From Chill to Thrill

Written by Diva Demarizkita (009202300089)

Mahasiswa.co.id - Here in Jakarta, time is a luxury. “Better tired from working than tired of job-hunting,” he says, as he rushes out the door, facing yet another day of targets, traffic, and competition.

The sun began to appear and radiated its warm rays when Anto, a property sales agent, rushed out of his small rented house in South Jakarta. The jacket that used to protect him from Wonosobo’s cold weather is now hanging neatly in the closet—useless under Jakarta’s extreme heat. He quickly fastened the buttons of his shirt and adjusted it, sipped his coffee, and braced himself for the morning traffic. His pet birds chirped in the background as if cheering him on for another work day. Anto took a quick glance at his goldfish swimming calmly in the tank, taking a moment to check on them like he always does. He always managed to spare a few seconds to check on his lovely pets.

The two-hour commute is an everyday part of his routine. Oftentimes, when he’s already arrived in the office, the smell of vehicle fumes sticks to his clean shirt that his wife has prepared the night before. “The office is only 20 minutes away if there’s no traffic,” he shook his head and chuckled. Yet that morning wasn’t just about the endless traffic or the city’s chaos. There was also a spirit that Anto always carried in his bag: the hope of reaching today’s target as a property sales agent—a profession he has chosen since he moved to Jakarta in 2017.

No Growth in Comfort
Anto’s decision to move to Jakarta didn’t come easily. Before coming to Jakarta, also known as the capital of Indonesia, he worked as an administrator in his family-owned business in Wonosobo, Central Java. “In Wonosobo, everything was relaxed because it was a family-owned business,” he recalled. However, comfort didn’t come with growth. There was no clear career path, so Anto took a big step and moved to Jakarta, hoping for better opportunities.

On the contrary, what he has been experiencing not only needs a hardwork but requires a constant battle to succeed. The work culture in Jakarta was a whole new world. In a big and fast-paced city

like Jakarta, everything is more organized and professional. This move brought Anto to a world of work that is more disciplined, measurable, and—most importantly—target-based. “In Wonosobo, everything was chill. But in Jakarta, there are SOPs for everything—your schedule, your targets— everything is being calculated,” he said.

New Day, New Goals
Before becoming a sales agent, Anto’s role in construction was mostly administrative and dealt with paperwork. Shifting from that to sales wasn’t easy. “There’s still a mix of office and fieldwork, but this time the pressure is heavier.” In property sales, targets are everything—and missing them brings the biggest stress. “If you don’t reach the target, it feels like you’re constantly running out of time.”

When the targets are not achieved, overtime is necessary— it becomes an unwelcome companion. “We don’t get paid for overtime, but it’s just something we have to do. What was supposed to end at 5 PM often stretches to 9 PM,” he explained. Despite the high pressures, Anto holds on to his motto that keeps him going regardless of the exhaustion: “It’s better to be tired from working than tired from looking for a job.”

Anto’s office culture, which tends to be competitive, forces Anto to achieve more. Competition runs deep at his office. “We compete with our own colleagues. If you don’t reach the target, you’re eliminated,” he said. Just like the Indonesian Idol competition, among the best singers, there will be one who gets eliminated. “Sales agents usually only last three months. If you don’t perform within that time, you’re cut off,” he explained seriously.

Moreover, for middle-class workers in Jakarta, the concept of financial stability is a daily concern. Especially, for a worker like Anto who is already building a family together with his wife. Anto needs to juggle between his career and family responsibilities. The cost of living in Jakarta is high and commonly middle-class workers in Jakarta have to divide their monthly salary into multiple priorities, like paying rent, and bills, helping their parents, and even saving for the future. Just like Anto, “As a son, I feel like I’m the one who is responsible to my parents,” he said.

Nevertheless, while the job promises higher earnings than his previous one in Wonosobo, it also demands a heavy price: time. “Your time just disappears. You leave in the morning, get home exhausted at night, and then it repeats—like you’re a robot,” he said. It is like a never-ending cycle, yet Anto always pushes himself to meet the expectations of his job.

Harmony in Chaos
It’s an open secret that many workers in Jakarta, like Anto, are experiencing burnout and stress as they try to balance their personal lives and their careers. But despite the pressure, Anto has a simple formula for life balance. “To stay balanced, you need three things: worship, work, and health. That’s what you have to manage.” Planning his days helps him keep everything in order, though his schedule remains tight. “When I’m busy, I could be really busy. I leave at 7 AM, and if I don’t reach the target, I might not come home until late.”

Even so, in the midst of his busy activities, Anto finds comfort in his small hobbies—keeping birds and fish. That hobby seemed to be his savior. “Hobbies are necessary. They help to clear your mind,” he said with a smile. At night, he often spends a quiet moment watching his goldfish swim. “You wouldn’t think it, but watching fish can actually calm your mind down. It works for me.”

Government Policies and Aspirations
Working in property sales has made Anto more aware of economic policies, such as tax increases. Among many disapproving reactions from other workers in Jakarta regarding the VAT (Value Added Tax) increase because they feel disadvantaged, Anto, as a salesman, is sensing a positive impact. The government policies such as increasing VAT from 11% to 12% have a double impact on him. However, he has experienced it before, when taxes increased from 10 to 11%. “Speaking from experience, when VAT increased from 10% to 11%, there were pros and cons. Before it increased, sales went up because people rushed to buy properties. But after that, purchasing power usually drops. I guess the effects will be the same,” he said blatantly.

Apart from that, Anto hopes the government will create more job opportunities, especially in Jakarta, where many people from all over the country come to seek their fortune. “More jobs need to be created. And all workers should get at least the minimum wage—no one should be underpaid,” he added firmly.

Longing for Home
In between his stories about work routines and life in Jakarta, Anto’s voice softened when talking about his hometown. “I miss Wonosobo’s cold air. The atmosphere there feels more alive,” he shared with a slight smile, reminiscing about his days in Wonosobo back then. While Jakarta offers opportunities, it can’t replace the peace and comfort of his hometown—where life moves slower and is always accompanied by fresh air. “Will definitely go back there, maybe one day,” he said gently and smiled, marking the end of our conversation.

For Anto, Jakarta is a battlefield. Beneath the city’s skyscrapers and endless traffic, he pushes forward every day with one belief: it’s better to be tired from working than to be tired looking for a job. And that morning, just like any other, Anto returned to pursuing his target—through the heat and the traffic—chasing his hopes for a better future.