Story by Freya Low Yi
Tell me if this sounds familiar to you — your office chair is your couch, your commute to work is your hallway, and, darling, your pantry is your whole house.
Just one year into COVID-19, the pandemic has dramatically changed the way we work. No longer an alien concept, this phenomenon is known as WFH (working from home)– usually in the comforts of our own homes.
The best part of working remotely —apart from the ability to work in our pajamas — is the time and money saved from commuting. Gone are the days when one had to wake up as early as 6 a.m. just to be on time for work.
Another perk of WFH is flexibility, where you call the shots in your day-to-day schedule. This makes it easier for one to attend personal appointments like haircuts, medical checkups and family meetups.
Additionally, I think that WFH has uncovered new forms of communication. Virtual meetings have significantly reduced physical distance between people; one of my favourite pastime to destress after a long day of work include Skype calls with my friends, where we binge-watch movies together.
Not all sunshine and rainbows
While WFH sounds like a blessing to many problems, it, too, has its set of downfalls.
WFH can be stressful, as home is a safe space that is meant to be an escape. After all, replying to emails or your boss’s Whatsapp texts at the dinner table when you are supposed to be relaxing is unhealthy.
What’s more, not everyone has access to a conducive work environment. Having to live with many family members, unstable WiFi, devices that are not functioning well — these factors are disruptive to say the least, and they greatly lower productivity.
I feel like the mistrust between employers and employees makes WFH even more daunting — bosses constantly speculating if their employees are skiving and employees who are taking advantage of this free-wheeling system.
The future of WFH
COVID-19 has uncovered a new style of working, but it is not a size that fits all. With its cons outweighing the pros, it boils down to the most important question: Can work from home truly work for home?
Since WFH is the default in Singapore, here are some tips to help you cope better in this tough time;
1) Keep work at work
I personally use my work table for the sole purpose of work, while I rest and relax in my bedroom. This arrangement is perfect because visually, it gives my brain an indication of where I can disconnect myself from work.
2) Making your work space welcoming
Since you’re spending most of your time at your work space, it has to look inviting so that you can fully immerse yourself in work. Adding simple decorations like plants, sticky notes, paintings can make a great difference to the look and feel of your work area!