One of the nice things about my current employer is the privilege of working from home on occasion. (Right now my work PC is crunching item 79 of a 3900-long list, so I have a few moments to take a break.) Working from home (WFH) is nice largely because of the flexibility—for example, if you "leave for work" at the normal time, you get all that commute time as work time and can spend it during other parts of the day. Same thing at the other end of the day. And getting a cup of coffee can be a lot quicker at home than at the office.
Of course, there are dozens of other reasons WFH is awesome. And of course, there are are drawbacks, too.
One of my personal frustrations is how it exposes my well-oiled house as a creaky wreck. Before starting this 3900-long list, I went downstairs for a coffee refill to find that two of the five are still in their PJs (9:30 am), breakfast had been a free-for-all (eat what you find), people were walking over and through a pile of clean laundry, one kid had thrown something at the other and was now crying on the couch, one kid was making bread, one was devising a meal-plan for this weekend's campout and the smallest was running around yelling "I not the bucket girl!"
Before you go and blame the other adult in the house, please note that all of this rests on my shoulders. When all is said and done at the end of the ages, it will be I who is asked to account for this. It is my responsibility to see that the right things are done. It's my job. And when Corporate America takes me out of my home, I am not able to accomplish my job* as effectively as I should.
So, what's the plan? Well, some things are not important, while others are. Learning to get up early, get dressed, prepare and eat breakfast and start tackling the challenges of the day—learning these things has long-term temporal significance. Having my house look like those "museum" homes with no children in them: that's not important.
Well, we're at 97% (3819 of 3900), so I'd better get back to the stuff that pays the bills. Things are running again downstairs and I think I can look forward to a clear floor and fresh bread around lunchtime. Your prayers are appreciated.
More on the important but non-temporal (i.e., eternal and spiritual) items later.
*Note: "job" in this instance is my real job, the one with eternal consequences, not this silly nine-to-five one that I have taken on to pay the bills.
Comments (1)
I am what MS considers a "MOBILE OFFICE / HOME OFFICE" type of employee. there is a MS office in Houston, but I have no business there since I report to a Global practice. thousands of MS employees are in the same category as me.
I love it! in my previous employer Y also worked from home for the most part. so, for 2 1/2 yrs I've been working from home and I would not change that. It was a welcomed change after being on the road constantly for 3 years.
it takes a little to get used to, but I get so much stuff done and don't have to waste time in Houston's roadways battling traffic.
The challenging part is when the kids come back home after school. if they see me on the phone, I am off limits, but I have the liberty to take care of the family and work while achieving a good Work/Life balance.
Posted by Tony Gonzalez | May 5, 2009 12:15 PM
Posted on May 5, 2009 12:15