I started a new job this week, and though I will not tell anyone where I work, I can say that I love it. I'm not going to become rich working there, but that's not the reason I accepted the job. I don't really want a lot of money; money doesn't motivate me. I'm motivated by service, helping others, and all that really mushy stuff that makes people sick to their stomachs!
There's so much more to life than money, and that means there's more to life than just working. I'm a writer. I write. I get satisfaction from researching the next book, preparing to write it, writing it, then editing it, and finally watching it cruise its way into publication. I get a kick out of thinking through what the characters will say to one another or how they'll end up engaging or interacting. I pretend in my head what it will look and sound like. That's something that makes me both get out of bed and get into bed because I often dream about those moments, too.
The new job is a work-from-home job. I'm not ever going to go back into the office to work. It isn't something I wanted to do after retiring from teaching. I had just about had enough of the whole hour before and hour after work routine; time I wasn't paid for, but expected to endure. Now, when I get up in the morning, I can get up about 35-40 minutes before I need to be on the clock. I have time to walk the dog, make coffee, write in my journal, and log in. Before, when I worked at the school or in an office, I'd have to get up at least an hour and a half early, quickly walk the dog, make coffee, shower, dress, put on makeup, and head out the door (always forgetting something, usually my coffee) and then I had to fight traffic BEFORE I got to the office or school.
Now, because I never wear makeup and can either shower the night before or the day of, I can sleep later, relax, take my time, journal longer, read my Bible, stroll the dog, talk to neighbors, and I can drink the first cup of coffee in my jammies before I log in -- still in my jammies! We don't have to be on camera for the meetings unless the boss wants to make sure we're actually sitting at the computer, but that doesn't happen. He sees my log in, I'm participating, he doesn't need to see my face.
I am far (far) more productive at home, too; some people are not. Some people have to have interaction with others and be able to look out over the city from their office window to feel as if they are alive. Nope, not me. I'm good. I start at 7:30 a.m. on the nose, I take my breaks, eat my lunch (30 min.) and clock out at 4:00 p.m. on the nose. I don't have to endure so-and-so's stories about last night, the weekend, who they're dating, or who their grandson is dating. I don't have to fake caring about their garage sale revenues or whether or not they were able to stick it to the boss somehow. I hate, and I mean HATE, office politics, drama, or gossip. HATE IT.
Being at home is my way of saying I'm successful. I control my hours. I control my workload. I control my results. I control my behavior; I control whether or not I want to jump on a Teams meeting to just chat - - and I don't do that. I had Amazon send a package to those who choose to work at the office today. It was a box of chocolates and some Keurig cups of hot cocoa. I'm on the good list!! They love me.
I don't have to interact to interact! I'm not against interacting, but if I spend X-time talking to co-workers and not producing, the boss has no grounds to complain if my numbers are down if they force us to work in the same room at the office. I worked at an office with seven women and one man. It was about 30'x50', and I wanted to scream! On either end, they had big-screen TVs with gossip shows running all day. We had to wear headphones to drown out the dang noise, and then the ladies talked non-stop the entire day!
I just went back online to Amazon and bought some work clothes. They'll arrive tomorrow. I bought four pairs of light jammies for Spring. They're all long, of course, but they're not flannel. The sun rises now at 6:45 and so do I. I go from not wearing jammies when I sleep to wearing them when I work. Gotta love this!! My dog can't figure out why she's not allowed in my lap for the most part of the day now that I'm working, but she's in the background at all times and this company doesn't mind if you tell people you work from home. More than 77% of our clients work from home, too. Times are changing.
I wonder if suggesting a pajama party would be an HR issue? I won't ask. I'll drop it in the suggestion box anonymously. We don't have to be inappropriate, but we could all raise a cup of Joe to the boss and take a photo!!
Photo Credit: LionnessofAfrica.com
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