These are some really attractive selfies I took last year right before I launched this blog while I was still working my full-time job as a writer/photographer at a nonprofit. These are all taken either late at night or early in the morning. I.was.so.tired.
I left my full-time job at a local nonprofit last September. I went straight into full-time freelancing, which meant working from home. There were so many adjustments and though I still haven’t perfected it, I’ve learned a little something in the past nine months.
1. There’s a lot of talking to yourself and objects in your house. Singing, laughing, whispering, crying … those are all on the table as well.
2. It’s easy to get caught in the “I have so much to do so I will do chores instead” thing. You can assign all chores to your spouse to do when they return home from work so as to keep you focused. They LOVE it when you do that.
3. Snacks are your best friend and worst enemy. I recommend pickles, kale, plantain chips with guacamole, and lots of flavored water. (Or cookies and wine for noon-time happy hour on the really hard days. You better keep all of the options available just in case.)
4. Pants? Optional.
5. It’s THE BEST to have friends who come have lunch at your house. Try to live close to where your friends work, and then text them all morning telling them you just baked fresh bread or tell them about the noon-time happy hour you’re planning that day. They’ll come running.
6. It seems like a really charming and dreamy life to wake up before the sun and sit in front of your computer, writing/editing away, with a delicious, hot cup of coffee … until one day you spill the coffee all over your keyboard and paper planner. Don’t be an idiot—keep drinks away from your stuff.
7. Being your own boss is hard. Time management is not an easy thing when no one is telling you what to do. Working from home is full of distractions and sometimes long hours of boredom (see #1). Overall, it’s been an excellent life choice because the #nopants life is the best one I’ve lived.
Like last week, I googled to see if anyone else made lists like this. Buzzfeed made one about working from home too. I mostly agree with it.