There are a lot of things that I enjoy about working from home: I have a lovely, quiet, warm apartment, with awesome internet. I have a neighbor cat that stops by to visit. I have a big external monitor, and a great set of speakers to listen to music with. But there are a few things that I especially enjoy…
Coffee!
One of the nice things about living in Europe is that most of the coffee is really good. I mean, even the instant coffee is good here! For years I’ve wanted one of those fancy machines that provided instant – and delicious – cappuccinos at the push of a button. But I just couldn’t justify spending 100 euros, when my french press made perfectly functional coffee. But, after finishing a rather large project – and walking down the coffee machine isle in the Media Markt for the 100th time, I decided it was time for the splurge! I’ve named him Boris and I adore him and the instant gratification that he delivers.
Running
Another guilty pleasure is the ability to go running whenever I want, and for as long as I want. I started running a couple of years ago, and I can’t seem to stop. After training to run further and further, I’ve been curious to see how far could I actually go! For the last year, I worked on a project that required me to go into an office during the day. Because I treasure my evening collaboration session with Gretchen, my only other alternative to keep training, was to get up extremely early in the morning and go running before commuting to the office (where we were expected to arrive at 9am). When I work from home, I’m in control of my time – which gives me the ability to properly focus on my favorite hobby rather than just fitting it in.
Slippers
Another work from home guilty pleasure is my pair of wool slippers. I don’t know what it is exactly, but I love wearing them! They’ve got a soft leather sole, so it feel shoe-like, yet it’s still ridiculously soft and warm with all the wool.
Sunday night sneak preview
My boyfriend and I enjoy going to the “sneak preview” movie at the local theater in his town. On Sunday nights at 22.00, we would bike to the theater, pay a discounted rate, and see a “surprise” movie. Meaning, we have no idea what the movie will be until it starts! And regardless of the quality of the movie, it’s always a great time. For the last year, I had to be up at 06.00 on Monday morning to catch the train to the office – so we skipped the sneak previews. Now that I’m working from home again, I’m looking forward to restarting that tradition!
So while all of these things are definitely non-essential items, I’m grateful for every day that I am able to revel in my guilty pleasures. It’s simple luxury, and it reminds me of how lucky I am!
I’m so curious… what are YOUR guilty pleasures?
Waking up after 9am. 🙂
Hiking up a mountain whenever I want (well, more or less).
Traveling while working!
Working at 2am if I feel like it.
I don’t feel guilty about any of those things though. 😉
All week I had a hard time sleeping. Today, I slept for 9 luxurious hours – waking up a little after 9am. I loved that I was able to just get up and start immediately (and also, that I was able to get a needed good nights sleep).
I love my coffee, too!!! I don’t even go out to cafes any more because I like my coffee so much. It’s a guilty pleasure that you and I get to chat while I’m cooking breakfast. What a fun thing to do while I’m “working.” Watching a TV show over lunch is fun, too.
Our collaboration sessions are definitely a guilty pleasure. All those brilliant, playful ideas flying from our computers! Standing ovations! Timer research! Accents!
So many pleasures…
Shower later.
Instead of taking a shower first and let my mind wander off to unimportant thoughts, I can use my morning thinking power for my work and then use the shower as a break later on that morning.
That’s a good one Wanja! I didn’t think of that – but you’re absolutely right. The ability to just start working first thing – and then shower later is a fabulous perk when working from home.
I like to put my running clothes on when I wake up and dive into my work for a few hours. Then, when my brain is full, I go running to refresh myself. Awesome!
I have two guilty pleasures, the coffee I see as a necessity :-).
1. Working in the comfort of my bed (with good coffee). Mornings are my most productive time and I get more done during 7.30 and 10.00 than the entire rest of the day. Not having to use this precious time in getting dressed and commuting makes me super productive, and I get to look much better in the evenings :-).
2. Laying in the sun and getting some sunshine, feel good endorpines, while doing a retrospective or plan the rest of the day.
Love the post!
Thanks Karin! I’m *really* enjoying reading everyone’s guilty pleasures. 🙂 Laying in the sun is a great one! I can totally relate. In the summer, I like to work in my garden: http://www.flickr.com/photos/72814000@N00/7852516850/ – just having the ability get fresh air and sun whenever we want is a true pleasure!
I don’t feel exactly guilty about it, but I think it fits the subject:
Working at home give me more time to be with my son. In the morning – while he is at school – I put focus in the kind of work that I need to be more concentrated. In the afternoon we are used to ‘work’ together: while I’m answering e-mails, drawing something, preparing slides … he is close to me playing some game, or doing some homework. Sometimes he helps me with something, or I help him with the homework…or I just stop what I’m doing to play Lego with him, or we just play a rock n roll song on the micro and dance, or we just build a big city with paper, glue and scissors, and so on. Definitely, it energizes me!
More? High quality coffee – and beer, pool during summertime, a schedule aligned with my mood …
Hi Alexandre! Nice to see you here on my blog 🙂 I can imagine that more family time would be a HUGE perk for working at home.
I too love having a schedule aligned with my mood and energy levels. Doing this ensures that I am giving 100% to everything I choose to focus my attention on. It’s a great way to practice good self care.
Playing piano. My piano is in the same room that I use for my office. When I need a break from work, I can just turn around and play some music for a while. I definitely couldn’t do that if I were in the main office.
When I need a bigger break, I go out for a bike ride in the nearby hills.
Also, at lunch time, I can cook something fresh, if I’m in the mood to do so.
Waves 🙂
Working at home gives me the greatest commute in the world. A few feet from my bed, to desk, to kitchen, and I feel almost no guilt when I walk for an hour or so during golden bathed world, the rest of the cars on the street are stuck in gridlock. for hours..suckers.
I love not being in a 72 degree noisy flourescent lit room, and the ability to have an awesome nap for however long when the afternoon hits, rather than struggling to get.
I love my sit+stand desk, a balance board, butcher block wood, comfy chair, a gazillion monitors. While not wool the butt ugly crocs are pretty comfy and so light I barely feel them on…but really I love my alpaca socks, they are big thick warm and like having a alpaca hugging you. I’ve recently started using a foot switch to offload work from my hands and the socks make it like a tactile massage.
Taking a brunch break. https://twitter.com/franklinwebber/status/509851599464714240
I have the chance to be allowed by my employer Alcatel to work at home twice days a week, and my greatest pleasure is the nap I can have just after lunch!
Also being able to dress like I want and bare foot.
Thanks for your guilty pleasures (and for reading!) 🙂 It’s interesting to me that it’s mostly the little (but important) things that people like about working from home: naps, breaks, quiet… I think employers vastly underestimate the joy, freedom, and productivity that working from home brings.