| Many of us know that telecommuters can get more | | | | emails or handling some paperwork on my desk. But I |
| done working from home, both on work activities and | | | | kept it to a real minimum. I found other ways to avoid |
| personal activities, due to time savings and increased | | | | going into my home office - any little excuse I could. |
| focus. But I recently discovered a specific situation in | | | | The dishes needed washing, I needed to work on a |
| which I, as a telecommuter, found myself getting less | | | | grocery list, anything. |
| done. | | | | At the beginning of the holiday I had grand plans on |
| In a typical work-day I get started working early, in my | | | | working on more articles such as this one and all kinds |
| pajamas. I work hard for stretches of time, but like all | | | | of other tasks. But I managed to avoid almost all of |
| people, I need the occasional mental break. During the | | | | them. |
| times I need to step away from my work I might read | | | | This morning as I laid in bed resentfully staring at the |
| and respond to personal emails, throw a load of | | | | alarm clock that had just gone off for the first time in 2 |
| laundry into the washing machine, pay a few bills, etc. | | | | weeks, I thought about this odd avoidance. I realized |
| Because I save at least an hour each day I | | | | that it's because I associate sitting at my desk in my |
| telecommute from avoiding the drive to the office and | | | | home office, in front of my computer, with work. I |
| because I avoid the gossip and non-work-related | | | | mean my day-job work. I knew I was on a nice long |
| chit-chat of my co-workers I have more free time | | | | vacation and therefore resisted anything that felt like |
| during the day to go the extra mile on a work project | | | | that kind of "work". My husband, who drives into the |
| or get some personal tasks checked off my list. | | | | office most days and only telecommutes once or |
| So I've always felt there are really only up-sides when | | | | twice per week, didn't have such a strong mental |
| it comes to personal productivity and telecommuting. | | | | association and so he didn't have that difficulty. |
| However, I recently spent nearly 2 weeks at home | | | | It was an interesting revelation. Definitely something for |
| with my husband and children during the Christmas | | | | telecommuters to be aware of, especially if you have |
| holidays. During quiet moments (such as when the | | | | some important activities you want to get |
| youngest was napping and the older child was | | | | accomplished during a holiday. I think next time I have a |
| watching a movie) my husband would happily | | | | vacation at home I'll try moving my laptop into my |
| disappear into the office for an hour or two to work | | | | bedroom or the dining room - and see if it makes it |
| on personal tasks on his computer. However, I found | | | | any easier to sit down in front of it. Think about it for |
| myself avoiding this as much as possible. Sure, I'd | | | | your next vacation! |
| spend 5 or 10 minutes a day glancing through personal | | | | |