I'm mostly freelance. I have a "day job" client who brings me the work that would've been done in the office to my home. I live with someone who generously indulges my disconnect from society and how my working is done in spurts and chunks here and there where I am very anti-social, and then sometimes I'm doing nothing at all...
It is very accomodating of what I would say is "our type" of person and I wish many others like myself would find a path out of the working world and into work from home. I believe the path is being paved for me to have precisely what I asked for, an unglamorous life which provides me extensive space to meditate, the opportunity to sleep my preferred non-24 hour rhythm (was a shock to me to see THAT mentioned in the LOO), not having to work every day, and creative work. And I am a beacon of light and healing for all who encounter me who desire it–I was NOT when I was submerged in work in a workplace! oh boy oh boy was I not.
I'm hoping to manifest the same for my house human because she too is an introspective introvert with sensitivities to the outside world. Plus super "do at home" job, I'm an artist, she's a programmer...
For those wondering about separation, not at all. My clients interact with me via email, which I receive on my phone, and I keep my computer and tablet on my coffee table (which I can put underneath when not in use). I like to work while sitting cross-legged on the couch right now. So my work is right in my relaxation space. The one key though is that I maintain my sleeping space for sleep only. I NEVER ever EVER bring my laptop into my hammock. I sometimes slip up and check my email in bed because of how easy it is, but I try to make sure I only reply to emails when I am not in bed anymore.
I'm in reasonable harmony with my current lifestyle, so it's not a problem for me to have my life and work intermingled.
I leave the house at least a couple times a week.
I have a movie night group and I go to church most weeks. I would go out more if I had more money and energy available to me, but every time I go out I stumble on someone who needs help and I literally cannot stop myself from doing the very best I can to help everyone I run into with their pain or needs I can alleviate.
The one thing I cannot stress enough is the need for self control measures if you work from home.
-I do not have TV (I do have the ability to broadcast the internet onto a TV screen, it's just not one click entertainment)
-I cannot access Facebook, Reddit, or YouTube on my primary internet browser, again, as an inconvenience.
-I ONLY have alcohol if I'm splitting the can or sharing with my house human. A lot of creatives fall into the booze trap... because there's nothing stopping you from drinking as much as you want! So I set a rule.
-If I really really want I can go to the 7-11 for a coffee or slushee to accompany me as I work but I have to walk there (ensuring I spend 30 minutes out walking, something it's easy to not do when you work from home!)
-I don't get dirty very fast, but I always shower at least once a week for the sake of my own sanity and put on clean underwear every day.
-If I eat a TV dinner I put it on a plate/in a bowl to heat it and add appropriate seasonings, because I'm at home and even if I still sometimes have to work hard and desire the convenience of a fast meal, I can use my superior home furnishings to have a better experience.
-The "day job" work comes first even if it's not as fun, because it's the most dependable.
-Because I socialize in the "middle" of my day, if I don't do my work before my people stop their work and show up, then I have to do it after. Rules are rules. I often work in the middle of the night, to really odd hours.
-Client messages need to be answered within a day, even though I have a couple of days I tend to not do any actual work on.
-If my head starts buzzing it's absolutely okay to stop working and meditate for 15 minutes.
Those are the rules I follow to ensure that my work gets done and my sanity is maintained. I highly recommend it if there is an avenue possible and you don't thrive in the workplace. I make enough money to get by and have more fun with it than I would working for someone else. Truly it is a blessing and I'm grateful for it.
It will work as long as you treat it like "a real job" and not like "I am staying at home now, yippee!" Discipline is key to successfully getting through the temptations, and if you don't have that flawless self control, then setting minor road blocks to remind yourself of your intentions and steer you back on the right track. I see very real effects around me from having the freedom to listen to my inner voice's demands to meditate, and as such, have found as close to a monastic balance as I can while living in a city (of light, at least).
It is very accomodating of what I would say is "our type" of person and I wish many others like myself would find a path out of the working world and into work from home. I believe the path is being paved for me to have precisely what I asked for, an unglamorous life which provides me extensive space to meditate, the opportunity to sleep my preferred non-24 hour rhythm (was a shock to me to see THAT mentioned in the LOO), not having to work every day, and creative work. And I am a beacon of light and healing for all who encounter me who desire it–I was NOT when I was submerged in work in a workplace! oh boy oh boy was I not.
I'm hoping to manifest the same for my house human because she too is an introspective introvert with sensitivities to the outside world. Plus super "do at home" job, I'm an artist, she's a programmer...
For those wondering about separation, not at all. My clients interact with me via email, which I receive on my phone, and I keep my computer and tablet on my coffee table (which I can put underneath when not in use). I like to work while sitting cross-legged on the couch right now. So my work is right in my relaxation space. The one key though is that I maintain my sleeping space for sleep only. I NEVER ever EVER bring my laptop into my hammock. I sometimes slip up and check my email in bed because of how easy it is, but I try to make sure I only reply to emails when I am not in bed anymore.
I'm in reasonable harmony with my current lifestyle, so it's not a problem for me to have my life and work intermingled.
I leave the house at least a couple times a week.
I have a movie night group and I go to church most weeks. I would go out more if I had more money and energy available to me, but every time I go out I stumble on someone who needs help and I literally cannot stop myself from doing the very best I can to help everyone I run into with their pain or needs I can alleviate.The one thing I cannot stress enough is the need for self control measures if you work from home.
-I do not have TV (I do have the ability to broadcast the internet onto a TV screen, it's just not one click entertainment)
-I cannot access Facebook, Reddit, or YouTube on my primary internet browser, again, as an inconvenience.
-I ONLY have alcohol if I'm splitting the can or sharing with my house human. A lot of creatives fall into the booze trap... because there's nothing stopping you from drinking as much as you want! So I set a rule.
-If I really really want I can go to the 7-11 for a coffee or slushee to accompany me as I work but I have to walk there (ensuring I spend 30 minutes out walking, something it's easy to not do when you work from home!)
-I don't get dirty very fast, but I always shower at least once a week for the sake of my own sanity and put on clean underwear every day.
-If I eat a TV dinner I put it on a plate/in a bowl to heat it and add appropriate seasonings, because I'm at home and even if I still sometimes have to work hard and desire the convenience of a fast meal, I can use my superior home furnishings to have a better experience.
-The "day job" work comes first even if it's not as fun, because it's the most dependable.
-Because I socialize in the "middle" of my day, if I don't do my work before my people stop their work and show up, then I have to do it after. Rules are rules. I often work in the middle of the night, to really odd hours.
-Client messages need to be answered within a day, even though I have a couple of days I tend to not do any actual work on.
-If my head starts buzzing it's absolutely okay to stop working and meditate for 15 minutes.
Those are the rules I follow to ensure that my work gets done and my sanity is maintained. I highly recommend it if there is an avenue possible and you don't thrive in the workplace. I make enough money to get by and have more fun with it than I would working for someone else. Truly it is a blessing and I'm grateful for it.
It will work as long as you treat it like "a real job" and not like "I am staying at home now, yippee!" Discipline is key to successfully getting through the temptations, and if you don't have that flawless self control, then setting minor road blocks to remind yourself of your intentions and steer you back on the right track. I see very real effects around me from having the freedom to listen to my inner voice's demands to meditate, and as such, have found as close to a monastic balance as I can while living in a city (of light, at least).
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