g.: Start laundry machine, clean washroom, quick grocery run

    • More control on using your dead time (read books, planning for events, research stuff, listen to podcast, exercise, stretch/ massage legs)

    • Take a shower and get ready for after work activities

  • Relax on your bed during break/ lunch time.

  • Access to everything in your house. (kitchen, laptop, etc)

  • Protected from the virus (not seeing any other human)

  • Stay away from office politics

  • Don’t see your manager face (LOL) or “annoying” co-worker

Cons:

  • Waste energy:

    • exhausting to be constantly with people for 8h straight

    • exhausting to sit on a desk

    • No place to “socially acceptable” take a nap -> constant need to show you are alive and working

  • Waste money:

    • Expensive crappy unhealthy office meal

    • Expensive coffee/ tea/ smoothies/ drinks

    • Expensive co-worker eating out/ drinking

    • Burn through multiple office dress shirt

    • Cost of transportation to get to office

  • Technical issues: internet, apps, phone, etc

  • Can’t see friendly co-worker face-to-face => loneliness + less close with co-worker

  • Suspicion of non-productivity: Constant pressure to answer MS teams and email quickly in the fear of showing as “not being productive”

  • “When the cat’s away, the mice will play” attitude => less strict environment => distractions

  • Problem with career advancement (in class training, promotion, networking)

Opinions:

  • I feel like work is still work. During those 7.5-8h of work per day. It’s still the same thing. The focus and attention on the work itself is still the same. You can’t just goof around during working hours. It’s stil relevant to focus on a job that you don’t hate, which helps you grow as a person.

  • Some extrovert people and high-achiever in office environment would prefer work in office. They are willing to spend 1-2h everyday in commute and dressing up. Also deal with office politics. This help them get closer to their ideal self. Good for them.

  • Best remote work case:

    • Don’t need to interact with clients -> just do projects or operation tasks

    • No daily deadline -> Can work from any time zone

    • No geographical limitations

    • Very few online meetings

  • Remote work allowed me to create a more balance lifestyle. Using dead time to do house chores and admin, so it free time for more meaningful activities. Much more willpower and time before and after work to keep my healthy habits (Sleep, diet, exercise). I can see the case where an office person exhausted from work just go home and do nothing.

“The more that you read, the more things you will know. The more that you learn, the more places you’ll go.” –Dr. Seuss

SimpleLifeBalancing.

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