Mobile Work-From-Home – Minnesota

I am thankful every day that I have the flexibility and opportunity to work from home sometimes. This comes in handy when I need to meet service people at my house, need to make to a doctor appointment near my house, need to let house guests in who arrive during the day, need to work and not infect co-workers in the office with my sickness, when there is a blizzard and I don’t feel like a 3-hour commute, or when I accidentally oversleep. I can be just as productive as I am in the office. I know not everyone has this option, but I am thankful that I have it.

So this year, I decided I needed a change of pace from my regular sitting on the couch upstairs, or sitting on my couch downstairs, or sitting at the desk in the make-shift office I never use. I’ve got a wi-fi enabled laptop, so I intend to use it. Some people go to a local coffee shop to work, but I personally don’t like coffee, and watching the parade of people can get too distracting for me. So I’ve decided to work at my friends’ houses. I can work just as well from their couch or dining room table as I can from my own. Was I worried about being distracted and not getting as much done? Yes, but I was willing to give it a shot and see what happens. I’ve worked from my parent’s house when I’ve had to make emergency trips back to Illinois, so this should be no different, right?

I’m not going to post every time I work from someone’s couch, but I wanted people to know this is a really fun and legitimate work option. In fact, I have friends who are now considering setting up times for friends to come over and work from their couches and maybe house-sit cats/dogs/jelly fish or meet service people they have coming over when they can’t be there. I think it’s a great idea, which is why I’m sharing it here.

I worked from my friends’ Trash and M.Giant’s couch and they set me up with a sweet card table and some snacks. Both these people work where I do, so it was a safe trial to see what I could get done. It worked out splendidly, since I had some face-time with Trash to discuss a project we were working on together.

I’ve also been severely spoiled by my good friend Margs. She also works from home and is a militant hospitality-ist (is that a word?). She’s got a comfy couch and was working right next to me on her own projects for her job. I brought my fuzzy slippers and made myself right at home.

Remember, I said she’s a super hospitality person? She made a mid-day snack of pierogis, which were fantastic. Totally not necessary not expected, but it ruled.

Then, she had some soup that she needed to use or throw away – again, I came in handy for that. Yeah, sure, I’ll eat delicious mushroom soup! And of course, I’ll eat some rolls with it. Happily.

I was always under the watchful eye of her cat, as well.

Finally, at the end of what turned out to be a super-productive day, she provided cocktails. Again, way above and beyond, but that’s Margs. She’s a giver and happy to have the company of another creature that sheds hair all over her couch.

Seriously, folks, look into this and see if any of your friends are up for hosting your mobile work-from-home campaign. I will be doing this all summer at various friends’ houses.

You’re welcome.