I have now been working at home for over a month, so I thought it was a good time to review and look at the things I was worried about and the questions I was mulling over when I was still based in the office.
Do I miss other people and have I lost all my social skills? What I have learnt is just how comfortable I am with my own company. I do miss my previous co-workers and wonder how they are doing but I find it is quite enough to communicate with colleagues by email and phone and occasionally attend meetings.
Do I miss the office banter? It is quite hard to laugh on your own [unless it is to cat antics on FB] . I have the radio for company and occasionally this makes me laugh, although just at the moment the news is mostly distressing or annoying. Perhaps I am losing those social skills.
Do I sit in a local cafe using their WiFi? I thought I would do this but up to now I haven’t felt the need to get out and be with people. Maybe the winter will encourage me out of the flat.
Do I enjoy the freedom? Absolutely! I was used to structuring my own day but working at home is so much more relaxed. I do try and give my day some sort of structure, with brews at particular times and a regular lunch break, otherwise I get to the late afternoon and realise I haven’t eaten or even got up from my desk. I use my breaks to do some quick household chores or exercises while the kettle boils; I am here when parcels arrive and I can wear what ever I like. In the office we didn’t have space to have a room for eating lunch and we all ate at our desks; now I can sit with a view of the gardens and my book (and I never have to worry about forgetting to bring my packed lunch to work). And shoes … now I spend my days padding around in bare feet I wonder when I will wear so many of those work shoes, it might be time to have a clear out.
Am I more productive? Most definitely! I am getting so much more done without those interruptions.
Do I enjoy the view? Yes! Every day.
I am truly grateful to have been allowed to work from home and even after this short time, I am not sure I could go back to the constraints of working in an office, as is often the case, it was only when I was out of a situation that I realised how oppressive it was. I even find that having to attend meetings (something I thought I would enjoy to maintain contact with co-workers) is feeling a bit of a hassle.
The only thing I miss is my brisk walk to and from the office and I do find I often need to get out of the flat to stretch my legs as soon as I have packed away the work laptop at the end of my working day.
Back on the road again 