Hi, Ho, Hi, Ho, It’s Home for Work I Go

Laurie Cohn 

Mirror Contributing Writer

   People often ask me what it’s like to work at home. Do I lounge all day in a Joan Crawford style housecoat, looking glamorous and saying “darling” to anyone who calls me? Or maybe I sleep until 11:00, begin a short work day some time after lunch, and quit before dinner? Or perhaps I work 24/7, and rarely leave my desk?
   Well, the truth is somewhere in the middle. I work as full a day as anyone else, minus a nightmarish commute. There are days I get up, roll out of bed, put on a polo shirt and my working shorts (any shorts with a zipper), as opposed to my evening wear (t-shirt and men’s boxer shorts), eat breakfast, then sit at the computer for many hours before I even shower. Then there are the days when I take an early morning bike ride before hitting the work load. The only difference is one day I’m clean when I sit at the keyboard, and the other I’m feeling a bit grimy as the day progresses. Luckily I live alone.
   Weather, temperature, and deadlines alter my work plans. A frigid morning in January or a foggy one in June tends to get me working earlier than a gorgeous, sunny August morning. Starting early is good because by the time I’m ready to quit for the day the sun has usually come out, and I can enjoy being outside. Rainy days are usually very productive work days for me because there is absolutely no temptation to do anything else. I probably would have written several novels by now if I lived in Oregon. 
   People ask about staying focused while working at home. Well, I am disciplined, which is important, as is time management and the ability to stay focused on the task at hand. I resist talking on the phone socially unless it’s my lunch break. My television stays off during the day. The radio stays tuned to KCRW, though lately, I must admit, I’ve been listening to Howard Stern for some comic relief. When I’m walking to the kitchen, I might see books that need re-shelving, or plants that need watering; I resist these urges until after work hours. If I didn’t, I’d be sidetracked all day long. 
   I don’t make lunch plans with friends or run errands during the day. Otherwise I can easily lose four hours of work, which is a real pain. When some chore or appointment has to be done in the day I make up for lost time by working in the evening. Occasionally, I need a walk in the middle of the day to clear my head and am willing to pay the price of working late into the night. Sometimes, I need a fifteen minute nap to revitalize myself. This flexibility is what I treasure most about working at home. 
   “Don’t you get lonely?” is another question I often get asked. Even before I worked solely at home, I always spent an inordinate amount of time alone, so it’s very suitable to my nature. But it’s not for everyone, and many of my friends would go berserk not having anyone to chitchat with. There are days I basically don’t talk to or see another person unless I walk down to Main Street and get something to eat, and then the only words I might utter are, “I’d like a carrot juice, please.”
   When deadlines loom, I work days, evenings, and weekends, but generally I can fit in some free time. I love my work, but I’m not a workaholic, and know when it’s time to shut the computer off and get together with friends. I try not to work on one weekend day, and usually this is possible. As I write this column it is a stunning summer Sunday, with lots of sailboats on the water. Had I been inside working all day, I would feel deprived, but since I kayaked for four hours this morning, from the Marina to the Santa Monica Pier and back, it actually feels good to get some work done. 
   But not too much. Now it’s time to close this document, get dressed, and go grab some dinner with my big brother, his treat. At least, I know any work I’ve put off this weekend will be waiting for me when I arise tomorrow morning.