I was up a little later today, but am continuing my new system of getting up once I wake at an approximately suitable time. It may cut my sleep slightly short but I’m not convinced that the extra grudging 20-40 minutes of sleep is actually worth it. I never feel rested at the end of it.
It’s a funny day, Saturday. Lacking the discipline of the rest of the week, it is a slightly chaotic morning. I don’t have to get Julia to work, so there’s no rush to be out of the door before 8.00, but I do want to get to work in time to settle and find a parking spot. I’m old-fashioned like that. If I “start” at 10.00, I like to be there at least fifteen minutes early to get myself ready and relaxed. I’ve always done this, even in the days when a day in the office involved pens and paper rather than computers. Do you remember those days? We used to do our calculations using pen, paper and knowledge, instead of clattering away on a calculator or computer.
It’s always been one of those things that winds me up. If you start work at a certain time, that’s when you start. You son’t sidle into the office dead on time, hang your coat up, say hello to people, use the toilet,, shuffle the stuff on your desk and, ten to fifteen minutes after your start time, actually get down to work . . .
As I say, probably just me, as this sort of attitude is generally considered “Victorian” in today’s world. That’s Victorian in the context of an insult. These days it’s seen a s a bad thing to do a fair day’s work for your pay, and to keep your word. I fully support this boss. It would be even better if the Prime Minister would show this sort of backbone when dealing with his government. Of course, that would imply that he had some sort of values himself, and that, to be honest, doesn’t seem to be the case.
However, I do admit that it’s difficult for people to know how to respond when they see so many politicians and sports starts behaving like the rules don’t apply to them.
In my first job in an office, we used to write our translations on paper and these were them typed up by a secretary. Then in the next job, I was writing up my own translations on a computer. There was still secretaries to beautify the write-up, as in those days computer print-outs weren’t on A4 paper. The computer screens weren’t in colour either and there were no emails.
Still, even though I used the computer a lot in my work now, working at home with a printer means I also used paper and pen a lot in my work 😊
To think that they promised us a “paperless office” . . .
Yes, it’s just not possible to paperless…
True, but they should disable all the printers and see what happens. 🙂
In teaching, we are moving towards paperless, asking students to bring their laptops in. However, it’s much harder to see at a glance what students are doing without handouts. It’s also easier (for me) to proof-read a printed version. And at the moment, I need to be able to see all the lessons in a syllabus so I can get a clear overview. Flicking between screens is much more time consuming and makes the job harder in terms of mapping.
I think it depends what kind of job a person does and also to some extent how their mind works (thinking multiple intelligences, for example).
Yes, there are a lot of limitations. I always thought people were being over optimistic because paper copies are much easier for so many things. For instance – each morning I write my packing list – working from the screen leads to things being missed.
It might have something to do with the way we read on a screen. That said, some research has been done into the effectiveness of students reading on computers and apparently the results showed it didn’t adversely affect them. Perhaps it is down to them having grown up reading from screens. Or it could be a case of researchers finding what they want to find 🥴
At one time I used to have trouble reading from a screen but I seem to have become used to it over the years. Probably because the lighting better for my old eyes.
Have you discussed your eyesight with an optician?
I’m getting old, the light gathering capacity of my eyes is decreasing. I need a reading lamp. That’s just how it is. 🙂
Well, it does seem a shame to struggle when there might be an alternative solution but it is what it is, I guess.
Sorry, I mean I now have to write things down using paper and pen as I can’t print.
🙂
I remember the pre-computer days well. A job well done is its own reward. I remember back in my college years seeing a sign in a little deli in a mall, long ago. “If you have time to lean, you have time to clean.” It made quite an impression. 🙂
Good sign from many perspectives. 🙂
I feel exactly the same way. When I worked outside the home, I was always there a little early to get myself settled before starting the day’s work.
Today I had all the parcels packe by 10.00, kept myself busy all day and, because we had done so much, the owner decided we should go an hour early. That is convenient as it allows me to watch something completely on TV instead of missing the first ten minutes. Virtue is its own reward. 🙂
Absolutely! Plus, there is that good feeling that comes with a job well done.
🙂
I’m with you entirely. Just a thought about sleep cycles – being forced awake in the middle of one is not going to refresh you.
Good point – I think I’m going to have to see about sorting my sleep out – a number of things need doing.