After much thought, I have decided not to return to full-time work, at least for now. It’s a move I’ve admittedly contemplated from time to time – and always rejected because going freelance really isn’t as wonderful as everyone seems to think it is. But at this point in my life, given that firstly, I’m breastfeeding exclusively and there isn’t anyplace at work where I can pump milk on a regular basis; and secondly, we don’t have a maid and are not planning to get one, hubby and I have decided part-time work is the better arrangement for now, coupled with lots of help from my mother-in-law and her maid.
For sure, working from home has its perks. There’s the time saved from not commuting to and from the office, money saved from not eating out during lunchtime every day, and I get to be around my baby girl as much as possible. She’s growing so fast I can’t believe she’s barely three months old. Also, as a friend pointed out, I’m really lucky in that I’m actually in a profession where I can work from home. But it isn’t always that proverbial bed of roses, and here are three reasons why:
1. It’s a big step out of my comfort zone.
I’ve been with my current company full-time since 2007 and first started working with them in late 2005. It’s been a long time. The thought of leaving this cosy arrangement and its wonderful people to venture out into the big, big world does – I won’t lie – make me a little nervous. And the thought of losing my regular paycheck does make me a little uncomfortable. But I can’t live in a bubble forever and as much as I hate to admit it, stepping out of my comfort zone isn’t a bad thing. I’ve already done that with baby Kaylin, I might as well keep a good streak going.
2. People act as if I don’t work.
This baffles me a little. If I’m not doing any work, then it’s not called working from home. It’s called not working. Just because I’m sitting at my mother-in-law’s dining table instead of an office desk doesn’t mean I’m not working. And just because I’m doing my thinking and writing in shorts doesn’t mean my ideas or my work is worth any less. My bosses obviously don’t understand this and neither do the people who act as if I spend my days watching television and getting facials. In actual fact, I’ve been working longer hours than I probably would in the office because…
3. The lines between work and home are blurred.
When I’m in the office, work is turned off when my computer is turned off. It’s a clear distinction. As I’ve discovered, it’s much harder to turn work off when I’m at home. My laptop is always there and I find myself constantly thinking about the things I need to do. It’s too easy to keep tapping away at the computer no matter the hour or the day. Which is why I’ve decided to make a conscious effort to do not an ounce of work on weekends. It takes practice, but I’ll get there.
AImfter much thought, I have decided not to return to full-time work, at least for now. It’s a move I’ve admittedly contemplated from time to time – and always rejected because going freelance really isn’t as wonderful as everyone seems to think it is. But at this point in my life, given that firstly, I’m breastfeeding and there isn’t anyplace at work for me to pump milk on a regular basis; and secondly, we don’t have a maid and are not planning to get one, hubby and I have decided part-time work is the better arrangement for now, coupled with lots of help from my mother-in-law and her maid.
For sure, working from home has its perks. There’s the time saved from not commuting to and from the office, money saved from not eating out during lunchtime every day, and I get to be around my baby girl as much as possible. She’s growing so fast I can hardly believe she’s not even three months old yet.
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