WomenCo.

I hear you! I really disliked working from home. I like the face-to-face interaction. Even when I go on vacation I miss my coworkers.

I have to say, I worked at a company that had a fantastic work-life balance, because everybody basically worked from home. Eventually all the unmarried, more outgoing employees left, because they missed the camaraderie of being with co-workers.

So Toni, I don't think you're going crazy, it's just tough to strike that balance.

That's why I belong to a network group that I actually have to get dressed and go to! So many of the women there say the same thing - this can often be their one day a month where they put on makeup! It also keeps me insprired.

Melissa,
That is exactly what I do! I don't get dressed like I would for the office, but I shower, put on a little makeup and put on some comfortable clothes. Works wonders.

I have soooooo many friends through my work! I work with women empowering women. I love them all and get to be online with or on the phone with many of them every day! I don't miss co-workers in the corporate world - all the cattiness and gossip. It's too much for a woman to be excited about life and energized with that negative atmosphere. Needless to say . . . I DON'T MISS THE OFFICE . . . I love my own.

I wondered about this...I am venturing out to be a Home office kind of gal....and am very social.....we shall see how this pans out!!! 

I share many of your sentiments. I worked in an office for 5 years before shifting to a home office about 3 years ago. The transition and adjustment period was difficult, partly because there were many large changes happening in the same time period. It's taken me about this long to finally start loving working at home and start figuring out some of the kinks. My formula for success goes something like this. I'm out of bed by 6am. Take my dog for a quick half mile to one mile walk. At that time in the morning the weather is cool and the neighborhood is quiet so it's a great way to start the day. Then I shower. Showering is a must! I used to start my day at 6am by checking email and by the time I was done with conference calls and such it was 4pm and I hadn't looked in a mirror since I rolled out of bed. Bad, bad, bad!! Anyway, I make me some strong coffee and have a light breakfast, like toast. Sometimes, if I get an early start I will read a chapter of a good book or read a Time magazine. That's another thing. Working from home can feel so isolated, so I noticed how energized and connected I feel when I travel on business. So I brought some of that feeling home by using only Starbucks coffee to brew and subscribing to a few select magazines like Time, Glamour and People. Having that particular information available, in that medium, is very comforting to me. I generally work throughout the day and take a short lunch downstairs. I do take breaks to check on my blog and networking sites like WomenCo from time to time. This is what I call my water cooler time. I don't run into co-workers in the hall and have a chat anymore, so I create something in its place to get the social need met. Finally, topics or articles that would be interesting to co-workers in other offices and make it a point to proactively send them a note (email or IM) to say hi, and send them a link. I only send the email or message to one person. It's very individual and personal. You don't get the same type of response if you copy 12 people. I call this my elevator conversations. I don't limit my messages to peers. I also contact managers and people in other organizations. With all of that going on, it suffices to have a friendly chat with neighbors in the evening or call my sister on the phone. Finally, I took my home office out of my bedroom!! It has it's own dedicated room now. I pick an end-time for my day according to my schedule. And I mute the computer, leave the room and close the door behind me!  You have to leave your office to be able to keep a balanced life. That has been very important to me. Sorry for the LONG response! I hope someone finds this helpful.

NormaP says ...

I share many of your sentiments. I worked in an office for 5 years before shifting to a home office about 3 years ago. The transition and adjustment period was difficult, partly because there were many large changes happening in the same time period. It's taken me about this long to finally start loving working at home and start figuring out some of the kinks. My formula for success goes something like this. I'm out of bed by 6am. Take my dog for a quick half mile to one mile walk. At that time in the morning the weather is cool and the neighborhood is quiet so it's a great way to start the day. Then I shower. Showering is a must! I used to start my day at 6am by checking email and by the time I was done with conference calls and such it was 4pm and I hadn't looked in a mirror since I rolled out of bed. Bad, bad, bad!! Anyway, I make me some strong coffee and have a light breakfast, like toast. Sometimes, if I get an early start I will read a chapter of a good book or read a Time magazine. That's another thing. Working from home can feel so isolated, so I noticed how energized and connected I feel when I travel on business. So I brought some of that feeling home by using only Starbucks coffee to brew and subscribing to a few select magazines like Time, Glamour and People. Having that particular information available, in that medium, is very comforting to me. I generally work throughout the day and take a short lunch downstairs. I do take breaks to check on my blog and networking sites like WomenCo from time to time. This is what I call my water cooler time. I don't run into co-workers in the hall and have a chat anymore, so I create something in its place to get the social need met. Finally, topics or articles that would be interesting to co-workers in other offices and make it a point to proactively send them a note (email or IM) to say hi, and send them a link. I only send the email or message to one person. It's very individual and personal. You don't get the same type of response if you copy 12 people. I call this my elevator conversations. I don't limit my messages to peers. I also contact managers and people in other organizations. With all of that going on, it suffices to have a friendly chat with neighbors in the evening or call my sister on the phone. Finally, I took my home office out of my bedroom!! It has it's own dedicated room now. I pick an end-time for my day according to my schedule. And I mute the computer, leave the room and close the door behind me!  You have to leave your office to be able to keep a balanced life. That has been very important to me. Sorry for the LONG response! I hope someone finds this helpful.

This was VERY helpful to see how your day goes and what you do to feel more in the loop of the old life!  Loved the way you wrote this.  I will immediately start showering as I discover my whole day feels funny when I am not fresh and dressed!!  It certainly puts a pattern into a day I spend mostly by myself!

I can certainly relate to the cattiness and people who try to stifle all of the good things you do on your job.  It's hard to give your 110% when there are others who refuse to allow it and sabotage the things you do to move up in the ranks.  I really, really don't miss that.  I always knew I wanted to be on my own and make my own success, without limits.  As far as not having contact with people, it's my job to make contacts wherever I go, and I do.  I've met some great people that way!  My job, as a Pure Romance consultant, gives me the opportunity to dress up, educate and empower women and I LOVE IT!!  Being with other women in a social setting while I'm working (it really doesn't feel like work) makes my job so enjoyable that I can't wait for my next gathering.  I can learn anything I feel is necessary to enhance the information I give and they genuinely appreciate my presence.  Plus, it's an excellent way to fully support myself and give myself a raise just by putting a few extra hours in.  What I put in, I get out.  What more can I ask for?

I miss the crazy office gossip...I loved to hear what was happening with everyone...so I call some co-workers and snail mail them...and even text to connect...but I DO NOT miss the office politics!

Well, I'm on the other side and I work outside my home. I totally agree with Lisa Russell. Some people are just too much to deal with or not worth dealing with at all. I work in one of those chatty, socializing offices........drives me nuts. I just want to do my work and get out of there as quickly as possible. I'm almost 60 and my tolerance level has gone way, way down. I couldn't care less what everyone did over the weekend or the night before. Unless there's a mandatory gathering, I socialize with people outside my office. Sorry if I sound bitter.......guess I am a little. I want to do something I like and am good at. I'd like to do that at home without excessive distractions. First, though, I'll have to work on finding something that I have a passion for and not just something to make a living......still looking :O)

Minnie