Things have been getting more and more difficult lately, but that doesn't mean we can just be depressed. People have always found the light and the joy in the midst of difficulties and overcome them little by little.
Now, more than ever, Layout thought it would be a good idea to hear from people who are staying positive despite the changing environment.
Teleworking Girl N's Lifestyle Vol.1
With teleworking now being recommended, people are spending more time working from home, so I was thinking about how to make the most of it, and then I found this! And it's pretty close to home (lol).
That's why we asked N, a teleworking woman who loves rugs, about how to enjoy working from home in a positive way.
- Sorry for suddenly asking you to do something unreasonable.
N-san, no no. Lol
- Well then, thank you very much.
Mr. N: Yes, thank you very much.
- What kind of work do you do, Mr. N?
Mr. N plans products and services in the IT industry.
- When did teleworking start?
Mr. N: We had been in an environment where teleworking was possible until now, but we only made the full transition in March 2020.
- In what part of the room do you work?
Mr. N is working in the dining room.
-Many people combine Y chairs with Gabbehs, but do you feel there is a big difference between sitting on paper cord and sitting on Gabbehs?
Mr. N: It's quite different. The Gabbeh itself is thick and the threads are tightly packed, so it's warmer than just sitting on the paper cord, but it also feels a little harder and more stable.
Personally, I like the texture of the paper cord and the slightly loose feeling it gives when you sit on it, so I don't use it much when sitting on the Y-chair.
The Ant Chair is my main chair when I work, and I put a Gabbeh rug on it. It's firm, but it also feels more stable and fits better, so I feel like I'm less tired.
Ant chair for work: A firm seat with a gentle warmth 
It also goes well with the Y chair.
Coronavirus has changed our lifestyles
- Please tell us about your daily schedule when working from home.
This is Mr. N's best case.
Wake up at 6:30, run/get ready at 7-8, clean/water plants/breakfast at 8-9, work at 9-7pm, bath at 7-8pm, dinner at 8-9pm, relax at 9-11:30pm, go to bed at 11:30pm
- Isn't this the ideal lifestyle that everyone aspires to? It's so cool!!
Mr. N : Not at all. This is the benefit of remote work.
Before COVID-19, I had a completely different life. I would come home late at night, eat meals in a hurry, go to bed, wake up without enough sleep, go to work, and live the typical unhealthy life of a salaryman.
My commute time has been reduced, and my work style, which used to involve overtime, has become more efficient, giving me more free time in my life. In addition, COVID-19 has made me more health-conscious, so I've reevaluated my lifestyle and am now able to live a model life. Lol
- What benefits do you see in working from home?
Mr. N doesn't have to spend time commuting, and he doesn't have to deal with the stress of rush hour traffic, so he can spend that time more comfortably.
I don't have to be tense. I can work in a comfortable space, so I can relax. It's convenient because everything I need is within reach.
Over the past year, I've been able to update my home into a space that I love, so just being in my room feels comfortable.
- I see. Are there any disadvantages?
Mr. N: It's almost never an issue, but maybe the occasional noise around me (such as airplanes, ambulances, or garbage collection)
- Do you feel stressed or lonely because you can't meet people? For example, you can't meet with colleagues, or you can't discuss work-related matters as quickly as you would like.
I think Mr. N is the type of person who likes being alone, so he doesn't feel much stress. However, I think he might actually be stressed, even if it's at a level that I don't feel.
When I occasionally meet people in real life, I have a lot of fun talking to them.
My work requires a lot of creativity and ingenuity, and I think I can now produce output that is almost the same as in real life.
However, I think it would be difficult to build the kind of trust that is built up through small gestures, casual conversations, and drinking sessions that you see in real life, on the same level as in real life, using only remote communication.
- I feel like meeting people often gives you hints and sparks ideas. The warmth and enthusiasm that only a real person can have is important.
Mr. N: I think that if remote work continues for a long period of time, the more creative your job, the more it will start to affect your work.
Living surrounded by things you love
A rug is styled along the path between the living room and dining room.
As the weather gets cooler, I've started to feel a bit cold on my chair while working from home, so I was looking for a Gabbeh chair mat. I fell in love with the nomadic camel pattern almost at first sight.
- What do you look for in a room where you work?
A desk and chair that allows Mr. N to concentrate and doesn't tire him out even when he sits for long periods of time every day.
And it's a stress-free, comfortable environment.
A moderate sense of openness, sunlight, noise, good internet connection, and if possible, being surrounded by things you like. If you're at home all day every day, even the slightest bit of bothersome furniture that you don't like will bother you forever. Lol
- Once you notice it, it's hard to stop thinking about it (laughs). What do you do when that happens?
N-san: I bought a lot of new things this time. Lol. I'll also rearrange the furniture and use it in a way that hides the parts that bother me.
Maybe cover it with a cloth or something.
Even if you think it's not that great at the time, it may turn out to be quite useful over time.
- It's also nice to look back on it as something you chose at the time and look back on it with nostalgia as time goes by.
- Have you ever made a purchase that you thought was a mistake?
Mr. N : Yes, the rugs have been a bit of a failure.
When I searched for something to use in a particular place, it was difficult to find something that I liked in both size and design, so I often compromised and bought it as long as the size was OK and the design was acceptable.
But those things just don't feel right. There were a few rugs that I never used.
When I discovered Layout last year, those poor children disappeared.
- Thank you for your kind words (laughs).
- Is there anything you do to refresh yourself between work?
Going to lunch at Mr. N's favorite restaurant nearby.
- Please tell me about a good restaurant next time.
Mr. N, please do.
If it weren't for COVID, I'd love to join you for lunch or drinks. I'm sure I'll hear lots of interesting stories from you!
- Yay! Thank you for the meal (laughs)
(to be continued)
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