Why does everyone seem to hate working from home?
This is my op-ed as someone who wishes she had telework or a remote job.
@WASHEDMEDIA
I have only worked two jobs since obtaining my Bachelors of Science Degree. I would like to pursue a Masters in Fine Arts (Theater), which used to be a want for a Master’s in Legal Studies to allow myself to mentally prepare for post-gap year (originally 2020) law school journey. I still want a Juris Doctorate with a focus in Intellectual Property law, but I genuinely no longer desire the occupation of Lawyer or Attorney. My Gap year, has now lasted two years and my focus and priorities have changed and fine-tuned since. Hopefully this background introduces me to where I am and what you’re working with.
So I moved to a completely new state in a pandemic, started a job, had to teach myself financial literacy, “adult” (which is this all still very much in progress). I never teleworked, it was simply put as my job could, but wouldn’t (apparently a pandemic and living in the epicenter wasn’t enough.) I find myself dissatisfied. I am not anywhere near my own goals, for example I recently explained to a friend that I am a monetized creator, but one without a following. (Life of the aspiring actor, it’s hard to get folks to like you when you’re building your own platform versus starting with one) No one really sees any of my visions. I have a more to life approach and my fabulous time in social study classes has blessed me with rejecting social norms because, “we live in a society.” So… yes I am more focused on losing weight, looking my physical best, striving for self-employment, focused on all my passions (bear with me, I get the point but you get the long story with it) of theater and film but also politics and history (hence the MFA and JD I introduced you into this with.. which is more because I prefer the structure of school now that I’ve been out 2 years.) I have less interest in a boyfriend, a husband, building a family and children when I am not even old enough to be in Congress and want to “achieve my best life” first.
I’ve learned the 40 hour work week drains me. I am not an enjoyable person. I more commonly do not want to get out of bed, get fully glammed and dressed like I did in 2020, and I did that with my previous employer pre-move when I had to work from home for 2 weeks when COVID-19 was beginning to become evident. I spend 5am to 8am getting ready and getting to work, working to 5pm, working out for two ish hours minimum a day (Hey, I am not going to not train for Miss America and Miss USA and find my inner peace with myself because I have to have a job to exist.) still go home, work on my small business I started, my non-profit I started, work on all my social media platforms, make dinner, clean, get ready for bed… and I haven’t even spent any “me” time on that.
So where does working from home come in? Well my current job, the one I was not allowed to telework in to this day is 100% possible online and a lot of our processes are becoming 100% remote. The higher up the chain you go, the average employee is remote (which is a job that is already established as 100% WFH) or the employees have been home since January 2020. I have co-workers who teleworked because of medical or child-care. But even those who requested and were granted this privilege state they hate it. I understand this is a “me” thing, but the stigma and the consensus of “working from home sucks” is a disadvantage to employees who want to and can WFH. My work in office is situational. My response time is 1-2 hours and if I need to relay on others input, it depends on when they get back to me. I am secluded, and unconnected so I am not one of those people who can browse the internet, text, or play games at work. More of my time is spent in a reclusive state in an isolated office. Personality conflicts and unprofessionalism is a can I won’t open as well. Telework and remote work would allow me to cut a lot of costs inflation is wrestling me with. It would also save me my sanity. I think money is time and time is the ultimate thing I want. It’s why I work the 5-9 after work so that I can be my own employer and embrace the free-lancer lifestyle I desire.
Ultimately, the last 2 years have shown me the 40-hour work week is not something I can do until my 60s. I find no enjoyment in it. My heart is in the arts and policy (and the only reason I am considering degrees is for networking and an “escape”) I am not saying working from home would have prevented this mindset. Other factors like co-workers getting more privileges and simply the dynamics of my job are all reasons I’m unsatisfied. But I think having this “one” perk, when my peers in my career field have it, would have helped. I know what I like and what works for me. It’s why I am not trying to find a “better” job from this, it’s why I am going through sleepless weeks and a lot of perseverance to make what I want to do work. I may feel stuck, trapped, and wanting an out… but I try to remain optimistic.
I plan on filming an releasing a video (and potentially the audio in podcast form) “I don’t live to work or work to live actually.” Where I will delve on these feelings more.
Do you remote or telework? Do you enjoy it? P.S. for the folks who say it creates a terrible work-life balance: You should consider a working space in your home (I for one have an office) and reflecting on your own relationship with work and worth... It’s a “you” thing as us Gen Zers like to say.