Working in the Age of COVID-19

There was a time when we were slogging away in the office, going to work when the sun could barely be discerned, and leaving work only when the moon has already kicked the sun away, we looked forward to a time when we could be working from home instead. We envied those whose occupation allowed them that flexibility.

And now, may of us find ourselves going through this experience, whether you want to or not. Difficult times. And suddenly, many things have become possible. So how has the experience been?  It's been 6 months.

Some positives ...

• I don't need to spend 1 hour going to work, and 1 hour coming home. That's 2 hours per day saved. That's 2/24 return (or 10/168 if you want to be mathematically correct for a 5-day work week). Not bad. If only I could monetise that.
• I no longer have to spend $25 to take a Grab ride home when I was too tired to do the BMW thing. That's Bus, MRT, Walk by the way.
• In the morning, I can take the time saved to (a) play 45 min of badminton for $3.50, (b) go for a 5 km walk around the neighbourhood (curtailed because of Dengue risk!), or spend a lazy morning to read papers and sip my cuppa of kopi, or snooze just a wee bit longer.
• Lunch, tea-breaks and toilet breaks are convenient, any time. Just stock up the kitchen! Helps that wifey loves to bake.
• I can 'listen' to news or whatever entertainment on my TV (it's actually an excuse for background noise), listen to a free Coursera course video (absorption isn't too good though), and read my office e-mails to clear work.  
• Meetings have become shorter. Sometimes a 15 min Skype call was all it took.
• Presentations have become easier. No longer do you have to stand and present with minimal reference materials to back you up. You can have all the info you need opened up on the screen to refer to!

A couple of friends shared their experiences ...

• One told me he run down for a swim at his condo's pool over lunch, and still have time to finish a quick lunch.
• Another told me that he can take a 30 min power nap after lunch, something that just seemed inappropriate to do in the office in the past. Works wonders for him.

How's your experience been?