The Pitfalls of Working From Home

Yesterday I listed a few reasons I enjoy working from home.  Here are some things that aren't so glossy.

Extended work hours

I find this happening more that I would like.  It's really important to create balance and unplug when you're not on the clock.  It's so easy to find yourself hopping back on your computer after dinner to 'finish up a couple things'.  If my weekends aren't very busy, I'll try to get ahead and get a few things out of the way so I can have an easier Monday or finish up things that I couldn't get to on Friday.  If you let it, work will consume you.  Before you know it, you're working 50 hour work weeks consistently.

Over Achieving

Similar to working extended work hours, it's easy to become an over achiever if you weren't one already or become even more over achieving.  More than ever now, your results are the proof of your productivity since no one can pass by your desk/office and see you working.  Now, I feel more pressure to get things done and get them done quicker and more efficiently.

Other people sometimes don't understand the arrangement

Sometimes people think that because you work from home, you have tons of free time.  In fact, I work more!  I think it was Revanche who posted about having to deal with this a few months ago.

Spending too much time alone

It sometimes get dull sitting at home alone.  There's no water cooler chats with co-workers.  And while I'd like to work from coffee shops etc, if I get on my computer early and really dive into my work, the last thing I want to do is detach so that I can change locations and drive somewhere.  Also, while I'd like a change of scenery more often, I don't find myself as productive if I work elsewhere.

There might be more, but that's all I can think of for now.  Like anything else, there are always positives and drawbacks.  

¡Pura Vida!

The Benefits of Working From Home

In 2010 when my company told us they were closing our office, and for those employees that could work remotely we would transition to doing so, these were my first thoughts; Thank God my position allows me to keep my job, I'm sad for those that do not have this option and I'm sad the office is closing.  I'll miss the people I have come to know here.

I wasn't too fond of the idea but now, I wouldn't want to go back to an office setting unless a) It's a dream job, b) I don't have a b.

I wear what I want

Sometimes though, I miss getting dressed to go the office because I feel like I always look like a hobo now.  Most of my laundry consists of sports bras and running tights. But with nowhere to go, what's the point?  I live in workout clothes.  I do get dressed up when I travel so I find that when I am traveling I get more dressed up now than when I worked in the office. Because well, I get tired of looking like a hobo.

I enjoy the flexibility

I am able to work out in the mornings and not feel rushed to get dressed and get to an office.  If I need to run a quick errand, I just extend my work day.  I'm in the safety of my apartment so late nights at the office aren't a concern.

I can multitask

It's very easy to throw a load of clothes in the laundry and be back at my desk in a matter of minutes.  I usually get so caught up in work though that I forget I even put a load in. So I have to set an alarm to remind myself to put them in the dryer.  I fold on the weekends.  I can throw dinner on between meetings.  It just has to be a meal that doesn't require a lot of tending to.  I haven't been doing this though since we've been cooking all meals on Sundays.

I save on gas

This one's easy.  I'm not driving to an office so I save a little bit on gas.

No one's watching over me

You know that one nosey office person who feels the need to report on everyone's errors, schedule, bathroom breaks, lunch breaks and whatever else they do to suck up to the exec?  Come on, every office has at least one mole.  No nosey cube neighbor here.  My work speaks for itself and that's that.

I can work from anywhere

Well, kind of.  I'm often in meetings and need to print and scan quite often.  So on busy days I need to be in my office.  Hour long meetings add up and before I know it, I'd be over my day time minutes on my cell.  And we all know that's not an option with my tight budget.  But if I really need a change of scenery for sanity's sake, I can work from a coffee shop for a few.  If I decide to relocate to another city or state, most likely, I can take my job with me.

All the perks of working from home.  Don't get me wrong though, there are things that I don't like about it.  Coming up next...

¡Pura Vida!

Workout Snapshot! - March/April

Workouts are color coded.  Strength training type exercises are pink, runs/walks etc. are green, swims are blue.  


Pretty good couple of months. I need to force myself to do more strength training. I did well with that in March but not in April, so I'll make that a goal for May.  I don't enjoy weight lifting, so I'll have to get creative.  

This morning's 10 mile run was a little tough and my left knee started hurting when I hit 9.5 miles.  No surprise since I didn't do any running the previous week.  I know it says a 1 mile run with the brick I did the week of April 21, but 1 mile is like not running at all for me and my knees.  And the week before that, I ran once.  Again, the run that I did with the brick that week was .5 miles.  So it doesn't really count.

It's the first time I've had knee pain since I tossed the knee band in January (Yay!  No more knee band!).  Difference is, this time it didn't linger.  Once I stopped running it went away.  In the old days, the pain would linger all day and going up and down stairs was no fun.

It's amazing how a short break makes such a difference in the strength of my knee.  If I take a break, no matter how short, I need to start small at 4 miles and then work my way back up.

I thought the 3.5 and 4 mile runs I did earlier this week would be sufficient to get me ready for my long run this week, but that wasn't the case.

Running is a process and I learn something new about my body, my gait, my strength all of the time.

I hope to start the week strong and go swimming tomorrow. Though, I'm sitting here not in the mood.  Hopefully I wake in the morning in a different mind space.

¡Pura Vida!

Training For a Race When There Is No Race

One of my running buddies is training for a marathon and I've been running along with her because its much more fun for us both if we run together when we can't make other group runs.  Since I've started training with her, I'm running more consistently and feeling stronger.  This morning's 6AM, 3.5 mile run was a breeze!  Much of that can be contributed to it being my ideal running temperature though.  I didn't fare so well on Monday afternoon.  In a short 4 miles, I had to take several breaks due to the humidity.

Running buddy is now up to 20 miles but the most I've run with her is 10.  On her long runs, I meet her for the first half of her run and keep her company, then someone else typically meets her for the second half.  It works out well, and while keeping her motivated with her training, I'm keeping up with my weekly runs, for the most part. I fell into a lazy funk the past two weeks and only ran twice total.

So even though I'm not training for a run race, training with someone else who has a race deadline is beneficial to us both.  

¡Pura Vida!

Budget Breakdown - April

Month end status - In the red

Here are the details:

1) Student Loans - Monthly target met.  Now at 86% of total debt paid.

2) Gifts/Charities/Donations - Over, but its at 10% which makes be feel good because ultimately, I'd like to give at least 10% of my earnings.

3) Health/Fitness - 17.18 over budget

I bought  a hydration belt.  Did I need it, nope.  After all, I did just purchase a camel back a couple months ago.  But in hind sight, I thought that the 1 bottle hydration belt would work better for me, and I was right.  I like it much better.  I'll still find use for the camel back, I hope.

4) Food - 176.30 over budget

I'm really at the point where I'm giving up on this one.  I'll continue to be mindful of how much I spend on food but I'm over trying to get this one down for now.

5) Other - Car inspection and bike tune up

I went against purchasing a bike for my triathlon and will be using the fella's road bike.  Thankfully, he's not much taller than I am and my long legs make the bike a perfect fit with some adjustments to the seat.  This saves me a ton of money.  I took his bike to get a tune up to the tune of $88.  The bike I was looking at cost $499.  

Summary:
I have been consistently in the red since January.  Every single month, some unusual expense has come up.  I think I'll be inevitably over budget until my student loans are paid off.  I have zero wiggle room once I make that SL payment and I am constantly tapping into my back up and fun money savings to cover my butt at the end of a pay cycle.  I refuse to lower my SL payments.  Refuse.

I received my award today and my merit increase also took effect.   The award went to my savings to cover future overages and I increased my SL payment by $200 ($100 per payment since I make 2 payments per month).  It won't make the bill go away sooner, it'll only decrease my final payment.

16 months of no shopping!

Happy Budgeting!

I Like My Job...Maybe?

Let me set this up first by saying that when someone asks me if I enjoy my job/career, my usual response is 'Sometimes'.  I really haven't found what I am passionate about.  You know, the job you would do even if you didn't get paid?  Haven't found that yet.

But last week I told the fella, 'You know what, today I had an I like my job moment'.  That day just went well.  I had a few successful meetings, accomplished most of my work to-do list and when I hung up from my last meeting I said, 'hmph, I like my job.' 

Go back one more day, I had  a meeting with my manager to review my compensation...finally.  The great news was that I got a merit increase.  The bad news he said was that the company was not giving out bonuses this year.  But more good news....we are giving small awards to some of our outstanding employees and you happen to be one of them!

I did two mental back flips and started thinking about what I would do with this 'award' after my 401k and taxes take almost half.  I'm still thinking on that one.

So now let's go forward a day to the day I told the fella that I like my job.  His response, 'You sure it's not that bonus you got yesterday?'  LOL.

And there I was, totally confused.  Did I really have an I like my job moment or was that residual here's a reward for a job well done high?

I think it's a little bit of both. ;-) 

I'll go with that for now. 

I told the fella he was an excitement snatcher because he brought me right back down to level ground and we both had a good laugh. 

I'll update with what I do with the award once it hits my bank account.

¡Pura Vida!

Bye Bye First Class

One of the things lost now that I'm no longer jet setting all over the country is my status on my frequent flyer/traveler programs.  I used to almost always get upgraded to first class on US Airways with my platinum status.  Now that I've reverted to silver, I'm at the bottom of the totem pole on the upgrade list.  First class?  Please! 

There goes unlimited water, juice (I don't drink alcohol) and piddly snacks.  My long legs do miss the extra leg room and though my derriere is narrow, it misses the extra 6 inches of seat. 

I'd walk into the Hilton and the attendant would say: Welcome back Ms. S, thank you for staying with us again.  We've upgraded you to a suite on the 20th floor.  Here are 2 bottles of water and a voucher for a drink at the bar.  Don't forget happy hour in the Executive Lounge every evening.

Goodbye virgin daiquiris.  Sigh.

I've always said that the points I accumulate and the upgrades I would often get were not consolation for me.  I'd rather travel less any day and save for my own vacations.

I had a day trip today and as they called first class and I was still sitting there in the boarding area, the reality hit me that I no longer have status.  And I smiled.

¡Pura Vida!