This is an as-told-to essay based on a conversation with Jimmy Kibuswa, 32, who lives in Nairobi, Kenya. He works remotely as a healthcare recruiter for a US company and shares what it’s like to work an unconventional shift. The following has been edited for brevity and clarity.
I work American time from here in Kenya. In Kenya, when it’s 4 p.m., it’s 8 a.m. in Chicago.
I’ve always been cautious about my health and well-being. When I got this job about three months ago, I thought, “How am I going to structure my day so that I can go to the gym, read, and rest?”
My work begins at 4 p.m. and ends around midnight, so I can be online for the US workday. Immediately after midnight, I normally don’t do anything else. I just get ready to go to bed.
In the first month, I struggled. I would take naps during the afternoon before my shift. Nowadays, I don’t feel like I need those naps because I’ve adapted.
I always ensure that I sleep for eight hours because if I don’t sleep well at night, I’m not going to function well the next day.
I keep a regular schedule
I love waking up around 8:30, preparing breakfast, and then maybe reading a chapter or two. I’m a big fan of self-help books.
When it gets to 10:30, I go to the gym for two hours. I walk on the treadmill for 30 minutes and then run for 15 minutes.
I started working out consistently when I got this job. Before this, when I was working locally in Nairobi, I’d work out for a month, then not pay the gym subscription for the next month.
The beauty of getting to the gym at 10:30 is that most people go early in the morning. So, by the time I arrive, it’s almost empty, and I’ve got the full attention of the coaches. After the treadmill, the coach will tell me, “Today, this is what we’re going to do.”
After two hours, I’m done. I get back to my place — it’s about 2,000 steps — and I prepare my one big meal of the day, besides breakfast. That’s around 2 p.m. or 3 p.m. Then, during work, I have nuts and water. That’s all I need.
Between about 2 p.m. and 4 p.m., I might strategize. I still consider myself early in my career, and I think, “Where do I want to be in the next five years or maybe the next 10 years?” Maybe I didn’t finish something the previous day, so I’ll be thinking, “How can I find that talent that I really want for this particular role?”
If I don’t do those things, I’ll relax and listen to music. People need downtime.
I grew up in the countryside. That’s why I’m such a homebody. I’m lucky because my girlfriend also works the same kind of hours as I do. We only meet on the weekends, and then on Monday when it’s time to go back to work, we’re all sorted.
My friends know the best time to communicate with me. I also communicate with my family between 2 p.m. and 4 p.m.
My routine makes me feel sharper
Today, when I meet people that I used to work with, they’re like, “You’re getting even younger. What’s happening? What’s the secret?”
In Kenya, it is hard to find a remote job. It’s what so many people would wish to find. I thank God I did.
I am sharper now because my mind is relaxed. I get sleep, and when I exercise, I feel like my brain absorbs more information. I can solve problems better, and I’m more creative.
Before this job, it was all about work. I used to get stressed. Now, when I’m able to incorporate sleeping, reading, working out, and relaxing, I feel like I’m not stressed anymore. I think it all stems from the schedule that I’ve incorporated.
One thing that really surprised me when I started this schedule was how much time I have on my hands. In a previous job, I would work about nine hours and then spend almost two hours on the road. Now, I’m like, “What can I use these extra hours for?”
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