Top image: Justine Ong / RICE File Photo
December means people are clearing annual leave at work–whether they’re spending their leave going overseas, going for a staycation, or doing absolutely nothing at all. It’s what we deserve after a long year.
But before going on leave, there’s that terrible interim period where you’re stuck in the office just waiting to go on leave. You count down the days, hours, and minutes to when you can pack up and go—maybe take a longer lunch, open and close your email mindlessly—but time just doesn’t seem to pass quickly enough.
It’s as if the clock’s conspiring against you to keep you at work longer, despite your best efforts to fritter the time away.
Coupled with year-end blues that make everything that much more dreary, the time before someone goes on leave may be the least inspiring time of the year. But there’s still work to be done, and Singaporean workers will put in that minimum effort. Just don’t expect anything more.
In the meantime, Singaporeans share how they’re planning on closing out the time before they go on leave.
“Usually, to pass the time in the office, I talk to my favourite colleagues, especially near the end of the day. I also listen to music, shop online, or just walk around the office acting busy. (I might look like a maniac but trust me, it kills time and gets my steps in.)
To whittle time down before I go on leave, I take longer lunches. Discussing my holiday itinerary with my colleagues is always fun too.”
— Moes, 24, social media executive
“It’s December, so I’m definitely sian. Most of my colleagues are still working hard—I think it’s because they’re still on probation. I’m doing like, 10 percent of what I’m supposed to do at work. When I get bored, I start playing games on my laptop, but I quickly tab out when people walk behind me because I still feel the need to look busy.”
— Liz, 24, recruiter
“I’ve planned multiple holidays this Q4, including trips to Beijing, Sweden, and a cruise. It can be challenging to stay fully focused when there’s so much excitement and anticipation. But I try to stay on top of my work.
I spend time ensuring all my projects are wrapped up so there’s minimal disruption while I’m away. At the same time, there’s a bit of anxiety about the ‘what-ifs’—what if something urgent comes up or escalates while I’m not around?”
— Amber, 31, public servant
“I have a blackout screen on my laptop, so I can do whatever I want. Also, I elevate my desk and stand over my computer so that none of my colleagues can see what I’m doing.
I have a tip: Don’t finish all the work until the last day before your leave. Keep something to do so you look busy. Makes the time go faster.”
— Lawrence, 46, auditor
“Leave is like the light at the end of a long tunnel. Before I go on leave, my productivity increases noticeably! I have more motivation to see things get done. I’m very shocked by myself sometimes at how productive I get when the promise of a vacation beckons.”
— Rebecca, 27, public servant
“The [December] blues have got me feeling so bad that I don’t feel like talking to my colleagues or even doing a quality piece of work for the day. It’s been affecting my relationship with my partner, too.”
— Amanda, 29, graphic designer
“I’m headed to Malaysia next week—I can’t go any further due to work commitments. To waste time away, I take the long route when I go to the toilet. I’ve been pondering changing jobs and taking more holidays.”
— Mike, 46, civil servant
“My old workplace had a bar. I’d just sit there until 6 PM.”
— Chris, 39, HR Executive
“Wayang-ing is performance art. I read fanfiction at my desk, go to the foosball table every 20 minutes… I thought I was the only one slacking off, but I feel like everyone’s slacking too? Tuesday is the only day we all lock in, because that’s when we have our big team meeting and our big boss sits in.
It’s this weird thing where there is an unspoken rule that you must be occupied with work, and you can’t just sit there and chill. It reminds me of when I was working retail and there would be no customers, but you still had to pretend to be busy so you wouldn’t get in trouble.
It’s taboo to say that you’re free, even if you have nothing to do, because that’s like asking to get fired. I think it’s obvious whether someone’s actually busy or just wayang-ing—they start toggling between the same documents or surreptitiously using their phone—we just don’t talk about it.”
— Jade, 26, in-house counsel
