I work from home. I’ve done this for only a few months now. So I’m still getting used to it. There are the typical things you worry about when working from home. Will you clean yourself? Will you change out of your pj’s? Will you work 8 to 5 or 6 to 7? And is talking to your dogs considered a team building experience?
I’ve been a good employee so far. I try very hard to communicate with my boss. I try to let people know when I need work or when I’ll have downtime. I also try to do some self study when there is downtime.
This week I discovered what the hardest thing for me to deal with is when working from a home office. Freezing your ass off. I guess you never think of the utilities involved in going to work in an office. It certainly never entered my mind. And I can be a cheapskate so I don’t like to turn on the heat during the day. So in turn this week has been rough. I have basically frozen my giblets off.
Earlier in the week I did try to work with gloves on. That lasted a few hours until I realized it was ridiculous. Being a software developer I need the ability to type and use a keyboard. No hunting and pecking for me. I have also layered myself fully. We lived in Colorado for 4 years, so I know a thing or two about layering. But in doing so I feel like I should go skiing I’m so bundled up. This make it hard to go to the potty. Which with my extraordinarily small bladder that became a pain.
And then there was the space heater incident. Let me tell you it’s NO JOKE that they warn these could cause house fires. I got one and only had it going for about 30 minutes and I hear a pop. And then my computer and monitor shut off. No good. I check the outlet and it has basically melted. Needless to say I took it back and I will not try that route again.
I really like winter too. I’ve always looked forward to it. But working from home in the cold sucks. I’m too stubborn to turn on the heat. So that’s not going to happen. I’ll just have to learn to deal with it I suppose. Or I can just complain about it. I like that option the best. So will my wife!
December 11, 2008 at 1:32 pm
Ah, Steve, my comrade in frozen giblets! I totally agree – our house is too big and drafty to heat during the day. I work from home two days a week. Many Layers helps. I also wear a hat – and I saw at target some fingerless gloves. Thinking about fingerless gloves. I have a very good space heater that I use – maybe plunking down a little extra would get you a non-flammable ceramic one? Plus, I have a wiener dog on my lap, and on the butt-cold days, a down throw over my legs. And furry slippers.
Let’s say I just pray no one rings the doorbell. Working from home isn’t pretty.
December 30, 2008 at 8:16 pm
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January 14, 2009 at 7:48 pm
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