Stir Crazy After All These Weeks

Is anyone else getting the itch to go back to work in an office? Feeling stir crazy after all these weeks?

I know, it seems crazy right? But what isn’t these days?

Working from home is a great convenience. But it feels like a limbo between retirement and work.

My schedule is much more flexible and I don’t have to get up as early. But my days are just as long, if not longer.

I’m still working and still getting paid. I know, I’m one of the lucky ones.

So many people are writing about how they are cleaning their house top to bottom or taking up Fender on their offer of free guitar lessons.

I’m freaking working here!

My days are just as long just sans the commute. By the end of the day I’m tired just like before.

There seems to be an expectation that we all have time to renew, rejuvenate or reinvent ourselves. I guess that’s what you do when you retire?

I’ve got work to do and people who rely on me to get it done.

I don’t have time for guitar lessons!

The Office

I don’t miss the morning foot race to get out the door before traffic gets crazy. But I miss the routine and my colleagues.

I work with a great team and we manage to have some fun throughout the day. It’s not all work all day.

When I get into the office around 7:30 I have my routine. By the time everyone else shows up, I’ve cleared my email and had a coffee or two. I’m ready to roll.

Bring on the day!

Working From Home

Working from home has it’s advantages, no doubt. I can roll out of bed 30 minutes before my work day officially begins, there’s no commute to tress me out and piss me off. And I can shower whenever I want.

In the office I have two large hi-res screens and all of my stuff is there. I have a great work space where I can stretch out. Sometimes having a print out of an email or a report is better than having it on screen. I only have two screens after all.

At home I have taken over the dinning room. I have my work laptop and an old Compaq 20″ LCD display. I still have two screens but both are smaller than what I use in the office.

I’m also sitting in a strait back dining room chair. It’s solid cherry which gets a little tough on the ass after five or six hours. No cushion, no recline and it doesn’t rock. I’m a rocker, what can I say?

I’ve discovered that my office eating and hydration habits seem to be triggered by what goes on in the office.

Make a call, have a drink. If it was beer I’d be hammered by 10AM.

Every day is to today

While working from home has many advantages there are also disadvantages.

The days begin shortly after I wake up weather that’s 5AM or 8AM.

Sometimes I forget to eat lunch and sometimes I make a second pot of coffee.

I can check email on my phone and do so seven days a week. So essentially, I’m working seven days a week.

But I also get to deal with contractors coming to the house and getting my daughter to work and off the trains.

So while the days are 10 to 12 hours, I do get to do other things during the day.

But since I work everyday and get other stuff done every day, every day seems like today. The days of the week have less meaning.

I guess this is kind of what it’s like to be retired. Every day is today. What do you want to do?

One of the lucky ones

I realize that I am one of the lucky ones. I have a job and I’m able to work from home.

There are plenty of people who have to go to a workplace every day. They get our food to us, teach our kids, staff our healthcare facilities etc.

You can’t put a bio lab in the basement either. Just not a good idea.

I’m lucky enough to be pulling down a check and have the luxury of feeling cooped up.

I’ve been running more consistently over the past few months. That has helped my state of mind and even provided some limited socializing

I am one of the lucky ones who get to feel stir crazy after all these weeks.

How are you dealing with the new reality?

Run well my Friends,

Andy