Oppo's Work/Life Balance in 2020: Let's Talk!

"way2blu does a rev update" (way2blu)
10/17/2020 at 11:46 • Filed to: Oppositelock, 2020, Worklopnik, work life balance

How’s it going? Life’s been pretty weird in the past few years (especially this latest one) and I’d like to check in with you all on life. I feel like we can all share good advice here on Oppo, and at 80% of the way through 2020 we’ve probably got a lot to say. I’ve had great moments and also not-at-all-great moments. I’d love to hear your thoughts on work/life balance this year.

To get some discussion rolling , three questions:

1st corner - What’s been a success or strong point for you this year?

2nd corner - What’s a belief or opinion of yours that’s changed since a year ago?

3rd corner - What are you excited for in the upcoming future?

If there’s one place on the internet where a whole world of diverse experience and enthusiasm exists, it’s here on Oppo. I think we can learn from each other as well as be good to each other, on levels never seen elsewhere.

DISCUSSION (11)

CB > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 12:04

Strong point? New car, new dog, doing well at work.

Changed opinion? Maybe I’m not as left leaning as I used to be. Finding that my opinions on things are getting to a point where no political party for sure matches my beliefs.

What am I excited for? Hell if I know at this point. I barely know what I’m having for breakfast most days.

Manwich - now Keto-Friendly > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 12:07

For me...

1. My stock picks have been a great success this year. Took full advantage of the market dip and the drop in commodity prices. It seems like 2020 might be one of my most successful stock-picking years.

2. That it’s possible for the price of oil to go into the negatives. A year ago, I didn’t think that was possible... yet it happened.

3. In the near future, I’m looking forward to how my investments do. I’m also looking forward to the US presidential election even though I’m not American, I’m looking forward to new electric cars that will be coming out from Tesla, Ford and other car makers, I’m looking forward to COVID going away (and I’m confident it will sooner or later, one way or another).

As for my kids, I’m hoping to see positive progress with both of their education. I have some trepidation with this as COVID has messing things up for them somewhat.

perryair52 > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 12:14

1st corner: (puts tires up on the rumble strip right in the thick of the line) family and work relationships are all stronger through all this covid stuff

2nd corner: (nails the throttle on to slightly drift through) this version of the republican party is irrevocably, irredeemably unsalvageable. i used to think that it would gain its senses somehow. noone’s perfect and in a a grey world binary choices hardly ever make many people happy but dear sweet baby jesus, this is like watching a dumpster fire get crashed into by a plane full of drowned puppies.

3rd corner: (brakes hold up through a late decel and i slam the throttle out of the turn) i hope and think that people better understand the impermanence of life, that were not truly given anything and can truly take nothing for granted. (also, i really want to get more track time in the future so im excited to do that..)

just-a-scratch > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 12:19

1 Six years ago I took a job with a local utility for the stability. I couldn’t be any happier now when my work is stable and rewarding while things are falling apart for so many others.

2 I am coming around to this work from home situation. I’m starting to get accustomed to it and like it.

3 I’m excited to set up my new car so it can be track day legal. I think I can get the roll bar high enough and the seat low enough to make it happen. The light and nimble mid engine layout already indices giggling at modest speed. So fun.

Poor_Sh > CB
10/17/2020 at 12:31

Basically this ^^^ but cat, work sucks, and I might be more left leaning but still fuck the 2 party system down here (relative to CB's location)

BaconSandwich is tasty. > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 14:11

1st corner - What’s been a success or strong point for you this year?

I’m still gainfully employed. Working from home for the past 7 months, I’ve, in theory, saved a few hundred dollars in gas. (I checked this morning, and I’m still at half a tank, and I last filled up in August). I’ll probably be working from home for the rest of the year, at the rate things are headed.

2nd corner - What’s a belief or opinion of yours that’s changed since a year ago?

Hmm. I’m not sure too much has changed for me. I used to think that working at home wouldn’t work so well for me, but it’s actually been pretty decent. We had to move my computer to the basement, into a spare bedroom (instead of the living room where it was). I do miss some of the non-work banter and the free pop in the fridge at work. As a result, we’ve been drinking a lot more diet Dr. Pepper at home. Normally I’m the kind of person who might have a can a week. Lately it’s been more like a 2L bottle every two days (between Mrs. BaconSandwich and I. I blame her bad influence on me for that. :P ).

3rd corner - What are you excited for in the upcoming future?

I may have to end up using a ton of vacation time, depending on some changes to company policy. If that’s the case, I’ll be taking off almost all of the month of December. I am also still hoping that there’s the option of them paying it out (which I highly doubt they would do - they are chea pskates). If they pay me out, I’ll put that money against the mortgage.

I’m really hoping to do a few more projects in the garage. Maybe build a recumbent bike from scratch. Something involving a bit of metal working.

sony1492 > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 14:19

1st Corner: Quiting my full time union job to pursue work I m more passionate about has been an excellent decision so far. The Grocery store job was depressing in its ease, the lack of forward movement in the company meant it was hard to see a future . The flipside was stability, especially in a time of uncertainty like 2020. Ultimately I’ m making the same money with less work , learning more, building relationships within the community, and theres a path toward some form of success.

2nd Corner: Used to believe that as a society we were reasonable or could be reasoned with . Seeing the Lengths politicians can go under scrutiny with no recourse has been astounding. People would rather pick a side then make a decision for themselves and has proven truth isnt relevant anymore(if it ever was).

3rd Corner: On a personal level Im excited to make a steady stream of work and/ or get a solid footing. On the whole; perhaps the backlash to our current politics will be positive, not holding my breath though. Times of uncertainty are also times of opportunity, maybe some change will be for the better.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 16:24

1. Generally maintaining normality and stability in our day to day life; ongoing delivery of on- property projects.

2. School teaching is much harder than it looks.

3. Everything. Since we must be at the bottom of the curve...well...down here anyway!

415s30 W123TSXWaggoIIIIIIo ( •_•))°) > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 16:27

Work, what’s that? I’ve really taken a hard look at many systems at work in our government and have concluded a serious amount of work needs to be done. I was an archeology/anthropology major and all I can say is seeing the insane human behavior in recent times has really been an eye opener. I don’t really love my job anymore but I would like for it to come back, I will lose my insurance after November so I’m looking into what to do for that. I may even sell the Z at some point, it really all depends on what happens.

404 - User No Longer Available > way2blu does a rev update
10/17/2020 at 21:58

1st corner - I’ve successfully pivoted my career from dreading as a QA to doing more dev and ops work, improving my job prospects. Going full throttle with my new shooting hobby, and getting my gun license soon to (maybe) move from airsoft to real steel.

2nd corner - I’m not too sure about this one. Maybe a slight belief that life isn’t so bad... but sometimes the more things change, the more stay the same.

3rd corner - The job I was talking about went through... I got the offer. Thing is I’m really on the fence about switching. It does bring my income basically back to my past days, but I’ve grown to like my current job. New job is way more support work versus now what I do. I need to make a decision fast the next few days and talk to my boss.

Taylor Martin > way2blu does a rev update
10/18/2020 at 17:16

Well, despite all the goofy, wacky, terrible things that have happened this year, I’ve been doing a lot of things I actually enjoy doing. I got a part time gig writing articles about cars, I made a video with a buddy in the style of a Top Gear episode, I’ve driven quite a lot... hell, if Covid hadn’t of happened I may never have found O ppositelock

Speaking of Oppositelock, I always thought car people were super geniuses , and in a way they still are to me since I know jack squat about automobiles. But I got to work on my own car over this quarantine and found I can do it too... barely... so that belief changed.

Though there are some negatives, like how my trust in our system of governing has completely fallen apart and is more like a reality TV show than polite discourse, and now I firmly believe that won’t change anytime soon. And I also though living with my roommate’s girlfriend would be fun ... boy... was I wrong.

In the immediate future, less than two days before I fly home to Maryland for a week (which is the best place to be in these Covid times) and celebrate my best friend’s 20th birthday (he doesn’t know, so don’t tell him). There’s also Thanksgiving, which is one of the few times I see my extended family, and I’m going to my first non-family wedding (my upstairs neighbors).

This was a very nice thing to do man, even if it’s more of a journal to make me realize that, while I am feeling less productive than ever, not everything is terrible. How are you?