Why I Chose the Freedom of My Office Away from Home (And Why It May Not be for You)

I love working in my office away from home. I said it. I feel like I’m standing in a support group and voicing a personal truth against skeptical faces, but I said it. Stacked next to a vast majority of professionals, my story may be a little different.

Certum Solutions had an office from 2012 to 2015, when my husband was relocated to Charlotte, N.C., and I dove into work from home (WFH) without looking back. I had the conversations about how WFH was less professional than office work, and I vehemently disagreed — and still do. Where and how you work is not something that is one-size-fits-all. It’s a personal fit, but one that should not be up for questioning or discussion by anyone (unless you happen to forget you have no pants on and get up while on camera. No one needs to see that.).  

Once COVID hit, both of us worked from home and split up the parental duties, as well as managed work meetings, virtual classes, and everything else. It was difficult work, but I loved it. I taught my son how to read, and how to count money (have to say, that came quite naturally), and my children got to see how I run my business. There were definite upsides. Not to mention, my husband makes a mean Belgian waffle (I’m not the cook in the family, but I do bake). 

Now, our children are returning to school. My daughter started earlier this year, and my son goes back next year. As my daughter would get ready in the morning and we would drop her off, the familiarity and novelty of these morning routines gently reminded us of what used to be, and I decided I wanted to return to it. I missed the Starbucks runs, the camaraderie, and being able to hold a real meeting without silently cursing when my internet flickered and canceled my connection. 

Decisions, Decisions — Commercial Real Estate

Looking over the commercial real estate availability, I evaluated flex space, vs. an accessory dwelling unit (ADU), vs. a full-on lease or purchase. I even looked at purchasing a neighboring home as a large ADU. To be honest, leasing an actual space, with an actual lease, with an actual landlord was last on my list. In my head, an actual office would cost more than flex space, so I looked there first. That was until I received the quote for two executive closet-sized offices (under 100 sq ft apiece), almost an hour from home after the commute… $3000 + common area maintenance (CAM).

Hold the phone. That’s a big nope. 

Given the tumultuous markets and the uncertainty of being able to liquidate/sell a long-term holding, I revisited the commercial listings and found an amazing building with the flavor of a home, but with the prestige of an office, complete with a sign, a welcoming façade, and a better Google ranking thanks to our sign and physical location. Lease price was very reasonable (including utilities) with a one-year commitment. Twenty-two minutes from home, in the heart of town. Decision made! 

Sold! Or in this case, leased.  

We moved in just prior to March 1, and the first month was a flurry of excitement, meetings, photo sessions, and moving in — the last part admittedly being my least favorite. The costs of outfitting the office were minimal since we didn’t need to do any personal build-out other than paint.  

The bursting work closets at home were relieved of duty and became personal closets again. I have my routine back. I get to buy professional pants again, and honestly, I love picking out my outfit every day and going through the routine of mentally preparing for my day. 

While COVID changed so many lives, in a small way I feel like I’m claiming mine back. 

I recently networked with the CPA firm next door (while walking to our cars), and we are building a great relationship that would not have happened in a digital-only world.

My productivity and efficiency shot through the roof now that I’m not trying to handle Amazon deliveries, laundry beeps, pets, and other distractions throughout the day. That being said, I love getting to see the cameos of our colleague’s children and pets, and they see mine on the days I work from home. Yes, that still happens on occasion, and I love seeing everyone’s personality shine through. 

Maybe I sound like Cruella for not wanting to work from home, while the rest of the world is reveling in this newfound cultural phenomenon, but listen to the other side. At the end of the day, I get to shut down and leave my computer at the office. I do not have a computer at home any longer, or Microsoft Teams. I have my emergency iPad, which I jump on in case of emergencies, but otherwise, it stays in my bag.

Freedom and Feeling – A Work/Life Balance that Works for Me 

While gas prices are admittedly high, I drive 10 miles away from the nearest incorporated town, listen to great tunes or podcasts, go up my driveway, watch my chickens and dogs coming to greet me, say hi to my amazing children and husband that I love dearly, and relax. My kindle is getting used again because I’m not being tempted to overwork, due to not being able to do much during the day. 

The evenings are spent in my garden, where I recently harvested my lettuce and rotated in squash for the summer. I’m trying no till this year and am about to start working on prepping for the fall garden. I go inside the house, work on laundry while watching my son swim in the pool, and eat dinner as a family with my daughter, son, and husband, where we discuss the happenings of the day and what we are doing tomorrow. I wrap up my day with a book in my bedroom that no longer has a camera pointed into it, and I store sweaters and blankets where my desk used to be. My easel is out of the attic and in the corner, where a blank canvas sits, waiting on me to finish the circle and return to an old hobby that, funny enough, made me a better writer and accountant. 

This is my bliss, and as near to heaven as one can get on Earth for me. 

Working from an Office May Not be for Everyone 

That being said, I also acknowledge that working from an office is not the best fit for everyone, and a hybrid setup may work better for others. Our sales team, for example, thrives in a remote environment. Side note: I know a few companies that use “war rooms,” or long stretches of Zoom conferences, in order to work collaboratively when it becomes necessary. I find this intriguing.  

As humans, we are given 24 hours in a day. It’s how it was a century ago, how it was a decade ago, how it is today, and how it will be tomorrow. While we can use automation and tech to help with a lot of this, we need to be kind to ourselves. We all work differently, and that’s how it will always be. Whether you work from home and set routines up for family vs. work time, or work from an office and make a routine of the mental switch from physical location to location, I wish for you the ability to spend the uninterrupted quality time with family and have the intellectual rigor of your profession keep you stimulated and fulfilled at work.  

We cheapen our lives when we try to do too much, and the lost days of waking up, working for what seems like five minutes, and then going to bed is not sustainable. 

So, What is the Fix?

I harken back to some advice my father gave me in high school that still holds true today. Make a time budget. Block off your responsibilities, and if you are overbooked, then figure out what you can take away. Create routine. Cherish the small moments, and occasionally don’t try to fill them. Make work time work time, and family time family time, and focus on what helps you perform the best at both while keeping your mental health high. 

I still see our society amid a cultural shift, and they don’t typically happen smoothly. Dust is still settling, but we are getting there. At 40, I have been around long enough to know that many of us are trying to find the perfect answer, but life is a moving target with a myriad of answers, and we must find the right solution for ourselves. 

Physical location, or the lack thereof, doesn’t change having control over our day. But finding how to work within your own personal parameters in order to feel fulfilled and live your best life will pay you back in spades.