Amanda1981's Blog

Because skipping is fun.

amanda1981 — Wed, 03 Feb 2010 15:40:20 +0000

I just stumbled across this picture, and it made me wonder…how did we get to a point where we’re all “too cool” to do this sort of thing – or to do anything, for that matter?

Seems like people were much more authentic in days gone by. Back then, it was OK to say that something was “a glorious feeling” – and to skip around in the rain smiling so hard that your face might fall off – just because you were so damn happy.

Honestly, it’s all a bit exhausting sometimes…the posturing, the pretending that you’re excited about things you’re not, or pretending that you’re not excited about things that you are. If we were more genuine, we’d probably be a lot less exhausted.

A kindred spirit

amanda1981 — Mon, 07 Dec 2009 13:46:53 +0000

A few minutes ago, I looked out my office window to see a guy about my age in a yellow scarf trudging through the snow, looking very determined. Then, just now, I looked out the window again and saw him on his way home with a coffee in hand.

I’m not sure why, but I find this strangely comforting. I’m imagining that he’s a fellow work-from-homer, possibly only a few doors down from me. Have a good day, sir!

What a difference 7 days can make

amanda1981 — Thu, 19 Nov 2009 14:08:09 +0000

Last week was bad. Really bad. I didn’t go to the gym once, I didn’t cook a single meal (not counting putting frozen pizza in the oven), I was feeling hateful towards my apartment, and to be honest, I was pretty down in the dumps.

But the good news is that the many hours I spent in the car and on the train last weekend cured me. While sitting there for extended periods, traveling to and from Southwestern Ontario, I came up with a plan for the next week of my life – and it’s a pretty great plan, if I do say so myself. By sticking to that plan this week, I’ve seen how a) a routine and b) a few simple changes can make all the difference to my mood and productivity.

Here are the key elements of said plan:
- Don’t get so tired from weekend revelry that I’m exhausted on Monday morning
- Cook at home every night
- Go to the gym every day, around 4 PM, so that I get some exercise and then feel like coming home is my reward
- Use my netbook in the living room at night to catch up on favourite blogs, etc. (i.e. “fun” internet usage)
- DO NOT LOG INTO FACEBOOK UNTIL AFTER DINNER. PERIOD.

This last one has been key. I didn’t realize how much Facebook was making me feel empty inside. The endless cycle of clicking through photos and useless bits of information can really destroy your soul if you’re not careful. Seriously. By not logging in to Facebook until I’ve transitioned from work time to fun time, I keep my head clear for actual work, and I’m a hell of a lot more creative. (Side note: this article has a lot of really depressingly true things to say about FB.)

So, yeah. So far this week has been amazing. Funny how 5 little adjustments can make ALL the difference. I’m feeling inspired, healthy, and pleasantly domestic – and I don’t even care that I have mega allergies right now.

Oh yeah!

amanda1981 — Sun, 25 Oct 2009 16:18:22 +0000

So I’ve got a bit of a corporate vibe going in my home office thanks to my nifty new Skype headset. It makes me feel official and somewhat futuristic when I wear it.

I can’t say enough about the “hands free” thing…so much easier to take notes when talking to clients!

Deep thoughts by Jack Handey

amanda1981 — Mon, 19 Oct 2009 16:35:31 +0000

I think I can now say that I’ve fully adjusted to the working from home thing. Actually, not only have I adjusted to it – I officially love it in every way. Sure, I’ve had to tweak a few things along the way, like figuring out what time to “clock out” and how to fill my evenings in a pleasant way, but I think I’ve gotten the hang of it. Let’s just say that I wouldn’t trade the ability to eat lunch in front of the TV for any job, no matter how high-paying.

On another note, I was just washing the dishes and thinking how part of being OK with working from home has to do with being OK with opting out of the whole “corporate glamour” thing. This has been tough for me, because I really love the look of a pencil skirt and some amazing pumps. Part of me still yearns to dress that way every day, but I should probably admit to myself that that’s just not in my future if I want to be doing the work I love.

Cooking: who knew?!

amanda1981 — Tue, 06 Oct 2009 19:42:58 +0000

After years of resisting, I have taken up cooking. So far I have successfully created three delicious meals for Justin and myself. Last night I made fettuccine with lemon zest and rosemary in a cream sauce. SO GOOD. And right now I have a pan of corn bread in the oven. Corn bread!! What has become of me?!

The reason that I never cooked before is that I had an evil ex who made me feel bad about myself during my early attempts in the kitchen. Now, I’m enjoying it thoroughly, and I haven’t screwed anything up, either! I finally feel like a real woman. (Not very feminist of me, but hey, I’m not a feminist).

Tonight: Roasted Pork Tenderloin with Sage Corn Bread Crust. Yahoo!

Take that!

amanda1981 — Tue, 29 Sep 2009 15:04:29 +0000

Feeling a bit more hopeful after speaking to a friend who has successfully navigated the unemployment insurance waters. I put in a powercall to the appropriate government office and changed some info on my application. I now expect to receive some money, although I’ll probably have to wait a few more weeks to get it.

Down to business on a new client website today. Wearing an honest-to-goodness sweater (i.e., not just a cardigan over a tank top or something) for the first time this month. Also on the agenda for today: gym and 5:45 PM haircut. Yes.

amanda1981 — Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:02:31 +0000

Today I’m feeling so unmotivated, defeated, and sore throat-y that I’m tempted to crawl into bed with my Jean Auel book, have a nice long nap, and do no work whatsoever.

On Friday I found out that I’m ineligible for unemployment insurance because I put down on my application that I want to work for myself full-time instead of getting a job working for someone else. How very helpful of them to dissuade entrepreneurship like this. Jerks.

It’s happening again.

amanda1981 — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 15:20:41 +0000

I have to take down my LinkedIn status saying I’m scouting for new clients. It has now gotten me two potential work offers that would involve working on-site in an office. I must be sending mixed messages to the universe. But last night I created my above-desk inspiration board, so hopefully that will get me back to the pro-entrepreneurship, anti-job vibration level I need to be on.

Yes, I am writing about vibration levels. I’m getting all new-agey, aren’t I?

Human factors

amanda1981 — Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:47:08 +0000

I’ve decided that there are a few different factors that contribute to my level of satisfaction/dissatisfaction over the course of a day working at home. And because I will concede that in order to improve something, you need to measure it, I’ve decided to keep track of this stuff.

So far, I’ve come up with the following list of things that I suspect may influence how I’m feeling:
- Feeling like I’ve accomplished something measurable (i.e. completed a task or mini-project vs. just working on the same huge project that seems to never end and that therefore gets tedious)
- Knowing vs. not knowing what my plans are for the evening (e.g. do I know whether I’m going out for dinner, or do I have no idea what my night will hold)
- Having left the house or having NOT left the house yet during a given day (read: cabin fever)
- Having exercised or not exercised yet during a given day (clearly exercise is wise)
- What I’ve eaten
- Whether I have to have a business-related phone call with someone (as a rule, I dread these)
- Whether I have client work to do vs. just my own projects to work on
- How quiet the preceding weekend was (i.e. did I not go out and just fall asleep on the couch on both Friday and Saturday nights?)

So I figure I’ll track the factors listed above for every weekday, and then measure my happiness levels at four times during the day:
- Early morning/start of work (~8:30)
- Late morning/before lunch (~11:45)
- Mid afternoon (~3:00)
- End of work day (~4:45)

It feels good to have a plan.