Working From Home
Hello! Do you work from your home? Many translators do a great deal of work, right where they live. It occurs to me that we are in a wonderful position here, at Shunra New Media, to help each other. We might even create a page just for this purpose. Do you get interrupted while you work? I do. How is your work space organization, or the lack thereof ? How do you handle housekeeping, and meals? How do you juggle your family members, your work and your personal “me” time? I would be willing to bet that you have ideas that some of us have never thought about, quick and tasty recipes we might like to try, or maybe ideas for work ergonomics that make your life more pleasant. So, let’s share!
I’ll get the ball rolling with a simple but hard learned lesson from my work life. Here we go:
Working from Home hint #1
Always, and I mean always, get dressed in the morning. Wear all the appropriate undergarments, be clean, wear socks and shoes (or at least socks if you don’t wear shoes in your house), brush your teeth, smile at yourself in the mirror. This is not just an issue of self-respect and respect for your work, there are real world consequences for ignoring this hint.
The one day when you schlump around in your dressing gown (translation: bathrobe) and your favorite fuzzy bunny slippers, that is the exact day that people will drop by to see you. Just on a whim, a client might stop by. Your mother-in-law, who thinks you eat bon-bons all day, will stop over for coffee on her way to wherever. Worse yet, the best-looking delivery person you’ve ever seen will deliver the new software you have been waiting for, and there you will be: In all your glory, toast crumbs trailing down your front and a lovely orange smoothie mustache across your lip, you will open the door, to sign for your package.
Now don’t you wish you had read this blog before that happened?
So come on, out with it, give us the scoop, what hints do you have to share? Maybe we can vote on the best one….hmmmm.
Fiona at Shunra
January 8th, 2009 at 9:43 am
I find it useful to have background music, but it has to be of a specific kind that helps you feel at ease while working. You could say it “carries” you…
In my case I listen, among many many others, to an album by Global Communication called “76:14″. It’s not unusual that I am surprised when it ends and the next album kicks in; it helps time fly.
Of course the situation with the breadcrumbs and all, I cannot endorse it either! Hehe that made me laugh…
January 8th, 2009 at 9:58 pm
Interesting post! I just found your blog; I like it. As a former long-time in-house translator (dressed and with make-up, straightened hair and high heels and skirts every morning at 7:50 a.m.) and newcomer to the glorious world of freelance translation, I have to admit I don’t always follow hint #1. I just do whatever feels good and works with the out-of-house appointments that I have that day. You are of course right that it makes you feel more professional and ready when you are dressed and have your “power suit” on - whatever that is. Sometimes it’s my new running pants.
One of the great joys for me is the ability to manage my own time as I see fit. I generally stick to a more or less regular office schedule, but also work in the evenings if I want to or didn’t get than much done during the day. One of the most important things for me is to work exercise in during my day — it clears my head and gets me ready for the next thing. Many of my fellow translators do not have time to think of their physical fitness, but for me, it’s paramount. A 30-minute run right from my house will do it!
January 9th, 2009 at 7:02 am
I normally can’t work with music, but I recently discovered something that seems to work: Anthony and he Johnsons. Try it, they’re wonderful!
January 9th, 2009 at 2:14 pm
My work at home motto is “get it while you can.” As the mother of a 3 month old I have to grab chunks of time when and where I can. The where has proved to be interesting. I have a 12″ laptop and often my most productive times are in bed during our morning nursing marathons! Who would have thought!
January 9th, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Background: I’ve worked at home for most of my career - except for the two years when I started translating and the two years when I was tech writer and project manager for a company that built credit card terminals.
When I first transitioned from working in an office to working at home, I found that I kept wanting to nap.
Getting dressed *really* makes a difference. I’ll often wear comfortable house-clothes in the early morning (before packing kids off to school) and then change to more outdoors-compatible clothes at nine or so.
I like going through a little ritual - reading some blogs, then putting on hand lotion as if to signal to myself that my hands are now in work mode.
Listening to music sometimes help (bland classical or very familiar folk or light pop).
Absolutely YES on exercise. I *hate* getting started but always feel much better after I do a walk - even if it’s just a mile. Trying to work a four-mile walk into my day is harder (I did six today!) but it ends up being worthwhile, I think.
January 11th, 2009 at 2:02 am
I guess the whole working out/fitness topic deserves a post of its own! I go to the gym twice a week minimum, and I try to add as many workout sessions as I can (run a bit around home, an extra session at the gym with my fiancee on Saturday, a Wii Fit session at home when I don’t have time or I don’t feel like going out…). I came to the conclusion that it would be ideal if I could do something every day of the week. But IT IS tough to find time and willingness to do that, especially in winter when it’s cold outside, warm inside… and blah blah blah
January 11th, 2009 at 6:25 am
Very interesting, people can not understand, how can I work without any office.
My home is my office, I have a special space for doing translation and I think, it’s very important to separate the room for work from another rooms.
Music or a movie in the background is a must…smile…
January 12th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
I agree. My office is in the conservatory. That’s definately the most inspiring spot of the whole house! There’s nothing like looking at nature to get us going through the day!