Working From Home

This is an original post written by contributing writer Lisa Hanneman.

I work full-time.  More than full-time during my “busiest” seasons and as maternity leave wrapped up and we moved to the suburbs, I asked my employer for the flexibility to work from home two days a week.  Being incredibly lucky to have a wonderful employer and some really great supervisors above me, my request was granted.  But, it was made crystal clear that working from home is a privilege and so I have always taken it very seriously.  Probably too seriously.  (The first few weeks I was afraid to go to the bathroom in case the phone rang.  Didn’t want anyone to think I was taking a nap, right?)

The benefits of working from home speak for themselves…

My son is still taken care of by my mother, but I gain a few hours with him or some time to work out.  I save about $12 a week on train tickets and who knows how much on dry cleaning, since I work from home in jeans.  If we have a delivery coming, I know when I’ll be here to accept it.  When the windows were replaced, I was able to supervise from my home office.  I can schedule pediatrician appointments more easily, rather than waiting weeks to get in on a Saturday.  I get some quiet and alone time in our usually busy house.  Yes, there are a TON of benefits.

However, lately I’ve found that my work-at-home days are becoming more stressful than the days I’m in the office.  Shocking, I know!  But, hear me out…

When I work at home I have a constant list of the things I’ll squeeze in before 9:00, during the lunch hour, or between 5:00 and my husband’s train pick-up time.  There is always a bill to pay, dry cleaning to pick up, or something to grab at the grocery store.  Working at home means I have to look past the piles of laundry hiding in the basement and forget about the fact that the carpet really needs the love of a vacuum.  And all that really stresses me out.  I’m not a big fan of cleaning and don’t itch to get it done, but it’s easier not to think about it when you’re in the safety of an office 20 miles away from your house.

I get most frustrated on the beautiful days, the days my son spends most of his time outside with my mom.  They go to the park, the farm, feed the ducks, run in fields, dig through sand, and have picnics…  All while I’m at home wishing I was with them.  Even if my e-mail is slow and I don’t have a ton to do, I’m strapped to my computer and phone.  And that is rough on a Friday in July when it’s sunny and beautiful.  It’s so much easier to feel cooped up and chained to your desk when you’re sitting in a cube.

Most people think that working from home must be amazing and hope one day to have the same privilege.  Now don’t get me wrong, it is a privilege that I appreciate, but as we enter into the spring and summer, I’m really trying to prepare myself for the days ahead and, if you’re thinking of working from home, you should too.  Before you dive in and assume that working from home will add balance to your life, make sure you have the right personality and the right employer to make it work for you.  Or it might end up stressing you out, too.  I know I’ll be better at it one of these days, I just have to give myself a break.

Lisa Hanneman strives for balance in a life overbooked by her husband, adorable toddler son, full-time job, friends, home projects, blogging, and busy social calendar.  Most weeks she manages to squeeze in a bikram yoga class with her best friend, but she only manages to get her hair cut once a year.  She dreams about volunteering, staying ahead of the laundry pile and dust bunnies, and a to-do list with only five items on it.  You can find her blogging about life as a rookie parent while laughing at herself on her personal blog, Hannemaniacs.