🌊 Obon holidays, why did you leave...! Screaming while drowning in a sea of emails
Sorry for interrupting while I'm swimming in a sea of emails. Hello, I'm an aspiring retiree.
You left us behind, didn't you... Obon holidays.
I wanted to spend more time with you. There were so many things I wanted to do.
—Why! Why did you leave me behind!!! 😭
…I lost my composure. Please accept my sincere apologies.
🗓️ The adult 'three-term system'
The next long break is the New Year holidays. It's far, too far...!
Golden Week, Obon, New Year's—it's like an adult version of the 'three-term system.'
The milestones that always come in spring, summer, and winter create the rhythm of our year.
In the end, the 'feeling of waiting for a break' as an adult might not be much different from when we were in elementary school.
💥 Mailbox explosion
Yes! Business as usual starting today.
As expected, my mailbox after the break is packed. 200 unread messages... it looks like it will take a whole day just to open them.
And as always, there are many cases of 'just dump it in CC and send it.'
Is it to avoid responsibility, or is it a 'just in case' culture? It's a mysterious habit that goes against efficiency.
⏰ The unreasonableness of 'by the end of the day' requests
Among the buried emails, there is this sentence.
'Sorry for the rush. Please reply by the end of the day.' (Last Thursday)
……No, no, no. Are you really making a request with a deadline for that day during the Obon holidays? 😅
Unless it's a life-saving situation, isn't the phrase 'by the end of the day' too light?
If you dig into the reasons,
'I started it, so I want to get rid of it quickly,'
'My boss told me to,' or 'It's for the convenience of management.'
……In the end, it's all trivial.
🔥 Beyond anger to a state of nothingness
I replied with a polite answer and an apology, but what came back was—
'We have already closed the deadline, so please handle it directly.'
……They are completely looking down on me, aren't they? 😡
But I am an aspiring retiree. I basically don't care about the mess inside the company!
From now on, I will go with the 'avoid involvement as much as possible' strategy.
When I absolutely cannot avoid it, I will dump everything that seems necessary in advance.
(Yes, everyone's 'dumping' is piling up, which is why there are 200 emails, though 👍)
Productivity? No, what are you talking about? Efficiency?
Are you satisfied if costs are reduced?
Ha! Look at reality, it's the worst vicious cycle. Yeah✌️
🎬 Next episode preview
Dad: 'The answering machine beeped, so I recorded a song!'
Mom: 'Who is that enka song for...?'
—Confused relatives, silent phone company. The truth will be carried over to the next episode!
Next time: 'Dad mistakes the answering machine for a karaoke box'
Don't miss it next week! 🎤