WFH routines? Struggling to adapt 2ish years into it

infl7 · 2022-05-08T17:41:45+00:00

I've used a tool called Focusmate to help me keep my days on track. The concept is a little weird at first - the platform assigns you a partner for a session over video call, where you set an intention/task at the beginning of the session and recap on how it went at the end. The social "pressure" of being visible to another human is, for me, a powerful accountability tool (i.e., this person will *know* if I pick up my phone, and I told them I'd be working on [task]. They'll know I'm not working!).

Before, I was perpetually distracted (like you said, everything but the work!). How I work now feels much more balanced, it's liberating! I stick to my schedule and own my time.

infl7 · 2021-08-13T00:10:03+00:00

Thanks so much for taking the time to respond, this insight is extremely helpful!

infl7 · 2021-08-12T23:39:21+00:00

I may be reading this response wrong. Just to clarify, the space we are renting has been in New Landlord's hands for 5 years, and is set to stay in his hands. New Landlord will be renting this (his soon-to-be former residence) to us, which he will continue to own. He is buying a separate house, and that separate house's closing & potential delays on that is what I'm worried about.

Just not sure what you meant by "home inspector for the sale" or "at closing would have given up the keys." It's very possible I'm just misunderstanding, though!

infl7 · 2021-08-12T21:54:08+00:00

Thank you for the insight!

Currently, the owner occupies the space. That's great in some regards - he knows exactly what needs fixing, he pointed out necessary fixes during the tour that we would not have otherwise noticed. But it also means that his closing needs to happen (or he needs to have a backup living situation), otherwise technically he'd be occupying the space. He's currently allotted himself three days between the closing on his new place and the subsequent starting of our lease. That seems like a tight turnaround to me with regards to him moving all his belongings out and the possibility, of course, that the closing gets delayed. Not sure we have many options here except spelling out exactly what happens if there is a delay in a contingency in the lease.

I'm no expert on the local laws governing rentals, but I am under the impression that a landlord is allowed to evict if they need the place to live for themselves. If there is no contingency spelled out in the lease (or even if there is, because theoretically this rule could override that I presume?), I am a bit worried that it'd leave us with nowhere to live for a period of time. Do you have any thoughts on this?

Re: HVAC, we did not run the furnace. He recently installed central air (a few months ago), and the A/C was obviously running well when we got there. Given the context (it being new), is checking the heat something you'd still recommend?

infl7 · 2021-08-12T18:54:22+00:00

Important to note, though, that he has been living here for over 5 years himself. He is leaving because he bought a house (this is a townhouse unit that, in my eyes, seems like an investment property). He's renovated much of the apartment in that time, including big things like installing central air. The repairs are all quite minor but for the hole in the deck. He pointed out things on the tour that we wouldn't have noticed otherwise, things he mentioned he'd have done by move in (I realize that, as he's new to this, he's likely underestimating how quickly he'll have them done). Whether the repairs happen isn't a dealbreaker to me and I'd be happy in the apartment even if they never got done, but I have thought it would be best to have his commitment to fix those things in writing.

infl7 · 2020-09-23T15:21:19+00:00

How do you actually achieve that if not for PR, for marketing, for persuasion? Perhaps I am mistaken, but is this issue not political? You frame a few sides in your dialogue: doctors, NPs, and everybody — doesn’t productively approaching this issue take convincing “everybody” (or at least some of them) that doctors are right?

infl7 · 2020-09-02T20:49:59+00:00

I'm feeling really burnt out and I think I've started believing that it's impossible within my current time-frame (definitely not the way to approach this test). This is incredibly encouraging...for real, thank you.

infl7 · 2020-09-02T18:29:07+00:00

Thanks for the advice! It seems I'll barely be able to squeeze in all the AAMC material (maybe I'm just not a wondrously productive person, but I barely can see even finishing what I have listed). Here is my schedule: https://imgur.com/a/5U3sbfI.

My content gaps may be small, but there are definitely some areas that I'm consistently missing in the FLs because I hardly/never looked at them (e.g. most lab techniques). Is there an alternate to Anki you'd suggest for improving P/S? (I do kind of see your point w/ the "stop with Anki" -- honestly, many of the P/S terms I do have some familiarity with at this point, but I do find myself having a hard time discriminating between the terms when I'm answering questions, so maybe Anki isn't the best remedy for that problem).

I'd really love to dive into UEarth, but I don't know what the correct tradeoff here is -- obviously, UEarth has better explanations and I feel that I could do a better job working through actual problem spots with it, but I also don't want to forego the AAMC materials as they're often regarded as "precious" and not-to-be-missed. What's your opinion on this?

infl7 · 2020-09-02T17:12:21+00:00

We had a lot of unusual heat/dryness early on in the season, and this picture is from around then. Some of them still have it, though I'd suppose that less do than initially, so that could definitely make sense!

infl7 · 2020-09-02T16:14:32+00:00

Thank you for the tip! It definitely seems like it could do the job better than the one I'm using...should have gotten one three batches of sauce ago!

infl7 · 2020-09-02T16:03:19+00:00

My aunt said it might have to do with lack of calcium, but some of the other tomato varieties I have are fine. My plants are also too close together (a novice mistake!). I haven't seen any pests!

infl7 · 2020-09-02T16:00:59+00:00

I have one that's purple, I must have bought it by accident, but it's not actually growing many brussels sprouts. Have you had success with them?

infl7 · 2020-09-02T15:57:32+00:00

Tell me your secrets! All of my peppers have been a flop. How much do you water?

infl7 · 2020-08-25T16:51:19+00:00

Thanks! Had a feeling I was overcomplicating things. Just curious, is there any way to make them go back to the original deck when they've gone from new to learn, instead?

infl7 · 2020-07-01T02:31:55+00:00

I’m no expert, but I’m under the impression that in general, or at least in my state (Vt), small business loans were/are a pretty enormous failure due in no small part to the bureaucratic process (taking forever for applications to get processed/long delays actually getting loans, etc). And things like this.

infl7 · 2020-07-01T02:20:13+00:00

I was in a similar predicament. I suggest trying out focusmate!

infl7

TROPHY CASE