Work from Home - Yay or Nay?

The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted work patterns across sectors. While most agricultural, industrial, production, and manufacturing jobs still need hands-on duty, sectors such as IT, education, and some other internet-based jobs have completely or partially moved away from offices into homes. 'Work from home' is more popular now than ever. However, WFH is not new. In the modern sense of the phrase, it has roots at least going back close to a century when jobs were offered, especially to women, in the post-war era. Check out this article for more insights.

Even as some of us have embraced this new aspect in our lives, all do not have the same privileges. Apart from many job losses during the past few months, many people being asked to work from home don't really have a suitable atmosphere at home to work. These include lack of space, noisy neighborhood (trust me), too many people at home, and added responsibility at home, especially for mothers and women. Drawing a clear boundary between home as a living space and home as a work space is in many instances a real life struggle.

Bearing these things in mind, here are a few real-life work from home trivia. Like I did in my previous blog on life after 50 days of Lockdown in India, I asked my friends on Instagram some questions on their WFH experience and here's what they have to say.

These stats are from around 30 people who are currently working from home.

How has WFH been?

I love it - 70 %
I hate it - 30%

As you breathe this in, I must confess that this question was harsh with only extreme options. Some of the respondents even personally texted me saying that they are somewhere in between. And that is absolutely great. Like everything in life, there is a grey area when it comes to WFH!

Have you had the opportunity to set up a workspace at your home?

While most said yes, there were some voicing out their struggles. Some have not had a choice but to make sure they set up a space. Some have had an extra room that has come in handy. Some have not really needed to as they always had a workspace at home. Again, this comes down to each one's own lifestyle.

Mention some of your everyday-use gadgets specific for you work.

There are so many articles out there talking about essential gadgets for a pleasant WFH experience. For me and my friends, here's some of what we use (in no particular order):

Laptop, Mobile phone, Camera, Printer/Scanner, Extension box/power cord, Whiteboard, Extra monitor, Mouse, Ear buds, Ear/Head phones, Note books, Wireless keyboard, VPN, Wifi/Internet, all necessary chargers and cables, Phone as makeshift webcam, Docking station, Lights, Wifi router, Table.

Is there anything you miss from your office?

Different spaces in our lives give us different meanings. Like that one roadtrip destination, or that particular restaurant or cafe, physical spaces have certain memories attached with them. Now, as its been a while since we've been to or even seen our workplaces, here are some things that are missed (again, in no particular order):

Working in labs, Meeting people over food, Engaging in activities with children, Work commute, Lunchtime walks, Colleagues, Food from restaurants near office, Set work timings, Motivational work environment, Waking up early in the morning to go to work, Seeing that special person at work, Free snacks, Coffee breaks.

But then again, there are some of us who do not miss anything at all! Big shout out to all of you!

Has it affected dynamics at home, if you're living with someone else?

Here's another important issue most of us working from home have had to deal with. While some have not really had a change in dynamics at home, many have had to really weather through some storms. Setting up new routines and cutting deals with spouses/children and others living at home is at the centre. For some of us, seeing the same faces almost all the time is a bit too much for our liking, whereas for some of us, our relationships have taken new directions and love has grown! And the bottom line really comes down to how each one of us as persons are and behave. What is the work-you like. Is it really different from the home-you?

For the final question,

Now, these are the most important numbers. And it is definitely a Yay or Nay situation. People do seem to love this new normal of WFH, but even a small sample of 30 participants suggest more people want to go back to their offices. Maybe the work/home divide is a thin line after all, something we all have to draw-erase-redraw day in and day out.

And finally, here are the real voices themselves:

Any word of advice for people working from home?

"Make a routine and stick to it. Life will be so much better."
"Stretch, hydrate! Be aware of what physical activity the body needs."
"Depending on the nature of your job, multi tasking is really helpful."
"Routines"
"Find inner peace."
"Find routines to be productive. And stay away from the bed during the day."
"Be clear about timings and boundaries with your employer/client from the get go."
"Do your work in hall or in private room so you can feel alone and (not) boring"
"Make sure you end your work at a specific time and not go beyond work timings"
"Work only during working hours"
"Go with the flow"
"Find time for yourself"
"Use a to-do list, take time to stretch and breathe"
"Don't bring work time into family time. It messes the whole thing."
"If kids at home please don't give smart phone to them to keep silent"
"Make a timetable. Work limited hours. Get a spine, stand up to your boss if they try to make you w" (work overtime)?
"Take it easy. Life isn't about earning money only."

The Frames of Minds

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