Why I Need a New Wardrobe to Work Remotely

I’ve had the reputation of being a workaholic for most of my life. Even when I was in high school, I worked one job during the week and another on the weekend. Seeing that my father is 83 and still working, I believe there’s a genetic component…and I haven’t found a pill to cure it yet.

I was laid off a week before Christmas and hired by a company two weeks later to help set up a teachout for my students. If all goes well, I will be in my old office, with my trusted faculty and remaining students in another week. Until then, I am working remotely in my home office. It is taking a bit of adjustment.

My previous schedule was like clockwork. Roll out of bed at 5:30am. In the car at 6:15am or hopefully before, since the traffic starts getting backed up at precisely 6:18am. Hit the Starbucks on the way in and be sitting in my desk by 6:45am or 7am. Work until 6pm…rinse and repeat. Last year brought a few family issues that knocked me off my schedule and I found myself not working as late towards the last quarter, but overall…I was at work most of the time. Ask my husband…he’ll tell you.

Working from home has created a few challenges. Here is my list of the top five lessons that I’ve learned in the past few weeks regarding remote working.

1. Get dressed prior to starting work. Getting dressed means showering, putting on makeup and putting on actual clothes. This will prevent you from finding out about a meeting across town an hour after you’ve clocked in but are still in your pajamas.
2. Get up from your desk on a regular basis. I’ve developed sciatica from sitting for long periods of time and realized that I used to walk around the campus frequently. Walking around my 1300 square foot house doesn’t provide the same benefit, and typically leads me to the kitchen…which brings me to the next lesson…
3. Stay away from the kitchen. Food is much more accessible when you’re working from home and I have transformed into Pippin from The Lord of the Rings. First breakfast, second breakfast, morning tea…
4. Realize that your pets will take full advantage of you when you’re home and will gladly join you in your new Hobbit diet. We have all gained weight over the past two weeks.
5. Finally, use the time that would have been spent driving to work to start using that home gym that you put together two years ago! This is the one positive change that I’ve made in the past two weeks. My arms are developing muscle, however, my midsection still resembles Jabba the Hut. Apparently, the old adage is true…You can’t out exercise a bad diet!

So I’ve decided that I need some new clothes before I head back to work in an office…which will hopefully be next week. If I have one more week at home, I may be back to shopping at the big ladies section.

Ok…time for the commute….down the hall. I better stop for coffee on the way.