My Love/Hate Relationship With Working From Home

I have a love/hate relationship with working from home.

My Office

I remember once, while I was in the corporate world and working in an office, I begged my supervisor to let me take 30 minutes for lunch instead of 60 minutes so I could leave the office a half hour early at the end of the day to take Justin to a Halloween party at his preschool.

This supervisor was very resistant to the idea and acted as if what I was proposing was a BIG DEAL. He was the type who took micro-managing to a new level meaning I worked a job where I was required to eat, take breaks, get a glass of water and pee at scheduled times.

During my four years with that company – and it was a miracle I lasted that long - I felt like a wild animal clawing to get out of a cage. It was a situation which clearly did not work for me.

Back to working from home. Here's what I love about it: I love not having to work set days and hours, I enjoy skipping the commute and nothing beats working in my sweats or pajamas. Some days I even sit in bed and work...with the TV on...and I'm still productive. I also have the luxury of taking a day off in the middle of the week or whenever, only have to deal with my supervisor when I happen to check my email and can take a quick break whenever I want.

Of course it's not all sunshine and rainbows. Working from home is isolating and lonely. I have to handle my own computer and tech glitches and I'm not computer savvy. I live at work, which means it's hard to put a stressful project on the back burner. And because I'm an independent contractor, there are no paid sick days or vacation days and that kind of blows.

Then there is the way I feel guilty about taking quick breaks and the way I feel guilty when I walk past my computer when I'm not working and the way I usually end up working longer hours because...wait for it...I FEEL GUILTY if I don't. This guilt happens because I'm bothered by people who think that I don't really work just because I'm doing it from my kitchen table (or bed.) I know I shouldn't worry about what other people think and I try hard not to, but I do. Yea, yea...I have insecurity issues. I KNOW that.

So if you ask me if I enjoy working from home, the answer I give would vary depending on the day I've had. Sometimes things run smoothly and I LOVE my job. Other days I may plan an afternoon off only to receive an assignment with a ridiculous deadline that means I'm parked in front of the computer well into the night. (That happens more often than you would believe.) On those days, I'm wishing for a 9 to 5 job that I can leave.

As all working moms know, staying sane means leaving the house. Sometimes my getting-out-of-the-house-time is nothing but a trip to the grocery store and miscellaneous errand running. When I have more time, it's a trip to the gym or yoga class. I know that doesn't sound like much, but in the work-at-home world, it's a chance to step away from the computer and interact with other humans in the real world. 

Occasionally there are times when I can't leave the house (deadlines!) but still need to get away. When that happens I scope out online sites specifically for work at home moms. And sometimes I just shut the computer off and walk away.

Which is what I did immediately after posting this blog.

How do you feel about your job? Do you mind the commute? Have you ever wished could work from home or do you enjoy keeping your work life and your home life separate? Friend me on Facebook, find me on Twitter or email me at mcginn8@yahoo.com.

Happy Friday! Have a great weekend!