How I work…from home

People always ask me, “How do you like working from home? Isn’t it lonely, distracting, boring….”. This question always strikes me as a little odd. I suppose it’s a natural stepping stone in a conversation about “what I do” but it seems strange because regardless of the work, job or company, I’ve always been more or less “remote”. My laptop and an steady internet connection and I’m good to go.

I’ve been doing it for long enough and in several different capacities that I’ve become rather accustomed to it. In fact, the thought or act of going to an office for any more than a few days is as foreign to me as working remotely is for people in cubicle farms.

So for the people that wonder whether I like working from home, the answer is yes. And for those of you that want to know how, keep reading…

Start your engines…early

9AM is when I officially start work…no later…every day…without question. I’m not a friendly person any earlier than 9AM. There is no need or usefulness in speaking to me within the first 90 minutes after I wake up. I’m an early riser but when I wake up my mind is set on overdrive and it takes a couple hours for my body to catch up. By 9AM I’m hours into my schedule and hitting my stride. By 9AM I’ve made key decisions and started weaving a tapestry for the rest of my work day.

Not getting the munchies

Gordin Gekco said it best, “Lunch? Lunch is for wimps.” My freshman year in college, I worked 3rd shift in an emergency room as a patient registration clerk. During one agonizingly slow night I calculated how much money and time I could save if I didn’t have to eat. Some people find the refrigerator to be the biggest challenge when working remotely but for me it’s the opposite, I have to remind myself to eat.

Silence is golden, so pump up the volume

I used to find it easier to concentrate when there was background noise. Coffee shop clatter provided the right level of noise and helped me focus while tackling loads of work. Over the past few years I’ve reconditioned to work better and faster in silence. Occasionally, when I’m feeling a little restless or need a change of scenery, I’ll head out to a co-working office or meet a colleague. I still love the bustle of the coffee shop but if I want to get something done, I cuddle up to my desk and shut the world out.

Does this chair make my butt look flat?

After years of sitting in crappy plastic chairs, I unknowingly was given an Herman Miller Aeron chair. I didn’t realize what it was at the time but when I had to give it back I was sad to see it go. A couple years ago, I bought a used Aeron on Craigslist for $400 bucks which was by far one of the best purchases I’ve ever made. Now, I can’t imagine putting my hinie in any other chair. Oh yah, I also did the stand-up desk for about a year which I got bored with and found I tended to walk away from the computer too often for “a think” and would get distracted.

Yes, I wear (no) pants

The idea that people working from home shuffle to their office in their pajama’s is completely ludicrous. Getting dressed is a must. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve had an unscheduled meeting pop up on Skype or in person and avoided the panic of needing to put clothes on. I bend the ‘attire rule’ when it comes to footwear and shaving. Wearing shoes in a home is something I stopped doing in China. Not because of cultural reasons but because it’s just cleaner. As for shaving…a chore I absolutely detest with every whisker on my face…I avoid it at all costs. I’d rather have whiskers than razor burn any day of the week.

So there you have it, a few ways I work from home. Fortunately, it’s getting easier, cheaper, faster and increasingly more excepted than ever before.