I’ve been thinking about working remotely as opposed to being onsite. In the olden days, you got up and went into work and then at the end of your shift you left work. You were clearly working when you were onsite and clearly not working when you weren’t. Of course, we all took work home at times, but that was the exception. What I’m thinking about is that your workplace was clearly defined. Home-> Transit-> Work-> Transit-> Home.
Physically, there was a definite change in locality and task. If you had a bad day at work, you could leave it behind because you were no longer at work. I think the actual physical transaction made that easier to do compared to to working remote.
Working remote doesn’t have those physical transitions. You basically don’t have any transitions, all you have is Home. It’s more like Home-> Transit (bed to home office)-> Work (home office)-> Transit (out of home office)->Home. If you use your home office for more than just work, then it’s even worse -- all you have essentially is Home.
Getting away from work while working remote is very difficult -- at least that’s been my experience. There’s definite benefits to working remote in terms of costs and aggravation, especially in the SoCal area where I don’t have to deal with traffic anymore, not to mention the whole “look busy” thing is mostly gone. At the same time, it’s like no getting away from work.
Yes, if you don’t take care, when working from home, your work day can extend to all waking hours. It’s important to set boundaries and to take breaks. When the work day is over, you have to learn to make a conscious break with work, especially if you use your home office for more than just work. It takes time and discipline to adjust.
I remember when corporate car pools were a big thing. A lot of managers had to adjust to their workers leaving on time and not being available to stay “just a little while” to finish some task or project, because the workers’ car pool wouldn’t wait for them.
We took a drive north last night to see Beth Hart perform. It was an acoustic solo show with only a guitarist to accompany her at times, while she played piano, guitar, and bass. No, not all at the same time. Small venue, maybe 750 seats separated into three sections with aisles running between them and outdoors.I would have preferred seeing her playing with her band, but still this was one of the more unusual shows that I’ve ever seen. Unexpectedly unusual.
The show started with her lead guitarist opening up on stage, then with Hart entering from the back of venue and making two full circles through the audience. She’s 51, but looks healthy and good and can sing -- great voice that sounded well-rested. She played for almost three hours.
So what was unusual about it? The only word that comes close to describing what made it unusual is intimate. I’ve never seen a musician or band that was this connected to their audience -- really feeding off of them and giving back -- and not just up on stage performing. There was a brutal honesty and openness to both her songs and her stage patter describing how messed up she’s been throughout her life -- struggling through some childhood trauma drug addiction, alcoholism, relationships, bipolar, rehab, therapy -- that wasn’t just show.
My takeaway? This is a woman that is one step away from the abyss and knows it. That she has to struggle through each day just to get to the next and that she gets as much back from performing as she gives out. Maybe more. One song from last night:
A blessed Sabbath, Gerbil Nation!
I’m off to church. You can be safe, knowing that IT cat is on the job! All bugs will be thoroughly played with, before consumption.
“All bugs will be thoroughly played with, before consumption.”
I bow to the Master!
I can imagine user satisfaction if cats ran the Help Desk. Or given the usual responses from HD, perhaps they already do?
Good morning, Paddy, and Mac.
I am sure Helpdesk cats would consider customers number one. I think we both know what digit they would use to express that number, too.
Indeed.
I’ve been thinking about working remotely as opposed to being onsite. In the olden days, you got up and went into work and then at the end of your shift you left work. You were clearly working when you were onsite and clearly not working when you weren’t. Of course, we all took work home at times, but that was the exception. What I’m thinking about is that your workplace was clearly defined. Home-> Transit-> Work-> Transit-> Home.
Physically, there was a definite change in locality and task. If you had a bad day at work, you could leave it behind because you were no longer at work. I think the actual physical transaction made that easier to do compared to to working remote.
Working remote doesn’t have those physical transitions. You basically don’t have any transitions, all you have is Home. It’s more like Home-> Transit (bed to home office)-> Work (home office)-> Transit (out of home office)->Home. If you use your home office for more than just work, then it’s even worse -- all you have essentially is Home.
Getting away from work while working remote is very difficult -- at least that’s been my experience. There’s definite benefits to working remote in terms of costs and aggravation, especially in the SoCal area where I don’t have to deal with traffic anymore, not to mention the whole “look busy” thing is mostly gone. At the same time, it’s like no getting away from work.
Just musing.
Hi Sven!
Yes, if you don’t take care, when working from home, your work day can extend to all waking hours. It’s important to set boundaries and to take breaks. When the work day is over, you have to learn to make a conscious break with work, especially if you use your home office for more than just work. It takes time and discipline to adjust.
I remember when corporate car pools were a big thing. A lot of managers had to adjust to their workers leaving on time and not being available to stay “just a little while” to finish some task or project, because the workers’ car pool wouldn’t wait for them.
We took a drive north last night to see Beth Hart perform. It was an acoustic solo show with only a guitarist to accompany her at times, while she played piano, guitar, and bass. No, not all at the same time. Small venue, maybe 750 seats separated into three sections with aisles running between them and outdoors.I would have preferred seeing her playing with her band, but still this was one of the more unusual shows that I’ve ever seen. Unexpectedly unusual.
The show started with her lead guitarist opening up on stage, then with Hart entering from the back of venue and making two full circles through the audience. She’s 51, but looks healthy and good and can sing -- great voice that sounded well-rested. She played for almost three hours.
So what was unusual about it? The only word that comes close to describing what made it unusual is intimate. I’ve never seen a musician or band that was this connected to their audience -- really feeding off of them and giving back -- and not just up on stage performing. There was a brutal honesty and openness to both her songs and her stage patter describing how messed up she’s been throughout her life -- struggling through some childhood trauma drug addiction, alcoholism, relationships, bipolar, rehab, therapy -- that wasn’t just show.
My takeaway? This is a woman that is one step away from the abyss and knows it. That she has to struggle through each day just to get to the next and that she gets as much back from performing as she gives out. Maybe more. One song from last night: