People love to romanticize working from home.

It’s usually portrayed as someone peacefully typing away with a cup of coffee while sunlight streams through a window and productivity just magically happens.

The reality is a little different.

I’ve been working from home for almost nineteen years now, and the truth is that it has its own strange little ecosystem.

For starters, my official workday begins at 8:30 AM Monday through Friday.

In reality, the day usually starts closer to 7 AM, because that’s when I grab my first cup of coffee. Once the coffee is in hand, my brain immediately decides it’s time to open email.

So the workday sort of… drifts into existence.

The first thirty minutes of my morning is almost always email. Answering questions, flagging client messages that need action, and figuring out what the day is going to look like.

And yes, it’s decaf coffee.

Health issues forced that change a while ago, but my brain refuses to accept this information and still behaves like it’s fully caffeinated.

The funny thing is that I actually start doing real work much earlier than I ever did when I worked in a traditional office.

Back then, I’d arrive a few minutes early, clock in, and then settle in. Maybe I grabbed breakfast on the way. Maybe I made coffee in the break room. Maybe I chatted with coworkers for a few minutes.

If I clocked in at 9:00 AM, it might be 9:15 or even 9:30 before I was truly working.

When you work from home, there’s no settling in period.

The laptop is right there.

My Coworkers Are… Different

I do have coworkers.

They just aren’t the ones you’d expect.

First, there are the cats, Maui and Tully, who come and go through my office whenever they feel like it. They seem to believe my desk exists primarily as a lounge area.

Then there’s my granddaughter, who occasionally appears when she’s home from school.

And of course there are the delivery drivers and mail carriers who stop by with packages throughout the week.

It’s a small but lively workplace.

The Most Common Interruption

For me, the biggest disruption during the day is the phone.

This is why I prefer to schedule calls whenever possible.

An unscheduled phone call can pull me away from work for twenty minutes, even if the conversation itself is short. It’s not the call itself that takes time. It’s the mental shift.

You have to switch out of work mode, take the call, and then switch back again.

That transition takes longer than people think.

Cats Have Terrible Timing

If I’m in the middle of an important task, I can almost guarantee one of the cats will climb onto my desk.

They somehow sense when something is time-sensitive.

Most of the time they want nothing to do with cuddling.

But if I’m on a Zoom call or trying to finish something quickly, that’s when they suddenly decide it’s time for affection.

The Best Interruptions

Some of my favorite interruptions happened when my granddaughters were younger.

They didn’t quite understand the concept of work calls.

Which led to a few surprise musical performances in the background while I was talking with clients.

Some of my clients have been treated to live Disney concerts without warning.

The Thing I Don’t Miss

There’s one thing I absolutely do not miss about traditional work.

The commute.

Especially living here in Maine where winter driving can get a little adventurous.

Working from home eliminated that stress completely.

Is It Easier?

In many ways, yes.

But there is one thing people don’t always think about.

Solitude.

If you’re someone who thrives on being around people all day, working from home can feel lonely.

You have to be comfortable working independently and spending long stretches of time by yourself.

The Flexibility Is Real

One of the biggest benefits is flexibility.

If I need to run to a doctor’s appointment or pick something up during the day, I can simply adjust my schedule.

Maybe I start earlier. Maybe I work a little later.

And sometimes, if nothing is urgent, I don’t need to make up the time at all.

Try doing that in a traditional office.

After Nineteen Years

After nearly two decades of working from home, I can say this.

It has lowered my stress levels considerably.

That doesn’t mean there isn’t still stress. Running a business comes with its own set of pressures.

But it’s a very different kind of stress than what I experienced in a traditional office environment.

Could I Ever Go Back?

Honestly?

No.

Part of that is because I run my own business now. The idea of working for someone else again doesn’t appeal to me at all.

But the bigger issue would be the lack of flexibility.

I remember sitting in an office on slow days just trying to find things to keep myself busy so the clock would move faster.

These days if work is slow, I can spend time improving my own business… or go throw a load of laundry in.

That kind of freedom is hard to give up.

Working from home isn’t perfect.

But after nineteen years, it’s safe to say I’ve built a life around it.

Even if my coworkers occasionally walk across the keyboard.

Here’s to building work that actually fits your life,

Know someone who dreams of working from home? Forward them this email and give them the honest version of what it’s really like. Cats climbing on your keyboard may or may not be included.

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