work from home – Dimples Migraines and Aahs

The office was a series for a reason. All the things that happen in there have to be documented over time. When you think you have got the hang of it, ta da!

This week has really tried me.. one week in and I already have something to write. ( of course I never finished writing during that week ) I have decided to write lessons that I had to learn the hard way and maybe then they will stick.

Rule no 1. Do not make plans out loud. I remember this afternoon vividly. I had had a busy morning by busy I don’t mean running helter skelter busy, I changed departments and where I’m currently at, I can afford to smell the roses. Its not that there isn’t much to do here, Its because I came from a more demanding team where everything was urgent and needed a second ago. Having finished my deliverables, I went to talk about this and that just to sharpen my wits. I mentioned how things were going well for me and that my deadlines were always met. Between the walk from that office to my sitting area, I got phone calls and emails with instructions on what I was to work on. I did not leave the office late because with working from home my laptop and I are the office. We work from anywhere anytime and that’s how my not so busy time took a turn of its own.

Rule no 2. Cross the river at the shallowest. This is my mantra the whole year. I always strive to get work off my desk the earliest possible and so far so good. Its a bit of a balance between this and managing expectations because once people know things don’t sleep on your desk, they tend to push over the last minute work to you. After all, you have worked hard to prove time and again that you have a fast food chain same day delivery work ethic.

Rule no. 3 I will be done in just a moment means take a break. I know I did mention that my department allows me to smell the roses but knowing there are seasons and roses do not bloom all year round, the same applies to work. Every time someone has told me or I have told myself it will just be a moment, it becomes several moments. Our cleaner used to pity me on my first weeks at my first department. She would call me for snacks, she would offer to warm my food as she told me work never ends, I have to schedule my breaks. To date, this advice has saved me from developing ulcers and I tell my boss that I’m off to lunch. I can only eat so much so its a guarantee I will be back at my desk.

Rule no. 4 share but don’t reveal. There is a very thin line between office gossip and colleague bonding. Not to mention that we have various personalities with ulterior motives. It is quite unhealthy to always have your guard up expecting for someone to pounce. You’ll just have to trust your gut on this. If you think something is off, act cautiously.

Rule no. 6 its okay to screw up. Your first time won’t be your last. I remember how my colleague’s jaw dropped when I told her this. She was in a fit, judging herself harshly like I do. Today you make a mistake that you know is going to cost the company money and tomorrow another that is going to cost the company a client and your gut tells you today is the day you get laid off for that. You dread the confrontation and you willingly accept your fault and you are ready to pack up but that is exactly when you should stay. Growth at times comes from the most uncomfortable situations and we have to wait it out.

Rule no. 7. There is no job without hurdles. For some reason I used to think some people have it easy. That I would do what they do anytime without breaking a sweat. I would envy people who do online writing and think they make easy money. On a hectic day I envy the cleaner because there is nothing hard about cleaning or my boss because I would think all they do is delegate and supervise. I realized that the cleaner probably has a hard time and there are things in their line of work that they dread. Bosses have to take in a lot. They make hard choices that we never know about because they shield us. It is true that everyone is fighting battles we never know about.

Rule no. 8 clap for yourself. If you wait, others may never and you will be demoralised. Set your own parameters, your goals you are your truest coach. Remember only the shoe wearer can know where it pinches. Most times, I only get feedback if the work needs amending and the other times not even the computer generated well received. I do my best each time because success is rented not owned and rent is due every day.

Rule no 9. Plan your meet ups after work. You might be thinking, who has energy for that; not only will you but you will also get to feed off that energy. On my most stressful week, I pushed my two weekend meet ups to during the week after work. All week I was looking forward to that and it kept me going. On the day scheduled for my meet up, work was going overboard; it was one of those days that demanded putting in extra hours. I assured everyone that their work will be delivered on time but that I needed to leave the office. Not once during my meet up did I think of the work waiting for me when I got home. I enjoyed myself and headed home full of renewed energy. I’m sure the opposite is true that I would have hated whatever would have pushed me to cancel my plans.Getting away gives your mind and soul a breather so you can get back to the grind with a refreshed perspective.

Speaking of planning, sometimes we just have to take a leap of faith. Looking at my calendar, there is never room for working at the beach. I could go for weeks working remotely and when I tell myself perhaps this is the week to work from Coast I guarantee you the day will not end before I am needed to be physically present in the office. This is the shallowest of my rivers, other departments will never allow me this luxury.

Today has been one of those eye opening moments.. maybe I have been doing it all wrong, maybe there is no right way to do anything apart from just attempting. I was invited for a graduation ceremony and when I was accepting the invite, I literally had nothing on my desk much as I had gone the extra mile of offering my assistance. When I was about to leave for the graduation, my boss emails me that he needs some work done by C.O.B . Nevertheless, I decided to make an appearance even if I would have to work through the ceremony. I’m glad I did because on my way home, I see a picture posted in one of the whatsaap groups advertising the availability of my current job position. It is contract based anyway and I should not be shocked, I replaced someone in the same manner. Probably a good reminder that enjoy the present because this too shall pass. This just makes it to rule no. 10

The office is apparently the most streamed series in America in 2020. I have watched enough episodes to bring the concept home. Much of 2020 was adjusting to working from home and working in shifts but currently some work spaces have resumed working from the office. As in every other situation, there were pros and cons. The biggest pro for most was eliminating the commute. Have you walked in this hot sun? It’s worse when you are dressed in a full suit your bag heavy with packed lunch as you try to maneuver the busy streets getting knocked on your shoulder every so often.

Cutting costs on lunch money was also a major pro of working from home. Actually eating at your convenience was more of it not to mention dressing as you pleased. This luxury was more expensive than anyone could have anticipated. Work became round the clock as opposed to the neat 8 – 5. It is no brainer getting that work call at 10pm heck some bosses even send that email at midnight. Here is the reality check that you are no Cinderella, more of Snow White’s seven dwarfs.

After the niceties, oh you have changed! What happened to your hair and all other changes that could not be detected over zoom calls the office gets back to work. HR of course reminds you to sanitize, no sharing of pens and paper, social distancing and minimizing the number of people in a meeting or taking up bigger room. The office experience does not start when you get on the lift to your floor, it starts when Nani picks you up.

There is a lot to say on lunch hours at the office. Some organize lunch that is paid for, others just contract a standard supplier but each employee pays as they eat but the one that sets people apart is those that leave you to fend for yourself. You could carry packed lunch like your pre school days or find a decent place to eat; emphasis on decent. I am wondering whether to get to the different employees you meet at this stage… I shall restrain myself for a few paragraphs.

Lunch time at the office gives me anxiety. I remember the packed lunch I forgot at home on the table and how I have to think of plan B. It’s not only the change of food that I mind, the fact that I had the meal planned and I knew the taste to expect come lunch. We have great food vendors but their prices are over the roof for an intern. I was shook once when I got basic chapo beans at 250!!! This is the holy grail to rate establishment just like tea. Once the price of a cup is over 200 do not bother looking at anything else on the menu if you are on a budget.

My chain of thought was finally flowing on some work I had taken over 2 days with and I did not want to interrupt that with a meal so I looked at my delivery options. I remembered a place we had visited whose fries were 100ksh and they had informed us they do office delivery at no extra cost. Meanwhile the 250 chapo beans still need 20ksh delivery. Being on a budget I made the call.. I kept waiting for my delivery till I assumed they got lost in their way because they had admitted they were not familiar with my location much as they have been serving people around my area since time immemorial.

Finally at 3.30 I get a call that the lady is at the reception. As I walked on the hallway, something told me to use the 4th Floor stairs and peep before presenting myself as the intended recipient of the food but my affirmations side kicked and assured me confidence. I walk out and see the lady carrying a ‘paperbag’. The receptionists with a sneer in her voice remarks ” kumbe ni wewe, nilikua namuambia hakuna mtu hula chakula kama hiyo hapa kwetu ” So rude don’t you think but weeeuh, I was the one in for a shock.

The lady informs me that she needs the bag back.. I look at the contents, it is nothing I imagined!! Butwaa beat me 😆. There I was expecting my food in this transparent tins and next to it two packs of the 5ksh tomato sauce but instead, my eyes were met with a greasy brown bag, heaven knows how clean that bag is as it has been ferrying every other order around and the transparent nylon papers filled with the Jerry can sauce and tied like a ball. Hehe.. I felt like paying for the meal but refusing to walk around with it.

She’s over reacting you think.. huh well, I have not painted the picture of what office lunch my colleagues partake. It’s either pasta and fillet, stir fried rice and Mongolian beef, the aroma just tells you the cook was not trying to make a meal but is one who aims to please. Did I mention they are in glass tins so that they are conducive for micro waving you know, cancer and all, then picture me arriving with my greasy brown bag and toothpicks as forks. If someone brought me my bag I would have left for home and called it a day. In another world, there were employees receiving their greasy brown bags with joy.

“Angalau muache abebe na mfuko mpaka kitchen aweke fries kwa plate“; the receptionist said. The lady agrees and fast I walked. Thank God I could at least make it presentable while there if no one walks in on me. It was the distasteful appearance of my meal that made me instantly full. After 5 mouthfuls I just threw it in the bin. They sure lost me as a customer with no fault on their part; just a girl faking class before she makes it.

I write this recollection as I lounge on my coach supposedly working from home. I am giving myself the much deserved rest because when work comes, it will demand every ounce of my energy and I have had to learn that it is equally as important to schedule rest and not just take it when you have the time. I will also schedule time for love because the effort I put in my work is not transferred to my compatible other. We don’t want jack to be a dull boy do we? 😉

Tag: work from home

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