I just moved, and I already want a dog.
I miss my little chihuahua that loved to bust my door down during every Zoom meeting. I moved into an apartment and replaced my furry office mate with some friends who work from home.
It was a good tradeoff; we talked about our days during our lunch breaks and didn't stress about working with each other. Having a makeshift WeWork with your roommates is fun, but there's a dark side to the WFH lifestyle.
Don't get me wrong, I'm more productive than ever, I'm genuinely happier, I sleep and eat better, and I'm excited to wake up every morning to start the day.
However, there are some things you shouldn't take for granted.
Social interaction
This is the worst part, undoubtedly.
I recently went to a work function at my old job. I was like a guest of honor, and I got to see people I hadn't seen since the pandemic. IT was great, but it also made me a little upset on the inside, knowing this was a one-time thing.
Even in my current line of work, I work with people around my age, and when I get to see them in person, it's a treat.
There's no office banter; There are no water cooler breaks. But it's probably for the best because, in the end, you're a more productive worker. Productivity leads to better business in the future.
There's some light at the end of the tunnel. It's funny how when you don't see people often, the times you do get to see them are unique.
Time away from work
You'll find a way to fill up your free time.
This is the effect of Parkinson's Law. It's the idea that your work will fill the gaps in your day. A task that should take an hour can run you up past dinner.
This is such a big deal for people who work from home because there's no separating the office from the house.
Now there are some workarounds. You can have an office separate from your room. Psychology says that the bedroom should only be a place for sleep. You could take it a step further and take all the TVs out and even resist having sex in the same room you sleep.
The bottom line is it's much harder to separate your work from home life when the money comes from the laptop on the desk in your bedroom.
You won't have as much time as you think you will either. By that, I mean you will think you have more time to walk your dog or do the laundry during the daytime.
That's the whole point; you'll be so busy your time working all the same.
There's a sense of duty when you work from home because we're wired to work when we're supposed to
The distractions you can't account for
My upstairs neighbors are annoying as hell.
They have kids who stomp the floor at all hours of the day. A couple of discussions with them and management interaction has helped a bit, but it's still one of those things that get in the way of my focus.
A TV producer could make a sitcom called "Work and Woes," a show about the nonsense that occurs in our three-bedroom apartment. The pilot will start with me coming out of my room, hearing the upstairs neighbor bounce a ball on the thin floors, and show me reaching for the broom to knock on the ceiling:
“Settle down up there!” *queue the laugh track
It's not very funny when it's happening to you. That's why I wear noise-canceling headphones to focus on my work and get into a state of flow.
As wild as my work from home space seems, the fact is, the office is way more boisterous than your home. It all depends on your environment. You can't change the personalities of fifty other office mates in your vicinity, but you can ask your neighbors to be a little quieter.
In the end, the only aspect of life you can control is yourself. External and internal forces are two driving forces in our lives, but internal ones are the only ones you can truly control.
Focus on yourself first. That might mean making a career change before quitting your job to pursue your side hustle which may not take years to take off. The best thing you can do for your side hustle is focus on your career.
I gave up a lot to be a freelancer
A full-time job is secure.
Well, it's about as secure as you can be until a health crisis shakes up the work world.
I wish I had benefits. I wish I had set hours and knew what was coming. I've come to realize that work is still working no matter how you look at it. My perspective is shifting because a freelance lifestyle is a full-time job.
I'm starting to think a full-time job that you love, plus a side hustle you do for fun is the ultimate goal.
Although I have contract work, I'd still rather have consistency, and I'd be willing to sacrifice a little of my freedom, doing what I love in the meantime, to build myself financially as a young person.
When you work from home, there's a sense of duty to yourself and the work you do because you think you need to do the absolute most to be successful.
When you let work fill up your free time, that's when trouble comes knocking.
HEre's the trick,
I don't have the Sunday Scaries anymore. I wake up knowing I have work, but I'm less stressed about all the backend work like commuting, getting dressed, making myself look perfectly presentable for the day.
You don't have to worry when you aren't showing up in person. There's no social pressure or office runways. It's just you and the work you have to do.
Your home is more productive if you make it that way.
Final thought
I still think the pros of working from home outweigh the cons.
I've done them both for years now, and I have to say, I've noticed a massive shift in my general happiness when I work from home. Not only has it been more lucrative for me financially, but my spirits are up.
I haven't had the Sunday Scaries for months.
Although I miss my old jobs because I miss my old friends, I still would rather get 8 hours of sleep every night and walk into the kitchen to grab a snack whenever I want.
Pick your poison.