Before the COVID-19 pandemic, "Working From Home" was not a common phrase we hear people saying. We would say "Telecommuting" when we were not working in the office. It was also not a usual practice for employees to telecommute.
Then, COVID-19 happened. Working From Home became the default working model for everyone all over the world.
When working from home started, we needed to get used to a different style of working, virtual meetings instead of in-person. There was no longer the need to get up early and get ready for work. Over time, that became our routine.
We got so used to working from home. We enjoyed having more time for ourselves; time saved on travelling could be used to cook more meals. Previously, by the time I got home from office, it would be late so there would not be much time to do many things before bedtime. By the time you prepare your meal, sit down, and clean up, what time would that be? Even if you pack dinner on the way home, that would add to your traveling time. When working from home, I could prepare meals earlier and still have a bit more time to wind down before bedtime.
It was also easier and more convenient to exercise. I do not need to carry all my exercise attire to office every week because I can work out downstairs at the void deck. Work out and come back home to shower and feel refreshed.
After more than two years of working from home, workplaces began to allow their workers to return to office in a hybrid working arrangement, being flexible in the number of days to work in the office. We have to adapt to another routine again.
Having worked from home for such a prolonged period, admittedly, having to wake up early to go to work, staying in the office for one entire day, then travelling back is something I am still trying to get used to. I seem to have lesser energy and I feel tired at the end of the day. Needing to wear mask for one entire day is also a bit uncomfortable.
For our company, staff can return to office twice a week on allocated days of the week. As for me, the bosses allowed me to return just once a week to save on transport since I rely on ride-hailing services to get around on my own.
In the past, I had a few Hitch Drivers I could tap on to take me to and from work. For these drivers, their companies have different policies from mine so they were still working from home. Only recently did they also start returning to office.
To reduce my transportation costs, I prefer taking Hitch rides (around $8-$12) compared to regular rides (range between $15 and $25). However, many of my private car-hiring friends could not get their fellow drivers to take up the assignments as these do not get recorded on the system. So I do not have many regular drivers. When I encounter drivers for the first time, there are times when they show a little reluctance after learning that they have to assist me to walk to the lift upon reaching my house.
I do hope that one day, I can build up a pool of regular drivers whom I can tap on to pick up my ride assignments. These drivers would be familiar with my needs and would be better able to provide assistance. I would be able to get around Singapore, and go to the office more frequently if more such drivers existed. When will this day come?
The ILCG division gathered around a table and posing for a group shot. On the table is a laptop showing the face of a colleague who joined the celebration virtually on Zoom.
Tan Siew Ling is fully Deafblind, having lost both her sight and hearing to a neurological condition, Neurofibromatosis type 2 (NF2). She carries a screen reader with a Braille display, which she fondly names “Bear Bear”, everywhere she goes. Her humour, wordplay, and love of puns keep friends on their toes. She enjoys reading books in her free time and loves to pen down her thoughts, often on a whim, which can be entertaining at times, on her social media. When she is not writing or reading, she can be seen doing insane 72kg leg presses or swinging a 20kg kettlebell to and fro. You can find out more about Siew Ling and her journey here.