k_quietime

— [2021] Hi XR,

Thanks for sharing your personal preferences. I can understand that telecommuting has huge benefits in your circumstances, so huge that you are willing to change job for it. I think when I move to the U.S. I will also prefer partial telecommuting (commute too long) Therefore, I feel optimistic about the industry trend.

Believe it or not, many Singapore employers are forced to follow the same trend, as tech workers expect flexible work arrangements. Some workers even demand it, saying “If this employer is as rigid/outdated as before the pandemic, then I will prefer those adaptive employers.” Businesses need /adaptation/, as in natural selection theory (Darwinism). I believe the leading tech employers will adapt in order to compete for tech talents.

Right now in Singapore, I feel extremely lucky that I don’t suffer any of the commute headaches you described:

• no cooking duty. My wife cooks.
• no need to fetch kids. My wife does that whenever I’m in the office.
• commute is 25min and very little walk. No transfer. I am able to study or blog about 80% of the time. I could be quite productive during my commute, so the commute hours are not “lost and wasted”, eroding the 24 hours we have.
• train is punctual and reliable, with reasonable cost (S$2.60/day)

There are many small benefits to my daily commute:

• on my commute I often pass by shops where I complete my shopping routine without making a separate shopping /errand/ from home.
• I often do a bit of light exercise like climbing stairs, squat, stretch, and push-up at train stations or inside trains. Without my daily commute, I found it harder to motivate myself.
• ^^ Therefore, I feel healthier, more efficient, more eco-friendly than those car commuters.

Adaption again — I have adapted my lifestyle to my daily commute. Therefore, without the daily commute, I am less efficient, less healthy.

When I can’t enter the office, I often go out to far-away places (libraries, cinemas, yoga, meet-ups) just to get out of home and enjoy the train rides.

==== 2023 CNA article on commute vs onsite work (https://www.channelnewsasia.com/commentary/transport-daily-commute-work-home-office-traffic-me-time-psychological-benefits-3365581)

“many patients I have seen in the past year have been relieved that they can return to the office despite having to endure the commute… (Office) social interactions helped provide support, validation, and inspiration to their work.”

— quietime .. COMMUTING – A CHORE OR MUCH-NEEDED “ME TIME”?

“For employees with family, work can sometimes be the only legitimate reason they can give themselves (or their spouse) to leave home and get some alone time.”

“commutes allowed them a time to be truly free from both work and family, and they were able to detach their mind from the everyday worries of work and ordinary life.”

I don’t enjoy screen-entertainment during commute. Instead, my favorite combination is

• reading print or electronic media, usually with a pen.
• seated on a train. (Bus is bad for reading)
• frequent trains, without long waiting