Home-Schooled

Home-Schooled

Lessons I learned while working from Home

“Business as usual” for me is traveling early in the morning to the office by the Metro train. Wading through assignments and routine work through the day, with an hour’s break in between. I return home late in the evening – just in time for dinner, and then retire for the day. I had been longing to break out of the grind for a long time. To have no limits, deadlines – even a routine. I am sure I was not alone. So, working from home came as a wish granted. I could use the travel time to sleep longer and I could just put off work until the moment I felt like I really wanted to do it. And so, it began.

It was not long before I realized that working from home is tougher than working at the office. Soon, I began to ignore the clock and the calendar as I lost track of time. Laziness began to roost, and procrastination grew its roots. Not surprisingly I fell out of track as submissions ran late and deadlines were missed. I stopped reading, I stared at my smartphone all day and I withdrew from physical relationships, I turned to social media. I am still reeling from the effects.

Despite these ill effects, The COVID season has not all been a mess though. The ‘worker’ part of me fell into a slumber, but the ‘thinker’ part of me embraced the opportunity. I spent much time reflecting on pressing questions – of life, faith, and purpose. So, while many were picking up skills and brushing up their abilities, I roamed through the alleys of thought. While some were engaged in meetings, and get-togethers on Zoom, I was mulling over all that I had experienced so far and all that was happening around. Here are some of my thoughts and learnings from this season.

A Privilege and a Responsibility

Working from home is a privilege not many in our country can afford –a luxury. Many offices need women and men to be onsite as they need to travel. But the situation is not conducive. So many have been let go owing to a slump in work, or redundancy. Therefore, regardless of the fact that I am still grappling with this way of working, I am grateful to God for the opportunity to work and earn from the comfort of my home. With this privilege comes a great responsibility to help others in need in any way I can.

Rest and Routine

I have learned that it is important to rest from our slavish routines, mind-numbing activities, and mind-boggling tasks. Resting is not (only) a period of inactivity but replenishment. Spending time with family, with nature, talking with friends has its own organic merits. Resting from our palpitating lives especially when we view them as “a routine” is tough and at times expensive. But we must make every effort to do just that.

Disengage and Reengage

I have learned that we have unconsciously become so absorbed in our own world. We have become used to operating in our own “enclosures” without giving others any thought, especially our families. Coming face to face with them for longer than usual has resulted in some misunderstandings, quarrels, and other issues. But as the inevitable reality sets in, and we understand that we are as much the same as the other we begin to make right whatever was wrong. We disengage from a world of gadgets and reengage with people who really matter. 

Fast forward to today, it has been a week since I have returned to the grind of working from office. I surprised myself with my eagerness to return to work. The difference however is a changed perspective. I feel I am better equipped now to relate with people. Perhaps the mundane will set in soon and perhaps some boredom from the daily grind will return, but the thing that has changed most is me. The new normal is far better because I have been home-schooled.