As I sit here in my pyjamas, taking a break from my grueling 9 – 5, which commenced at exactly 8:55 a.m. when I pulled myself out of bed and made the tiring 15 stair commute to my living room couch, you’re probably thinking, “Wow, your job is awesome.”
My summertime work station. Life’s tough.
Actually, you’re probably thinking things that I cannot write on our PG-13 blog.
However, despite the niceties that DO come with working from home three days a week, there are, if you can imagine, some drawbacks.
With Meghan’s broken leg allowing her to join the ranks of the stay-at-home-employee, I’m sure she, along with anyone who puts in hours at their humble abode, can attest that it’s not all watching daytime TV and clocking out at 2 p.m. as one would think … Although Ellen does make her way into my workday on occasion.
After having people ask many times how I like my ‘at-home office’, or snarl with envy when I’m out on a Wednesday night only to reply “I work from home tomorrow”, I feel like the masses are in need of a lesson on what it’s like to be a full-time journalist with a part-time office role. Keep in mind, in the past, I was in the office five days a week before our company moved locations and devised this new arrangement. So I CAN and WILL compare my experiences.
My old, no-sunlight-or-realm-of-idea-about-the-outside-world, cubicle
Below is my personal list of pros & cons for a work life at home:
PRO: You’re at home. You can be comfy and wear pyjamas and sweats and no one will judge you for not ironing the wrinkles out of your pencil skirt. Or tie. Or pant suit.
My work onesie.
CON: “Dress for the job you want, not the job you have.” Mmmm. Right. So I guess as long as I’m not gunning for a full-time position as ‘kindergartener’ I should maybe spruce things up a bit. As we all know, my life motto is “Look legit, feel legit.” It becomes pretty hard to look or feel legit when you’re writing an article on provincial politics and sporting a bubble-gum pink Hello Kitty jumper and sumo bun.
PRO: If I sleep in a bit, who’s going to know? If that warm bed makes me linger a little longer, who cares? What if I sleep ’till noon? Sue me!
CON: There may not be someone tapping their foot and pointing at the clock as you breeze in 10 minutes late, after having a slumber party with a new beau across town … but unfortunately, you still have to get your work done. So you sleep till noon, perfect! Looks like I’m working until 9 p.m. tonight to file those stories before tomorrow’s deadline. Shoot.
PRO: I. Am. Hungover … and …. No. One. Knows.
CON: True say, true say. No running to the drugstore on your way to the office to buy Visine, a G2 and an entire case of Tylenol. You can wallow with your head between your hands, bark at your roommate to refill your water-glass and weep gently wondering what the hell you were thinking doing $2 tequila on a Tuesday. BUT – you also give up the right to say ‘no’. “Sorry guys, gotta sit this one out. Big day at the office tomorrow!” WRONG. Your friends will call you out so fast you’ll be shotgunning a beer and hugging the toilet before you know it.
I’d love someone to prank me right now.
PRO: No annoying coworkers or bosses to deal with on the daily.
CON: “Lonely, I’m Mr. lonely. I have nobody…” No one to wish me a good morning, ask me how my cat is doing or judge me on my fifth cup of coffee. No one to gossip with about the Bachelor, inter-office affairs, or wonder about the secret life of that homeless woman who stalks the front of the building. I eat my lunch by myself and no one reminds me that they hate the smell of tuna. All I want is for someone to tell me they hate tuna.
PRO: Adjusting my schedule is a piece of cake. Friend needs to be picked up from the airport? All over it. Need the afternoon off to get on the road earlier for an upcoming trip? Shouldn’t be a problem. Hairstylist only has an available appointment at 1 p.m.? “Let me just ask my supervisor if that’s okay. Wait, that’s me.” I’ll take a long lunch.
CON:That line between “work time” and “home time” is forever blurred. That feeling of burning a hole into the right side of your computer waiting for the clock to read 5:00 PM so you can shut your laptop with a snap, click your heels as you grab your coat and sing Hallelujah all the way to the car?
God he’s motivating.
Just doesn’t happen. The number of times I’ve said, “Oh … it’s 6?” After a day at home are a plenty. Too often, really.
PRO: More time for working out and way easier to eat healthy. I CAN make that 4 p.m. yoga class. I WILL make myself a fresh salad to eat, instead of packing a sandwich the night before. And if I happen to catch an extra inspiring Richard Simmons infomercial, you bet I’m taking my lunch to go for a long run without worrying I’ll come back to the office a hot. sweaty. mess. (even though I think some of my male coworkers are into that…)
CON: There is no con to match that pro. It is truly one of the biggest benefits about working from home. Go ahead, envy me.
So there you have it, folks. They say you always want what you can’t have, that you can’t have your cake and eat it too and that success can be measured as being comfortable with yourself and your life. But, as I’ve learned over the past four months, there can be such a thing as being TOO comfortable … in a nutshell.
Now if you’ll excuse me, it’s the final day of Cat Week on Ellen.
great article kitts! haha