Kanata Chiropractic Centre

When office meets home

Posted by: Marcelle

“It takes struggle, a goal and enthusiasm to make a champion.”

That quote is from a man named Normal Vincent Peale, author of the book “The Power of Positive Thinking”.  It’s a good recipe he’s created, mixing challenge with ambition. But I’d like to suggest an addition:

“It takes struggle, a goal, and enthusiasm to make a champion, and a good workplace.”

All right, fine, the quote loses its elegance. But workplace is a vital component to success, as many of us know, and not only impacts our employment satisfaction but seeps into all areas of our life. After all, a huge slice of time is spent at the office.

There are many places to work from: the company’s office, the train, the car (think prepping during rush hour), the restaurant or coffee shop . . . but the one place that really combines business with all other areas of life is the ‘home office’.

Which brings me to today’s blog question: Is the home office a good thing?

You might immediately think, “Yes!”

Having a home office is the thing to do. All the decorating magazines advertise their home office lines, and if you head into IKEA you can even have their designers plan out your office for no charge (of course, you’ll probably buy all your furniture from them, but hey, they’re good at their jobs).

And maybe you think “Yes!” because it’s practical to have a place for bills, and paperwork, and all the issues that arise outside of work.

Or maybe you think “Yes!” because in a house filled with kids, pets, and a million distractions, an office is a place dedicated solely to your outside life.

So clearly my opinion is revealing itself. I do think the home office is a place that’s useful in a household. Whether you work from home or just need a place just to regroup your thoughts, the home office is a good tool for the well-functioning household.

Now I’ll flip the coin.

Sure, there’s no commute in a home office, no dress code, no manager, and no bad coffee (maybe). BUT what about getting out of the house? What about meeting people? What about escaping distractions like laundry, dishes, and daytime television? What about having a place of focus and support? And what about having a reason to dress up nicely, take a shower even?

And then there’s the issue of sleeping. You can have a passion, but is it a good thing to wake up at three am and start working on your projects? While the company is disconnected from your personal life, the ability to return to the home office is ever present – even on the weekends.

I currently work in both environments. Right now I’m writing from home. Other times I’m at my office and typing between client appointments.

What’s my final word? I’ve argued myself into a: “Yes, home offices are a good thing,” but I’d like to add an addition to that eloquent summary: “so long as the work doesn’t take over your life.” A healthy life-work balance is important to maintain.

What do you think? Home office: good or bad?  Do you have one, how has it impacted your life? Does it bring peace of mind, or add to the responsibilities? How do you manage your home office routines?

Please share your opinions. We’d love to hear them.

To your success!

Dr Marcelle

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