5 Work-From-Home Stories from Our Tribe

Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck businesses across the globe about six months ago, people have been working either from the comfort of their home or in available coworking spaces with safety measures in place. Most people find remote work more manageable, stating they are more productive than a day in the office and listing down several benefits a work-from-home set-up offers.

No commute, less to no interruptions, higher savings, comfy clothes while working—these are just some of the good things that we can get from a remote work arrangement. Apart from these important aspects, some of us were able to learn new things since the quarantine started and old hobbies were rekindled because of the flexibility that remote work presents.

We have asked some members of the B&P Tribe to share their newfound passion and any old hobbies they have revived to help relieve stress after a long day of work.

Source: MusicTech

Music Production

Rudd, Data Entry Associate

Q: How and when did you start audio mixing?
A: It started when our catholic community decided to have an online Praise and Worship because mass gatherings were not allowed at that time. I was helping the video editors since I have some knowledge in that area as well, and we needed to produce and mix original songs to avoid copyright issues. We had someone who taught us audio mixing, but he’s almost always busy, so I grabbed the opportunity to really learn the craft.

Q: Do you have any inspiration or any artist you have been following?
A: So far, none! But I do watch tutorial videos on YouTube.

Q: How do you go about the audio mixing process?
A: Our Praise Team (group of singers and instrumentalists) records the vocals, as well as the guitar and piano rhythms. And that’s where I come in. As an audio mixer, I need to make sure that I mix everything nicely and smoothly, and add effects or other enhancements where necessary.

Q: What major challenges have you experienced? How do you find balance between work and audio mixing?
A: So far, I haven’t encountered any major challenges yet. I do audio mixing after my shift as a way to relax and unwind.

Q: Any song or mashup you’d want to share with us? How do we listen to your songs?
A: I haven’t produced any mashup songs yet, but that does sound interesting! I think that would be my next target since I love creating beats and adding effects to songs.

Source: The Spruce Crafts

Cross Stitching

Angeline, Team Leader

Q: How did you find your way to embroidery? How long have you been doing cross-stitch?
A: I started my first cross-stitch pattern when I was still employed in my previous job. I became busy with other stuff and was not able to finish it. Then during the first week of lockdown, I tried to look for a hobby that would keep me busy and I could use my creative side. And that’s when I remembered that I still have that cross-stitch pattern I needed to finish.

Q: How often do you get to do cross stitch? How do you find time despite our current situation?
A: Sometimes, I do it after my shift to help me unwind. I also make time during weekends if I have no errands to run. I found that this activity is the best way to kill boredom and do something worthwhile.

Q: What is your favorite part of the embroidery process from start to finish and which do you like the least?
A: Just looking at the pattern makes me feel thrilled to see how it’s going to look like when it’s done. Every time I complete a portion of the pattern inches me closer to the final output and it makes me extremely excited. What I hate the most about this hobby is when I get my hands pricked every time I’m distracted by something else. Ouch!

Q: There are so many embroidery techniques and materials out there. What would you love to try out one day that you haven’t done yet?
A: Once I’m done with my current pattern, I really want to make a bigger one. I actually do have something to start with, but some materials are just really expensive!

Q: What advice can you give to others who are just starting in this craft such as yourself?
A: More patience, dedication, and hard work. You will never see the satisfying result if you won’t put in your 101% effort. Also, never forget to be extra creative and think outside the box!

Source: Fitness Machine Technicians

Workout

Bernard, Customer Service Representative

Q: How important is it to stay active during the COVID-19 pandemic? How do you find balance between working and staying fit?
A: It’s very important for me to stay active especially during these times because it improves health and reduces the risk of developing several diseases. Just like everything else that I do, I always find time to exercise. Everybody has time; it just needs to be properly managed.

Q: Where do you find free resources to help you stay active at home? Do you watch workout videos or just create your own routine?
A: Body weight exercises are the best. They’re free and can be really challenging. I also have my own equipment, too. I believe they’re good investments and that home gym is the future! I also watch workout videos from Instagram and YouTube and tailor fit them to what I want to achieve.

Q: Any fitness apps you can recommend to track daily progress?
A: I use WODproof to record a workout when proof is required, particularly when I’m competing with my friends. We’d do the same workout and repetitions. Whoever does the highest number of reps or finishes first wins. Timer is also a basic application that has proven to be very useful. Everything becomes challenging if it’s timed!

Q: Does being quarantined make you miss some contact sports? Which ones do you miss playing with friends?
A: I do miss basketball and hanging out with B&P colleagues on the basketball hardcourt.

Q: Do you have any new workout routine or healthy diet since the quarantine started?
A: I started mace training and I learned a few jumping rope tricks. I also got to polish my kettle bell routines, too. In my opinion, a healthier diet is even more challenging to maintain than staying active. I try to stay away from processed foods but I’m only human and sometimes give in. And more importantly, I drink lots of water as much as possible!

Home Cooking

Isabella, Marketing Team Lead

Q: How often do you cook? What are your favorite dishes?
A: I cook almost every day (I have no choice!). Since I migrated to Japan, cooking has instantly become a therapy for me. It didn’t occur to me that moving to a different country would also mean moving away from my mom’s kitchen! So I definitely miss the flavors from home. My go-to favorite comfort dishes would be Sinigang and Kare-Kare! Instant remedy to homesickness.

Q: What are some of the advantages of cooking your meals at home? How about the disadvantages?
A: Cooking at home definitely has more pros than cons, at least for me. For one, I get to practice mindful eating. Because I prepared the meal myself, there’s that in-the-moment awareness of the food and drink that I put in my body. Knowing where your food comes from is also another plus. Fresh, made-from-scratch whole foods oftentimes are cleaner and healthier. The hitch of home cooking would probably be always having to think of what to cook every day! You just run out of ideas sometimes. On days that I’m zapped of energy and don’t really know what to cook, I look outside the kitchen for answers.

Q: Have you tried cooking food from another culture? What did you prepare? How was it?
A: I love Thai food so much! Thai cuisine is just so aromatic and flavorful with that spicy edge I can’t get enough of. I love making Thai Curry and Tom Yum. How was it? Hmm, well, I would be biased towards my own cooking, so I’d say delicious!

Q: If you had your own personal chef, what meal would you ask for most—one that you cannot cook?
A: Oh man, this is tough! I have simple joys in life. To me, simple food is the best food. So I’d go for a Naples-style pizza for sure. I can’t bake my own dough to save my life. Also, tomatoes, basil, and mozzarella create the perfect marriage of flavors.

Cycling

Jerome, Marketing Content Specialist

Q: When and how did you get into biking?
A: I actually got into biking because of my older brother. He started investing in bikes just last year, and it has proven to be a great decision especially when the pandemic hit. I bought my own mountain bike three months ago and so far, no regrets!

Q: How do you get inspired and continue to challenge yourself?
A: Bikes are the perfect companion for exploration. I’d hop on my bike and go where the road takes me just for the fun of it. But sometimes, my brothers and I could get serious and go for 50 or 60 kilometers in under three hours. I take inspiration from them because every time we go biking, we go hard, far, and long. And we always go for that extra mile.

Q: So far, what have been the benefits of biking to your body and lifestyle?
A: Compared to an expensive gym membership or fitness class, riding my bike around town is free to enjoy. The pandemic may have drastically changed my fitness routine, but through biking, I was able to regain my stamina and rebuild muscle in a way that is much more exhilarating and exciting than a traditional workout.

Q: Surely, there must be pitfalls in biking, like literally falling down and getting hurt. Are you not scared?
A: I did experience having fallen down a couple of times before, but I believe it’s part of the fun. Much like in life, you go through difficult challenges and sometimes you feel like giving up. But for me, the real motivation starts in the “getting back up” part, because then you realize how strong and resilient you can be.

Q: Do you see bicycles as the cars of the future?
A: A hundred percent! Cars emit carbon dioxide, sulfur, and other pollutants that can negatively affect our health and the environment, and biking is an easy way to limit our own impact. Also, more and more cities are investing in bike lanes, making biking way safer for everyone. And with the pandemic still around, I think it’s safe to say that bikes are here to stay and for good reason.

We have all worked from anywhere outside the office at some point—working from home once a week, every now and then, or even regularly. While the COVID-19 pandemic presents significant challenges to employees around the world, it also gives us the opportunity to maximize our time at home with our loved ones and learn new things everyday.

If work-from-home job opportunities sound like something that fits your needs and personality, join our growing team today! Check out our open roles here and start your dream career with us!

Looking to build your remote team? Send us an email at hello@boothandpartners.com and let us start discussing your options.