Coworkers, Colleagues, Friends
This is not a typical tech-blog
and I am not a blog writer, I am a data analyst. Indeed this is my first time writing a blog, so you have been warned.
Background story
As I searched throughout MakeoverMonday on interesting topic that I want to share, I stumbled upon a data containing time spent with each other across our lifetime. A personal relationship that we invest our time at with different people — family, friends, coworkers, partners.
For me, this is an exciting topic not only because it shows the dynamic of each interaction, but also revealing how we spend an increasing amount of time alone as we age.
I decided to build a Tableau dashboard from the data so others could play around and reflect upon their current condition.
But the dashboard itself doesn’t do justice to the article. It provides flexibility to reader to adjust the age, while the story from the data itself is stripped down. Therefore, I decided to build a presentation by using Tableau’s “Story” feature. You could access it through:
Small technical stuffs
I will keep this section brief because the final version can be downloaded directly from the Tableau Public site.
Creating the charts
There are two main charts used in this Story: line chart and stacked bar chart. The fading effect is made using a dual axis where the chart on the front only shows data up to the selected age with full opacity, while the chart on the back shows the entire data but with half opacity. The floating text as the legend is created by using annotate feature on Tableau.
Creating the dashboard
Each story point will show a dashboard which is more or less similar. The only difference between each dashboard is the existence of the parameter and the legend to provide data highlighting.
Empty portion on the right will be used to add text object on the “Story”.
Constructing each story points
Below is the arrangement of each story point and their respective dashboard.
The slider on the dashboard will be eventually removed after we have set the parameter on the story as the state of the view is already saved within the story; this is how Story works in Tableau.
While for the legend, it will be obscured by the text that we put on the Story.
So what is it about the title?
As I reflect on the data, I realized that recently I have been spending time alone more and more often. Well, partly due to the pandemic, but it seems like the people I usually hang out with — be it friends or family members — are getting harder to reach out to. Usually, it was either they are busy with their own lives, or vice versa. Finding a meet-up time that works for everybody is nearly impossible. It is a bitter pill to swallow but the article concludes with two things that I have learned to accept.
Alone <> Lonely
One of the things that I realized is spending time alone does not mean feeling lonely. There are times in which I feel so lonely yet I was surrounded by the people that I know, and there are also times in which I was completely alone yet my mind is busy with the tasks on hand (like writing this blog for example). It all comes down to how we feel during that particular moment; a purely subjective, individual experience — as how one of the videos on the story point describes what loneliness is. It is a great video to understand loneliness.
The video also taught me the importance of being open to new invitations. Every hang-out plan should be cherished as it means that we’re trying to maintain our relationship. But accepting every incoming invitation would be exhausting, so what I usually do is prioritize those whom I haven’t met for a very long time. Organizing a meetup is a more challenging task, so I usually will send the invitation while also keeping expectations low as others might have a different priority on their list.
Spending time with someone whom we don’t meet regularly requires more effort and commitment. Unless you are in the same badminton club or going to the same church, you need to find a time that works for both of you to meet each other beforehand. For office workers, there is one relationship that is often developed into a stronger and closer connection. Which comes the second thing I learn from the data.
Coworkers
Align with the data, most working-age people spend a lot of time with their coworkers. The interaction just happens naturally and regularly. And through those interactions, some will develop stronger bonds beyond the 9-to-5 job. Granted not all coworkers will end up becoming our besties, but in my experience, most of my closest friends were for once working in the same organization as mine.
Throughout my career, I was blessed with a highly conducive working environment for both my career aspiration and for my social connection. Especially in Blibli.com Data Team, we interact with each others more than just a coworker. And it was beyond the team in Indonesia, but including the team in India. I was thrilled when I was invited to the wedding of one of the India’s data analyst during my visit to Bangalore!
As I scrolled through the entire photo taken in 2022, while reminiscing those delightful moments, most of those moments were spent with friends from Blibli.com. Here are some of those special moments.
Closing
At the end of the day, it is inevitable that we will spend more time being alone as we are getting older. This simple truth should make us appreciate all the time spent with others; friends, family, and coworkers. But even when you are spending time alone, remember that it does not mean that you are lonely. Always stay open to any incoming invitation, and if possible, maybe invite people first while also keeping your expectation low.
