End of the work week blog

 

Happy Friday everyone! It actually felt like fall today. We only got up to the 70's today. It was nice walking in the cooler air tonight. Aside from there, here in Texas we started early voting.  I am big on that because it's your way of saying who you want to represent you. . No matter who you vote for don't worry - as Evelyn Beatrice Hall said "I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it." So, if you have to go the polls, or have a mail  in ballot, don't forget , and don't be afraid to voice your choice my friends. I was fortunate that it didn't take too long when I went to the polls. I went to Kirby City Hall after work. I got there at 5:35 pm. There was a bit of a line. But I was done when the people working there where stepping outside to see who was in line at 6. No matter who takes office in 2021 I just want to see us really come together again. I feel like we have let ourselves become divided over everything in 2020 because of everything when we all really want the same thing . We all want things to go back to how they used to be more or less before the epidemic. We all want to be able to gather in groups again, travel and go places without having to wear a mask. I don't know when we will be able to again, but we will eventually. Until then, stay safe, stay healthy, and take care of each other.

-Donna

Living in the moment

Happy Sunday everyone! It has been quite the week. We had our first Vice Presidential debate. Today just ended up being a quiet day. Mom and I got groceries for the week, and now I have Hocus Pocus on to get into the Halloween spirit. The one thing in 2020 that has been the hardest for me to do is not worry about things that are clearly not in my control. If you know me , then you know I am an extrovert like Anna from Frozen. I love traveling, and seeing my friends. I like having things to do, and places to see.  So being told to social distance myself ,and only go out when you really need to has been a challenge. But, I remember a conversation I had in college. It was that we get depressed when we think of the past because we think of what could have/ should have done. We get anxious when we think of the future because we don't know what is going to happen epidemic or not.  So the only way to really be happy is just to be in the moment. Plus at the end of the day , the only thing we really have control over are our own thoughts and actions.  We can't control what other people are going to say and do. The epidemic will end eventually. So all we can do is do our best to live in the present. So stay safe, stay healthy , and take care of each other everyone.

-Donna 

Perhaps some changes will be for the better

 Happy Friday everyone! It clearly been quite the week.  Joe Biden and President Trump had their first debate.  The smell of pumpkin spice is in the air. It is now October and yesterday a friend of mine announced she is going into labor to have a baby boy. :0)  I have no doubt in my mind her and her husband will be great parents.   I am still in shock because it wasn't too long ago some other friends of mine had a baby girl and became wonderful parents. Plus I still remember when we where all in high school before we even started thinking about things like kids. (At least like you do when you are in your twenties/ thirties.) 

It reminded me that ever since this epidemic started I have been wondering what "the new normal" will be once we can actually gather in groups again like we used to.  I have often said I see people still working from home, and continuing to make use of applications like zoom, windows messenger, skype, ect for work. As well as services like Amazon to deliver our stuff, and uber eats to deliver our food.   But the news also reminded me that even in 2020 there is still lots of life and love in this world. I hope we don't lose sight of that in spite of everything.   Stay safe , stay healthy, and take care of each other everyone. 

-Donna

Working from home: the pros and cons.

Home is where the heart is. In 2020, because of the COVID-19 epidemic, it has also become the office for a lot of people. For some it was only temporary and have  had to go back to the office. Others get to work from home permanently. Of course there are others who still have to commute to work like they did before the epidemic. My mom has been working from home way before the epidemic made it cool. So to give people an idea of what it is like, here are some pros and cons about working from home.

~Pros~

       More Independence. You don't have a supervisor looking over 

  No commute to work. 

·         Save on expenses.  Working from home you reduce fuel and transportation expenses. It also helps you save on other expenses like food, clothes, and even childcare.

·       Increased productivity.  When you work independently in a quieter environment, you may be more productive. Increased productivity related to several more factors including the ability to move around your home freely and take breaks when you feel the need to. Also being able to step away from your work when you feel like you need a break can help you stay motivated and reduce burn-out.  

·        Improved technical skills since it requires consistent communication between teams and managers via emails, phone/video calls and chats. 

No office distractions

Collaborate across locations

Reduction in absences 

~Cons~

I Increased Isolation. You can become quite isolated working from home if you spend the majority of time by yourself, working independently. The key to avoiding loneliness and isolation as a remote worker is to schedule outings and events with friends and family.  

  Home Office Costs.

    Risk of overworking.

         Risk to productivity . Although working from home can help increase your productivity, it can also be a challenge to it. With the freedom to move around and take breaks whenever the mood arises, it might be difficult to stay focused on the tasks you're working on. This can ultimately lead to slower productivity. One way to combat this is to implement productivity tools like time trackers and task management applications.

·         Distractions from home. Distractions like the television, pets or household chores can affect how you perform your job. Too many distractions can lead to a decrease in your productivity and motivation. You can avoid this by limiting anything that you find distracting in your home. Use noise-canceling headphones and play relaxing music to block out noises like traffic and neighborhood activity.

·      Workplace disconnect.  Telecommuting can sometimes lead to a disconnect between you and your coworkers. Working from home means you won't have access to immediate information about important business processes until someone in the company communicates it to you. Make sure to stay connected with your physical workplace through constant communication whenever you have questions or concerns.

·    Disproportionate work life balance.  Although working from home can offer you the opportunity to balance your home life with your job, it can also be challenging to create a distinct separation between your career and personal life. Set clear boundaries between your work hours and personal time, and communicate these boundaries with others in your home.

·       Less face time. Working remotely, you won't have the same opportunities to speak face-to-face with coworkers and the community unless you get out and about

So ,there still is some give and take no matter where you work. No matter where work happens to be during this time, stay safe, healthy , take care of yourself and each other.

-Donna

 

Staycation all I ever wanted. Staycation have to get away.

Happy Tuesday everyone! My mom was supposed to go on a trip this week , but that trip ended up being cancelled because of COVID-19. So instead of the trip, she is still taking that time off work, and doing projects around the house while I work, or pretend to work.   But this reminded me the importance of taking time off. Even though we are still being encouraged to stay at home , don't forget to take some time off for yourself during this time. Stay cations are affordable since you don't have to worry about the costs of flights and accommodations. Reduced travel time also means more vacation time.Of course you can play a stay cation no matter where in the world you are.

Take care of yourself and each other during this time

-Donna

Labor Day weekend

It is the Tuesday after labor weekend. So you know know what means -coffee, coffee, and what is my password to log on again? lol   My 3 day weekend turned out better than  I expected. Originally, mom and I where supposed to go to Corpus Christi to take our friends daughter Vanessa horseback riding on the beach . However, we thought it was going to rain there so we ended up staying  in San Antonio. Friday ended up being a girls night since we didn't take Vanessa horseback riding. My mom, Vanessa and I went to a Ramen restaurant by the forum for dinner. After that, we went to Bath and Body Works, and Walmart to end the evening .Corpus Christi ended up coming to us. My moms friend who lives in Corpus Christi ended up coming up to pay us a visit. I also got to catch up with a friend I have not seen in person since the epidemic started over dinner at Chili's.  Sunday mom and  I went out to brunch with our friend from Corpus, watched movies and relaxed. On Monday I got to catch up with my friend Jenn So even though I didn't get to go out of town, I still had a good  Labor Day weekend. It is nice to know that even during times that these we can still make time for another every now and then.  This year has reminded me of the quote from Dr. Suess "sometimes you never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory."  That is because  we are still being encouraged to practice social distancing So keep on making memories with the people you care about. 

Stay safe, stay healthy, and take care of one another.

-Donna

You can't always get what you want...

 Well, another week has come and gone.  I am just trying to stay cool as we continue to get one hundred degree days.  I am still working , going to the gym, and of course seeing friends when possible. 

 August 26th was women's equality day. I am definitely proud of how far we have come .But I still think women have a double edged sword in society. We are told yes we can go out and have careers, even be the CEO of major corporations. But we are still supposed to be the primary care takers at the house. (Ofcourse I realize there are exceptions to this rule. My Uncle Carl was the one who took care of things at home since my Aunt Terry had the better job.)  So if we are working, we are not taking care of things at home, and if we are taking care of things at home we are not working . So it is a forever balancing act. It's something we all struggle with. So to fellow women out there, continue being you , and doing what works best for you.

 This weekend  I ended up catching up with my friend Jenn since she was in town a couple of times. Friday  night we went to Osaka for dinner. Saturday night we had a meal at  The Cheesecake Factory. It was the first time I went to North Star Mall  in months. (When the epidemic started, I had no reason to go there especially since we couldn't for a while.) Some stores can only have a certain amount of people in due to social distancing. When I went to the Disney Store I had to wait a few minutes to get in because they where at capacity. Tonight I am going to watch Bill and Ted 3 with my friends Ian, David, and Jennie.But my meet up made me wonder if things happen or a reason or if everything is just a coincidence. I am forever convinced the universe has  a twisted sense of humor. But the universe also seems to know when you really need something too. I know at the time Jenn and I reconnected, I was in need of my friends.  However I know Jenn had no way of knowing this. Jenn just knew it was my birthday and told me happy birthday which is how we started talking again .  Either way, for whatever reason we reconnected  I am glad it did. You can't always get what you want, but you definitely get what you need. Now I am off to enjoy the tail end of my weekend. 

Take care , be safe, and stay healthy everyone

    -Donna