[ad_1]
SINGAPORE – One couple, two hotels, 15 days of “work”. What did I do to deserve this?
When my husband broached the idea of a work-from-home vacation last month, my heart skipped a beat like it does when he says we have enough miles for business class.
After seven months without a vacation, we were desperate for a change of scenery.
Additionally, working from home had become unbearable, thanks to the auditory assault from jackhammers and bulldozers from our neighbor’s ambitious rebuilding project, which spanned three houses.
My husband was not allowed to return to the office at the time, but hotels had started to open up for guests, which was serendipitous, as the corporate rates were very attractive.
We stayed at a 4-star hotel on Beach Road for five days and another 10 days at a 5-star hotel on Orchard Road.
As I gleefully packed travel toiletries, I envisioned myself lounging poolside with my laptop and taking long bubble baths between inspired bouts of creativity. A work stay would be the closest I could get to being a digital nomad without abandoning my teenagers (who, in the end, barely realized I was away from home).
After the initial euphoria of checking the room, filtered tap water! Four kinds of tea! L’Occitane shower gel! – We both got to work.
Invariably, one of us would get the best chair and the other would risk neck pain from working at the coffee table or in bed.
My husband, whose frequent trips abroad for his technical work have been replaced by an overwhelming schedule of conference calls that start at 7 a.m. and sometimes end after midnight, likes to broadcast his calls through his portable speaker.
That wasn’t a problem at home when I could work in the studio, but with the two of us confined to one room, it started to irritate me.
Finally, we settle into a work routine: an early morning swim followed by work and more work, interrupted by quick trips to get something to eat.
As the days merged, stocking all of our meals became a chore and I felt a twinge of envy whenever I saw other guests enjoying themselves on the premises while I returned to work.
My poolside fantasy never materialized – I forgot I’d have to wear a mask in the heat and queue for a lounge bed.
For my husband, who is used to working with a suitcase anywhere in the world, work was just another day at the office.
For me, the land-based spouse, a hotel stay means so much more. It enchants your senses, immerses you in indulgence and makes you feel special. Working from a hotel for a day was new and exciting, but working from one for half a month became tedious and claustrophobic at times.
What I should have done was take a day off and step out of my golden cage: use the spa, explore the neighborhood, and splurge on a hotel dinner or lunch by the pool.
Just as working from home has insidiously consumed precious family time and “me” time, all work and no play takes the fun out of long work.
At the same time, I would love to see work packages that include massage benefits, ergonomic desks and chairs for a couple, and in-room breakfasts that are good value for money rather than just too expensive.
Since many of us still look forward to working from home well into the next year, a carefully selected work package could be what weary Zoom executives need to keep them motivated.
Well, at least that’s what I’ll offer my husband for another work stay. Wish me luck.
[ad_2]
