Telecommuting Disadvantage #2
I feel very blessed that my employer allowed me the chance to keep my job even though we were moving to Las Vegas. They have gone above and beyond to make my life and job comfortable, making sure that I have reliable internet access, (somewhat) reliable cell phone service and top notch equipment to work on.
Several telecommuting articles mention that a person needs to be good at working on their own if they are to be a successful telecommuter. I am definitely good at getting in and doing my work. Maybe a little too good because I work ridiculously long hours. I push myself to a point that is so far beyond just feeling a tiny bit stressed. Over the past two years, I have conditioned my co-workers to expect that I am on the job 24-7 and when I don’t respond within a couple hours they are usually asking why I am not done with their request. But I put in the time because I don’t want to come across as slothful or lazy. I desperately want to prove that I am a valuable employee even if I’m not right there in the office day in and day out. (Although my bosses have never given me any indication to think that I have to prove myself this way, it is a burden I have placed on myself.)
But the most difficult thing for me has been the isolation that I feel. Moving to a new city and then immediately beginning a tenure of sitting in my home hasn’t been the most conducive environment to making friends. Never mind the fact that my husband is working in a career with long hours and odd locations. Needless to say, I’m all by myself… A LOT.
It’s something I struggle with every day. There are days where I just want to cry because I feel so isolated. But at the same time, I dread when my phone rings because I know it’s just someone calling to demand something of me. I miss out on all the idle chit-chat that happens when you are physically in a workplace. (The ‘watercooler’, if you prefer.)
I try to attend a cooking class once a week to get me out into the ‘real world’. I go to the gym for my weekday lunch break because there are other people around. Even a trip to the grocery store is fun because I am reminded that I’m not entirely alone, trapped in a small room with demands being shot at me through electronic mediums. Another co-worker that telecommutes tells me that she goes for a walk around her block a few times during the day, just to remind herself to move and to get out in the world.
It’s a hard thing for a telecommuter to remember and adapt to, but it’s necessary. Otherwise you’ll find your mental state suffering and that doesn’t do much for making you an effective employee either. It’s a balancing act, one that I haven’t entirely mastered.
June 21st, 2007 at 11:14 pm
[…] Telecommuting Disadvantage #2 - Jill talks about the isolation of working at home […]
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:28 am
I totally here how you are feeling. Working at home is really hard - especially when on top of all that the only other person around is a baby. Everyone always thinks how lucky you are to work at home full time but they don’t remember that the socialization that happens in a workplace all but disappears. It is even harder in the summer when there are tons of people in the neighborhood out and about and you are locked in the house watching the people outside.
It does get easier when you start meeting people. I did that by looking up book clubs, knitting meetings and now mom groups.
Good Luck!
June 22nd, 2007 at 5:53 am
My mom telecommutes for her job, too. And like you, she is so dependable that her colleagues expect her to be available at all times! But my mom prefers it that way, I think. We all went to Hawaii a couple years ago, and she happily brought her Blackberry with her. Checked the damn thing every half hour. It drove me nuts! I fear that her job is becoming her identity, but I digress…
I understand 100% what you’re saying about missing the ‘goings-on’ around the office. Oh, how I understand! :)
June 22nd, 2007 at 7:08 am
I bet there are awesome opportunities for continued education in LV. A photography class, writing classes, classes that force you to get to know other people and hopefully make lasting friendships. Or volunteer opportunities, a docent at an Art Museum, a historic house?
Part of me is very envious that you can be foot loose and fancy free, if I were in your shoes I would be joining all sorts of groups/clubs/chamber of commerce etc. I’m sorry you feel isolated though, and hope you are able to find local friends.
June 22nd, 2007 at 9:10 pm
I “get” this during the school year. But now, with the kids home and trying to juggle working online and tending to kids, I’m literally BEGGING for the school year to return.
Isolation does suck.
I have people in my life that FORCE me out.
I’d be a terrible hermit otherwise.
June 23rd, 2007 at 5:00 am
You need to make more time to make more friends. Honestly, I worry about you. I know you are a very private person. Your neighbors probably think “who are those weird people we never see.” I know you will have to go out of your comfort zone… but you must do it! I hope after 5 pm (MST) you don’t answer the phone from work. It is like calling you if you were home. Do you call them at home?
When I left USF I didn’t realize how much I was married to my job before I was married to myself or my family. Make time for you. Make time for your hubby…. which I think you already do a good job, but make more date nights.
You are an amazing person! Thank you for sharing with us what is going on. I’m sure it helps more to blog about it.
June 23rd, 2007 at 8:05 am
Thank you everyone, for your comments and encouraging words. It’s nice to know that I’m not alone in this struggle and that I have such kind online friends to help boost me up!
June 25th, 2007 at 1:40 pm
I’ve wondered if you got lonely at all working at home. I can see how that would be good and bad at the same time.
June 28th, 2007 at 11:29 pm
I don’t think I could do it. Thats probably why I haven’t been a successful artist since graduating…I can’t stay focused on something when I’m at home. Half my motivation is “being the best in the class” if you will. So while I would want my employers to think well of me, I would probably start to go downhill in my work ethic if I didn’t have other people to compare myself too. Sad, isn’t it.
I know I would get depressed to. My job here just ended before the baby was born. So far I’m doing fine, but we’ll see about things when I move away from the support system I have here!
July 2nd, 2007 at 12:30 am
I have two friends who successfully Telecommute.
Both of them are fortunate enough to have a separate room for their home office, which contains just a desk, a computer, and a phone. They work from home for exactly 8 hours a day. And rigorously keep the separation of work and home. One of them even puts on a suit before going into his home office, then changes back into casual clothes at the end of the day. This symbolic separation of the work day from their home life helps ensure that they avoid the trap of working ridiculously long hours when Telecommuting.