Bringing home the bacon, and never leaving the house

It's been a year since I started my work from home schedule. Four days a week I work out of my home office, and I commute in one day a week. It took a bit of adjustment in the beginning, but now that I've gone through a full twelve months, I have to admit that I wouldn't have it any other way. My working arrangement hasn't affected my performance, and more of my teammates are working from home at least two days a week. With Blackberries, virtual meetings, conference calls, and associates located all over the country, our work can really be done from anywhere. Some face time is good, and I really enjoy my time in the office. But I am more productive and focused at home, my day starts much earlier and I don't lose time commuting. More than once, I've sat in traffic, looking at the clock and thinking, "I could be working right now."

Some things I've learned in the last year:

- Stepping away from the computer is good. Because my office is steps away, I find myself drawn back to my desk, rather than taking breaks. Now, I close my door at the same time every day, spend time with my family, and go back to my home office later if I need to do anything additional in preparation for the next day.

- Responsiveness is key. I am lucky enough to have a company-issued Blackberry, which means that I can be in touch with the office at all times. My schedule is flexible, and I have school meetings, orthodontist and doctor appointments that mean time away from my "office." My work phone rings through to my Blackberry, and I always check and respond to email as soon as I can. I never wanted to hear that "she couldn't be reached because she works from home." I probably err too much in this area, because I often find myself checking and responding to emails during off-business hours as well. But if a minute out of my time means a quick answer to a teammate and less work the next day, it's worth the extra effort.

- It's important to get out of the house. There were times when I didn't leave the house for several days, and that's not healthy. I've rejoined our local gym so I'll go work out during lunch, or I'll run errands during that time. I need to remind myself that folks who commute into the office do the same thing, so it's ok to take that break.

Today was a beautiful, warm September day. I logged in around 7:00, got Sweet Pea on the bus at 8:10, and then worked until lunchtime. I went to the gym, had lunch and then participated in several conference calls. At 3:30 I picked up Sweet Pea at school, took her to her riding lesson at 4;30, and later checked email and did a bit more work. Another typical day.

Before I left to pick Sweet Pea up at school, I sat on the front steps in the sunshine, listening to Princess practice her guitar. I took a moment, warm, content. So lucky that I can work and still be there for my family.

I think I've found a balance. For now.