Working from Home – The True Story
What is it really like to work from home??? Well, let me start with, I hardly ever look like this while I work! This was a fun night out and I actually showered and washed my hair prior to this event. Yes, you read that right, I showered and washed my hair, because when working from home that can be a rare occurrence.
I got my first online, work-from-home job ten years ago. The economy tanked around 2010, so maybe I should say 12 years ago, and about that time online education took off. People wanted a change in their careers and they needed money. I had worked from home in medical coding and got certified and started teaching in this fast-growing career and the rest is history. I have worked from home ever since and it has been full-time since 2014. Wow! 8 years of working from home.
This was a dream of mine, to work from home. I had wanted it since the first time I heard the phrase. I just did not love my jobs and I was ready for a change and working from home was the change I wanted. When my dream came true, I was in heaven and I should not say was because I still am in heaven with my job. However, as great as it is, there are realities of working from home that not one person told me about.
I got the advice from people, get up and get dressed like you are going to work outside of your home. I tried that for like a day, well, maybe two. Then I was over it. I would get up and I did have somewhat of a routine, but it was nothing like getting up and getting ready. I would take my time and just get my day started whenever. Now, while this sounds great, let’s get down to the truth of working from home.
There are days I don’t shower. Not just one or two, I have gone three whole days with no shower. Of course, these days are days I don’t leave the house for anything, except maybe a grocery or Target run. So basically, I hibernate with my dog. These days, don’t ask me to do anything, because quite honestly, having to get dressed tires me. So the chances of me doing anything on the fly, is not in the cards, unless you are Anthony Bridgerton, then I might make an exception.
My work wardrobe consists of every type of athleisure you can think of. No makeup, hair in a bun, looking a hot mess. If I have a video conference, I leave the camera off! Wearing athleisure is great and it is better than pajamas, but let’s talk about how comfortable it is. It is so comfortable it misleads you. You think you are doing good as you have sat all day and the most mileage you made was walking to the kitchen, but that day that you put on regular clothes. Well, let’s just say, it can be eye-opening if you have not been paying attention.
There is little to no social interaction. Yes, I have my work family and we do talk every now and then, but it is not the same as walking down the hall to visit your coworker and going to lunch or drinks after work. I do have friends and things I do outside of work, but my dog, Winston, he is my bud. I pretty much talk to him the most of anyone and that is my reality.
It can be depressing when you have been in your house for a couple of days. Yes, I do walk the dog or go to the grocery store, but that social interaction that you are not getting can be hard. When I see myself going into a slump, I have to force myself to get out and be social, even if it is the last thing I want to do. Most days, it is me, my dogs, and a bunch of dog hair in my house and that is it.
While working from home can be hard, I am very fortunate to do what I do. I love having a flexible schedule and not having someone looking over my shoulder all day long. I love that my commute is walking down my hall into my home office and slipping into my favorite pair of yoga pants is my work wardrobe. The realities are just not spoken about quite enough and I wanted to bring those to the forefront. If you get the chance to work from home, do it. You will not regret it for one second!
Hope you guys are having a great week!
Later!
Kara
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