If I was asked about how flexible my work life was three to four years ago when I was still doing my 9-to-5 job, then I would tell you that it's not in a way flexible. However, no matter the pressure we face working and trying to balance other aspects of our lives, it's still necessary because of the money involved, which is a necessity for our living. Those days of my 9-to-5 job were an experience I am not planning to revisit since I started remote work plus other physical jobs on my own, which gave me the opportunity to design my own freedom and work life to suit the kind of life I want for me and my family.
Have you ever worked in a firm where you are mandated to stay off your phone during work hours except for official calls? That was my case no matter the chance I get within work hour, you can imagine! It's one of the things with working a full-time job; you would barely get a say on how your day unfolds; instead, your employer runs your routines. Whether or not there's something to be done in the office, you just have to sit down until closing hour. Most times, getting home late and exhausted, I will be unable to fix some things at home before retiring to bed and the routine continues that way, year to year, month to month and of course day to day!
I was not only faced with a fixed routine every day where I had to do things a certain way and in a certain order, but on many occasions, I was made to work extra time without extra pay. I was also made to work on Saturdays once there's an emergency project that requires my attention, still without extra pay or even a tip. Sometimes, I will be in the midst of important activity at home with my family, and I will suddenly receive a call to report to the office for one thing or another, especially because of the position I occupied in the office back then. You see, flexibility was far from the reality.
Now that I work remotely, I have been experiencing what work and flexibility are all about, as it allows me to manage my time, pursue my personal interests, and strike a better balance between work and family. I wouldn't say that I don't experience distractions or procrastinate; I do, but over time, I have learned to craft a clear structure of my work, manage my time adequately, and stay disciplined enough even without having to account for any boss somewhere.
Working on my own terms, I can say it's quite flexible as I choose my hours of work and other important things around my life, but even with the freedom, I choose to stay relevant for myself. And yes, I like things as they are currently, and for now I wouldn't change them.
This post is in response to the #hivelearners community contest on the topic titled, How Flexible Is Your Work Life?
Note: images were created using Meta AI