Can You Type With a Cat on Your Lap?
Each morning kitty blocks me from coffee by sitting between my keyboard and the cup. His real mission is lap time, so the computer must be destroyed.
His intentions are somewhat innocent. House cats know not of work or personal projects. It is my duty as the human to eliminate distractions. To find a way to appease the bored, hungry, lonely kitty cat, respond to emails promptly, open the door when groceries and packages arrive, answer the phone, ignore maintenance draining the pool, jackhammering, and car alarms. Above all, be productive. Despite all of this, my home office/studio is predominately a zen-like bubble.
For the past eleven months, those who could work from home have been doing so with varying degrees of success. We have entered a new era, and yet the debate rages on — does working from home work?
I love it. Rather than inspiring laziness, I am more likely to work harder and longer. I have all of my creature comforts around me, office-appropriate attire is optional, and I am not mentally exhausted by a steady drumbeat of miniature social interactions. I find supreme focus in a (mostly) quiet, secluded space. Yes, I am an introvert.
Traditional office workers endure construction, deliveries, and all sorts of clamor. How fast can one snap back after distraction strikes? And, are these distractions necessary or avoidable? At home, many interruptions are manageable. One enjoys a good deal of control over their environment: the right lighting, the perfect chair, less need for headphones.
Precious time is not consumed by commuting, picking out outfits, or packing lunches. Sure, there is an occasional zoom meeting, but not every quick run for water turns into a conversation. Lots of people miss this aspect of the office. Humans, as a rule, are inclined to prefer group activities.
But even in an ideal situation, I would choose to work remotely 80–100% of the week. Working remotely from a studio fits my personality to a T. As a freelancer, I learned how to be resourceful, self-reliant, and self-motivated.
For years I was my own mini IT department. There is a lot of free information on Google about what crazy thing your computer or software may or may not be doing. It doesn’t hurt to have friends to reach out to in that line of work. Networking!
Telecommuting is not the right lifestyle for everyone. Adding a family to the mix creates a different dynamic than mine (two professionals with separate offices clacking away on individual machines). For the future, we should consider a blend of the two models as standard procedure. If the goal is to employ a cheerful, productive workforce bolstered by trust and understanding, retaining the work from home option is a positive move.
During this strange and heartbreaking time in history, let’s be thankful that some of us can telecommute. This period of our lives isn’t about preferences. We must protect those who are most vulnerable. Mask up. Connect online for now. Keep the kitty company. Stay safe.
