Katie, I hope you have read 'The Lessons of Elijah Daniel' in Steve's archives. It was the post that got me hooked on his Substack back in 2021. It's long, winding, personal, and a magnificent piece of writing.
I've been working from home for the past three years. This week, though, I've been back in the office, as I help with onboarding a new colleague. I've thus had occasion to muse on the differences between the two environments, particularly as they crisscross the axes of focus/distraction, and introversion/extroversion.
I like working from home. These past few days I've realized that I wasn't lying, to myself or to anyone else, when I've asserted, against any rumblings about return-to-office mandates, that I am more productive working remotely. It turns out it is about more than just my wanting to work in my pajamas and get up and dance with abandon during breaks or put in a load of laundry, although that's part of it.
The office presents a whole other world of distractions, whether it's being forced to listen in on someone's call from the other side of the cubicle wall, or a colleague dropping by unannounced to chat it up about something, or doing little bits of busy work like signing in at the front desk or tracking down a spare bit of office supplies, or walking over to ask the person with the label-maker to make a nametag for a tablet.
The flip side is that I feel less guilty about "wasting time" at the office than I do at home. I wonder if the reason for that is that even when I'm not actively working on a project for hours on end with deep and consistent focus (my perhaps idealized and unrealistic measure of whether I'm doing enough to earn my keep), at least I'm showing up. To wit, I may not "be working" but I am "at work." Whereas, when I'm at home and not actively applying myself with all my powers of concentration, then all I'm doing is sitting around the house.
To compensate for my feelings of guilt, I probably drive myself harder when working at home, and put in more hours, which is made easier by my having my computer at the ready in my "work corner."
I think it's been good for my mental health to mix it up and be in the office. I've been pulled in new directions and challenged in new ways with the altered dynamics arising from our adding someone new to the mix, while also reconnecting with old colleagues in person after these three long and peculiar years away. It's not like I haven't left the house or seen people in that time, but it's different going into the office and spending hours there and being drawn into new patterns of interacting while also trying to deliver good work.
I am very much not the same person I was, or at least it doesn't feel like I am. Whatever it is, it feels pretty good. Where I'm challenged personally, due to insecurities that are still there and getting worked upon in the course of a day filled with many interpersonal subtleties, the little tautology that could applies, and I just keep going and put on a brave face, and, honestly, it's enough. It's good to see it be enough, that I thought I could and know I can, and I get through and live to praise the Lord another day.
These last few days have also seemed extra long. Not that I'm worn out, but that they have been filled with novelty, and so the brain makes more memories and the time feels denser with moments than what I have grown accustomed to. It's interesting like that.
The psychology of working from home, and of working at all (vs being distracted) is interesting. I've been working from home for 11 years this year, and it has definite upsides and downsides, but I would have an incredibly hard time trading it for an office job and all the attendant meetings and other bullshit that go with it.
Thank you for sharing your winding tale. Similarly, I endeavored to regain my focus today and made some headway. My goal was to post nine videos, and I managed to upload three video reels on Instagram. The diversion and tangent I encountered significantly hindered my progress. I trust that you've found your way back to your writing, and I eagerly anticipate updates on your forthcoming book.
Leveraging Short-Form Videos for Affiliate Marketing. In today's digital landscape, short-form videos have become a cornerstone for engaging content across social platforms. Specifically, I utilize seven-second reels on Instagram—which are also compatible for use on TikTok—as an integral component of my affiliate marketing strategy. This approach emphasizes social media postings to drive affiliate revenue, as opposed to traditional ad running. These quick, impactful videos offer a dynamic way to get people to click on my link.
I seem to be late commenting here, but not really because I like to save your posts for the weekend, when I can really savour them without interruption. This is exactly the kind of post I love to see from you. I would be perfectly happy if you posted a long diary entry every day describing your life. I know, other people crave your Dale Gribble stuff about UFOs and the like, but I can't get enough of your stories about your late father-in-law, and your wife's difficult upbringing, and your huge (for these days) bunch of kids. Your rambling posts are peppered with insights and, well, just details of an everyday experience very different from mine, and therefore fascinating! 👍 Thanks for all the good reading!
This post, since I've been subscribing, is easily in your top five. Keep up the good work!
Really? Why is that?
I agree with John. I love a winding yarn that gives a glimpse into someone’s life.
Katie, I hope you have read 'The Lessons of Elijah Daniel' in Steve's archives. It was the post that got me hooked on his Substack back in 2021. It's long, winding, personal, and a magnificent piece of writing.
That was a fun read!
I've been working from home for the past three years. This week, though, I've been back in the office, as I help with onboarding a new colleague. I've thus had occasion to muse on the differences between the two environments, particularly as they crisscross the axes of focus/distraction, and introversion/extroversion.
I like working from home. These past few days I've realized that I wasn't lying, to myself or to anyone else, when I've asserted, against any rumblings about return-to-office mandates, that I am more productive working remotely. It turns out it is about more than just my wanting to work in my pajamas and get up and dance with abandon during breaks or put in a load of laundry, although that's part of it.
The office presents a whole other world of distractions, whether it's being forced to listen in on someone's call from the other side of the cubicle wall, or a colleague dropping by unannounced to chat it up about something, or doing little bits of busy work like signing in at the front desk or tracking down a spare bit of office supplies, or walking over to ask the person with the label-maker to make a nametag for a tablet.
The flip side is that I feel less guilty about "wasting time" at the office than I do at home. I wonder if the reason for that is that even when I'm not actively working on a project for hours on end with deep and consistent focus (my perhaps idealized and unrealistic measure of whether I'm doing enough to earn my keep), at least I'm showing up. To wit, I may not "be working" but I am "at work." Whereas, when I'm at home and not actively applying myself with all my powers of concentration, then all I'm doing is sitting around the house.
To compensate for my feelings of guilt, I probably drive myself harder when working at home, and put in more hours, which is made easier by my having my computer at the ready in my "work corner."
I think it's been good for my mental health to mix it up and be in the office. I've been pulled in new directions and challenged in new ways with the altered dynamics arising from our adding someone new to the mix, while also reconnecting with old colleagues in person after these three long and peculiar years away. It's not like I haven't left the house or seen people in that time, but it's different going into the office and spending hours there and being drawn into new patterns of interacting while also trying to deliver good work.
I am very much not the same person I was, or at least it doesn't feel like I am. Whatever it is, it feels pretty good. Where I'm challenged personally, due to insecurities that are still there and getting worked upon in the course of a day filled with many interpersonal subtleties, the little tautology that could applies, and I just keep going and put on a brave face, and, honestly, it's enough. It's good to see it be enough, that I thought I could and know I can, and I get through and live to praise the Lord another day.
These last few days have also seemed extra long. Not that I'm worn out, but that they have been filled with novelty, and so the brain makes more memories and the time feels denser with moments than what I have grown accustomed to. It's interesting like that.
The psychology of working from home, and of working at all (vs being distracted) is interesting. I've been working from home for 11 years this year, and it has definite upsides and downsides, but I would have an incredibly hard time trading it for an office job and all the attendant meetings and other bullshit that go with it.
Yesterday I said I wasn't worn out, but today, oh, I am!
Just overloaded in a quasi-spectrumy way, and no more to give on that score.
It's cool though. We're all a bunch of geeks in our group. Everybody gets it.
I'm wfh for much of tomorrow so I can get things done.
Thank you for sharing your winding tale. Similarly, I endeavored to regain my focus today and made some headway. My goal was to post nine videos, and I managed to upload three video reels on Instagram. The diversion and tangent I encountered significantly hindered my progress. I trust that you've found your way back to your writing, and I eagerly anticipate updates on your forthcoming book.
Nine videos is a lot! Do you do social media marketing for someone?
Leveraging Short-Form Videos for Affiliate Marketing. In today's digital landscape, short-form videos have become a cornerstone for engaging content across social platforms. Specifically, I utilize seven-second reels on Instagram—which are also compatible for use on TikTok—as an integral component of my affiliate marketing strategy. This approach emphasizes social media postings to drive affiliate revenue, as opposed to traditional ad running. These quick, impactful videos offer a dynamic way to get people to click on my link.
I seem to be late commenting here, but not really because I like to save your posts for the weekend, when I can really savour them without interruption. This is exactly the kind of post I love to see from you. I would be perfectly happy if you posted a long diary entry every day describing your life. I know, other people crave your Dale Gribble stuff about UFOs and the like, but I can't get enough of your stories about your late father-in-law, and your wife's difficult upbringing, and your huge (for these days) bunch of kids. Your rambling posts are peppered with insights and, well, just details of an everyday experience very different from mine, and therefore fascinating! 👍 Thanks for all the good reading!