I’ve been immersed in job drama the last couple weeks. Essentially, I’ve put out some feelers for jobs. Namely, one job. And the company responded.

I don’t want to say anything more about it just yet as nothing has transpired. But I’ve talked with the company some and they seem at least partially interested.

While choosing between different work opportunities is a very good problem to have, I’m sooooooo stressed about exactly what to do.

You’re probably saying, Tell me the reasons you’re stressed and let’s chat.

That’s really sweet of you! But here’s the thing: There are not reasons, plural. There’s just one reason:

I really like working from home.

Frankly, typing those words shocks me. Prior to my Sabbatical, I absolutely hated working from home. There were sooo many times I made the commute just to work a half hour on weekends.  And I often lived a half hour from the office. My close friends thought I was weird.

I did it, though, because mixing home and work environments didn’t feel right. It’s like I was dumping stress into a place that represented peace.

Now that I’ve actually been forced into a work from home situation, I’ve come to enjoy it.

So which is better?

I have no idea, so I want to introduce:


Dance Battle! Home VS Office

Home

1. Morning People Be Damned

Just about everyone I know has morphed into someone who gets up early about every day. Even my brother, who used to sleep until 4:00PM.

For some reason, I’ve avoided this trend (I’m so rebellious!). While I don’t sleep quite as late as I used to, I don’t function until about 10:00AM. Getting up any earlier is pointless; I just sit there and stare at nothing, groaning. I think it’s genetic.

What about coffee?

Yuck. Maybe if I drank it, that would help. But I hate the bean! I’m the guy who goes to Starbucks and buys a bottle of juice. YEAH!!

2. Flexibility Rocks

OK I was going to walk through my day, but it’s pretty boring. So let me just say that:

Some days, I take lunch at 11:30. Other days, it may be 2:00.

Some days, I workout at noon. Other days, I wait until 4:00.

Some days, I go to writers group early to meet with my editor. When that happens, I close my stuff out and head out the door about 4:30.

Some days, an event or something may be happening. Last year, I left in the middle of the day to help nuns run a summer camp. WHEE!

Having that type of flexibility is really nice, which leads to…

3. The Psychological Aspect

The bottom line is, I like the flexibility to work around my schedule. It makes me feel more free. I’ll tell you, work is easier when you’re not forced to do it between two preset blocks of time.

Even on days I write/work/whatever for 8-10 hours, it’s not that bad when I’m working them around my schedule.

4. Productivity Activated!

Given all my extracurricular activities, it might appear working from home limits my productivity. I’ve found the opposite is true. Working when I feel like working makes that time more productive. If I’m trucking along and suddenly lose interest, I’ll workout or go for a quick drive or something. When I get back, I feel more refreshed and the work goes faster.

OOOOHHHHHH!!!!! Working from home just did a backspin followed by windmills. DAAAAYUMMM! What you got, Office?


Office

1. The Social Aspect

While I’m really good at entertaining myself and constantly crack me up, I do miss running over to so-and-so’s cube and being like, “OMG! You have to see this link!” Then I totally proceed to Rick Roll him/her. 

I also miss coworker lunches and feeling like part of a team. I’ve made some of my best friends in office environments (you know who you are).

2. Growth Opportunities

This is actually a really big one for me.

For several years, the “digital” group at my former job was teensy. I think I did a good job, but I had nothing to compare myself to. Suddenly, the group started growing. By the time I left, digital was over twenty people. While working with peers, my knowledge exploded! Being around similar people makes for an exchange of ideas and information that really helps you grow.

Similarly, my joining writers groups here in Phoenix has improved my writing sooooooooooooo (deep breath) oooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo much!

Joining another team in an office environment could do the same, and that’s really important. The last think I want to do is stagnate.

3. Connections

If you happen to get into a field you’re passionate about, working from an office provides opportunities to make connections.

Do you like emptying port-a-potties? What better way to connect with others who like to empty port-a-potties than to work with them?

So Who Got Served in the Battle?

Honestly, I have no idea. I think a lot of it has to do with your mindset when job-hunting. For awhile there, my gut seized up at the idea of going back to the office. Now I’m not so sure.

What do y’all think?