It’s a sad truth that whenever I tell people that I work from home, they’ll assume that my days are endless loops of fun and lounging in front of the TV (so much so that that it isn’t considered work).
It’s not fun to tell people for the hundredth time that working from home is working notwithstanding how fun other people think it is. We don’t get regular hours, so we work into the night when normal office-goers are fast asleep. Or maybe family members choose to utilize our time for errands (because we’re at home while others are at – you guessed it – work). Or that most days we can’t take a sick day because no one else will pick up the work for us.
There are good parts to the arrangement though, like how we can dictate our own hours; so if you feel like you are more of a night owl than a early bird, you can make your own hours rather than stick to a straight schedule. I really like the part about not getting stuck in traffic jams because my laptop is my office and it can be anywhere – as long as there’s a power socket.
So to all of those out there who work from home, keep fighting the good fight – I know how difficult it is to convince people that you’re probably working harder than they are. For me? I have stopped trying so hard to tell naysayers otherwise, and I prefer instead to tell them that they should try it out for themselves.
The best bit though, is that some do come to me a few months down the road after ditching the office in favor of trying out a freelance route. And many tell me that working from home is indeed hard work and that they never knew how much of a juggling act it has been. After that, it pretty much feels like they’ve been invited into a secret club where the dress code is pajamas and yoga pants.
Afternoon TV break anyone? 🙂
Same here. Whenever I tell others I run a online jewelry gallery, their response are “Oh great! No boss, No pressure … you are free all the time and go shopping all the time…”
After the first few time of experiencing this, I sometimes tell others I’m jobless… sometimes I tell new friend I’m an Admin staff… sometimes I am a designer… I’m not telling lie coz you know… we actually played different roles in our job. I’m feeling much better now coz there’s no point to explain too much to someone who can never understand.
Thank you for this post, I have just started out working from home and even though I have heard it would be tough, I never imagined how tough it actually is. But I wouldn’t trade it for anything else!
I think people do not realised that people who work from home actually clocked in more hours. Time spent in commute, lunch and water cooler chat is spent at work. Where got time for TV?!
Hey Amy, such a great post, definitely touched a nerve. I work part time in a job and part time at home and get so fed up with certain friends referring to my days at home as days off!! I’m lucky though to have a few freelance friends who do understand. With everyone else I now just take a deep breath and just smile. I don’t think they mean it badly, it’s just outside their experience, I try not to get annoyed, though that depends on how near I am to a deadline!
As a newer member of the Work From Home legion, I say to all others: keep to your hours.
I told my work that I would work from eight to five. After five, I walk away from my desk. Sure, I could get a little more work in, but then I’d be giving up time with my family, and all my side projects.
I’ve also had to train my family: I’m not available for running to the store, or putting together something that has to marinate, or dropping off mail. Since I’m here, I’ll answer the door for packages or repairmen, but that’s about it. Calls should be kept short, since I’m working.
Giving up my 40/hr week “real” job to run my home-based business full-time was both the hardest and best decision I’ve ever made. But it does mean that I work 365 days a year (and yes, I was filling sales on Christmas Day)… it means no vacation and no days off… and nothing but pure joy! 😀
… and can you imagine how it is when you not only set your own hours and are your own boss – but also a visual artist who can not refer to a more substantial deadline than “I need to have made some really good art pieces until my exhibition next year”. I have so many friends who work as freelancers and from home, but what I do is so vague to them … if I have something to prepare, like a course they will understand, but not the other part of my work!
I have been telecommuting for 7 years and its been tough at times… I have given up trying to explain and don’t even bother to tell some people my work arrangement anymore. I get the most annoying comments. I agree with Katie, keep your hours sacred! I had gone off the rails with that last year and it really wrecks havoc. The trick is to be disciplined….and thank God I loathe daytime television:)
Thankyou for your refreshing post on work from home businesses!
And now for school holidays – you could write another blog on the juggling act in that!!
The funny part is when someones ask me, not only if I work from home or what, but which is my work. When I say “I illustrate children books”, people stare at me with distrust face until I say “I am also a professor of illustration”. And there I see they understand that as a job, something profitable, and not illustrating, who see it as a hobby …more so if I do it at home.
Oh Amy, what timing on this post! I read it yesterday just before taking my father-in-law to the doctor and after being asked to take my sister to her drivers test. It is all well intentioned and I love my relatives but it’s not the same when you say, “I have to work”. It does afford more freedoms, so I won’t complain (too much ;).
Oh my goodness, yes. I have worked out of the home in many jobs and have worked for myself out of the home in a studio and now I do freelance work at home. It is the hardest way to work BY FAR. Yes, I am so grateful to be here with my wee ones, but man, I’m probably one of the worst bosses that I’ve ever had. These conditions suck, I need a raise, will someone give me some vacation time already. And will somebody please make that pile of dishes and chocolate covered peanut butter eggs DISAPPEAR already?!
I’m totally kidding about the afternoon TV by the way, I don’t watch soap. 😉
Great post, until you do it, one does not realize. It’s all good when you get an assignment, aka paycheck, but when you are working to get one,some might even call it marketing, then it falls into the what do you do all day, sure is nice to be home doing what you want…. Yea….
I end up working longer hours, and spending way too much time in front of the computer. I kind of miss the social interaction as some days I don’t see anyone! Good points though are I can sleep in, no public transport, no boss!
love your recent posts where you tell a bit about your struggles to. I’ve always suspected that you are one of us 🙂
But seriously, it makes me believe you more
where to look for honest, true, work at home careers? there are so many “opportunities” which are nothing more than get rich quick schemes (for that company, not us) and i am moving to the mountains where jobs are not so plentiful. just point me in the right direction and i’ll be truly grateful!
I started working from home three years ago and found it hard at first to remain organised, and on task surrounded by my home comforts, however since setting up a garden room office ive found it so much easier, it allows me the perks of living at home whilst also enabeling me to step quickly in and out of a proffesional feeling environment and mindset.