May 24, 2002
If someone told me at the beginning that working from home would be one of my biggest challenges as a freelance writer, I would have given them a look like they were crazy.
Before I worked from home, I despised having to get up at an hour that didn’t suit me, put on clothes that made me uncomfortable, commute for two hours on public transportation and sit under cold blinking lights and an impersonal desk with co-workers interrupting me every 5 minutes. During that time, all I could think of was how wonderful it would be to work at home, in comfy clothes, with my own hours, stocked fridge and silence.
I was wrong.
After over a year of working from home, I’m still making adjustments.
The hardest part for me has been the loneliness. Despite the fact that I love to work in solitude, the constant isolation is wearing in on me. I used to have the Docent Class once a week that at least kept me social but I quit that program three weeks ago and have as yet to replace it. Chris goes to work at 8AM and comes home from school at 10PM, weekends he’s studying. The social interaction there is minimal. Friends are busy working during the day and too tired to do anything at night. The once constant jabbering at the office is now something I miss – I actually chatted with the UPS guy the other day.
Having my office in my flat, with no separate door has also been a challenge. It’s been hard to shut off work and begin to relax. Sometimes it’s hard to sit and write when I see the dirty dishes piling up in the sink.
In the beginning I was excited about wearing “pretty clothes” during the day – pink skirts, peasant blouses and jeans. When people used to ask if I worked in pyjamas I’d quickly tell them I wouldn’t ever fall in to that stereo type. That is until I found cute Banana Republic pyjama tops and bottoms.
Being on my own with no one to collaborate or break for coffee with, having the office and home as one and sitting in pajamas all day had begun to take it’s toll. So I began to change what I could.
The first thing I did was head to Ikea where $25 bought me a Click for Full Size. (Actual desk on other side)brilliant little three panel room divider. Just placing this next to my desk instantly made me feel like I had an office. It created a room but kept the light in. No longer can I see the dirty dishes in the sink! Perfect.
By creating a separate office, I now feel like I have an office to go to. In the morning after yoga and breakfast, I wash up, put on non-pajama clothes and head to my office where I sit and work on whatever I can. Breaking for tea now is actually breaking. I stop, leave the office, relax and just let my mind go.
The only thing I haven’t figured out yet is how to deal with the isolation part. I am thinking of finding another volunteer organisation or even just a once a week yoga class to get out and be amongst people. I need to do something or else I’m not only going to drive myself mad, but also the cat and husband as well.