Since business has picked up, I’m working from home 90% of the time. It’s pretty awesome. I get to wear yoga pants every day. I wake up when I want (within reason) and I can eat lunch, workout, or shower whenever I like. Working from home has it’s charms, but it’s not perfect.
This is where I work. As you can see, I didn’t pretty this up for you. This is real. Including my former dead cell phone and my twenty million rolls of tape (why do I have so much tape?) Direct quote from Brian as I was taking this picture: “Why are you photographing our squalor?” We both got a good chuckle out of that, but you get the point.
Brian is a law student. He doesn’t have class on Mondays and he prefers to study at home. To give you an idea of my proximity to Brian while I’m working, I took this picture while standing over his shoulder.
Obviously the camera zooms a little, but you get the picture. It’s close quarters up in here. Again, let me remind you that I’m well aware that this set up is awesome. This time last year we were rounding out year five of our long distance relationship, and I now couldn’t be more grateful that we get to be together so much. BUT some conflicts have come up as a result of our small working space.
Here are some examples:
- I like the curtains open. Sunlight is important to me. Brian doesn’t like the glare on his computer screen or computer screen.
- Star Trek: Deep Space Nine is too loud and conflicting with the Glee Pandora station playing in my headphones.
- I absentmindedly hum along to said Pandora station. (Don’t worry when Brian is in class, I’m full out belting those tunes. Especially if Celine Dion or that song from Walk to Remember comes on.)
- Brian interrupts me while I’m coding something tell me the latest thing he’s read on Cracked, or to show me things of the hilarious nature like this.
- Brian says that my typing sounds like this:
I feel like this whole post could have a great big #firstworldproblems. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to enjoy our impromptu snuggle session a little extra today.
Do any of you work at home?
Hahaha, this is so awesome. I love it. I work from home too! And I'm a huge fan of sunlight which we're lucky to have lots of, but sometimes it hits me in the eye in the worst way. First world probs, indeed.
Hey Kate. I'm finding myself more and more busy at home these days too. Weird how bittersweet it can be. Working from home is cool but being at the computer all day is icky sometimes. Like today I want to run for the hills from lack of interaction with flesh (which I might remedy witha romp in the park later) but other days I'm so deeply involved in my work that I hardly notice. Plus I really can't stand to be interrupted mid-thought… my kids do that quite nicely lol.
So cool to get an insight into your workstation. Did I see two giant stamps there? If so you are my hero, I love stamps.
Yep, it's a return address stamp! It was one of my favorite wedding gifts!
I'd love to work from home :) great post!
Haha, this post cracked me up! Hubs and I are trying to figure out how to work around eachother at the moment as well–it's not easy!:) Oh, and if and when we ever get back out to the States we must meet up–my hubs would be so happy to finally have someone to talk to about Star Trek!:)
HA totally understand. When we work from home, we're always all up in each other's business. Yesterday, we were both on the couch with our work laptops and Evan pinged me instead of actually speaking out loud. First World Problems, for the WIN.
Pretty funny :) My husband and I also share an office, but it's hard since we both use the desktop. You are lucky that you get to work from home though. Hopefully I'll get to do that soon too!
xoxo,
Joelle
I worked from home and it was really nothing like I anticipated. I do fault a lot of it’s “failure” to the type of work I am doing, I work a very hands on, technical job that requires a lot of conversation between the project manager and myself and ICQ just wasn’t cutting it. I also didn’t like the fact I was either always at home or always at work. It was a lot harder than anticipated to break the line between office and work and on crunch projects, found myself working til the wee hours, felt like I could never really escape work. I much prefer having an office to come to in the morning and leaving it (and all the work) behind at the end of the day.
I do miss being able to laundry, water my garden, etc. at will.. but I also like being on a routine now, getting up and dressed and leaving the house.
I do think I would be willing to give it a chance again, under much different circumstances.
Glad it’s working for ya! :]
I don't work at home, but that might be a position I find myself in someday (aspiring writer and all). I guess my main goal if that ever happens, would be to buckle down and DIY the crap out of the space until it is as charming as possible. (And this is coming from a basically-DIY-virgin). Maybe if you got a print or two going, you could get some more inspiration packed into that little space? Hope your day was fantastic despite the small space!
Oh lady – I wish we had workstations here! We are couch workers – it's the worst set up ever. We are in the process of getting our office sorted out. I am sure I will be 100 times more productive.
In the mean time just teach your office mate some manners – or crank up the glee.
Haha, I love this glimpse into your day! The Ron Swanson comparison is hilarious, too. I work from home, but Chase is gone all day so I have the place to myself. Sometimes I wonder how my habits would differ if he were here more often. I'd probably shower more, for one – ha!
My fiance and I have the same issue with sunlight. I love natural light but he hates the glare. It's hard to compromise on that one. Hah.
I appreciate that you didn't clean your desk first. It's much more real and, trust me, it's still looking way nice than mine with three separate used coffee cups on it. Hah.
Being a freelance writer I work from home too and I agree with everything you're saying! Some people have told me they'd go crazy working from home, but the flexibility is so nice!
Oh, how this entire post rings so true! I don't work from home, but I am an online student, so I suppose technically, I study from home. ;) It's awesome. But I also often fall into the category of pathetic… ie: wearing pjs the majority of the time instead of actually getting dressed, eating at my desk, letting my textbooks pile up all jammed full of papers and notes.
This is the life. hahaha.
I love working from home! I also think pandora on the computer is one of the things that keeps me from going crazy when I'm home by myself. :)