working in my pajamas gave me the time

I've been working in my pajamas (literally) for quite some time now.  I've shared, time and again, how happy I am with my current situation:  no traffic, no early morning hassles, more time for self and family, no office politics (well, not as much as the politics you encounter when you work face-to-face).

Recently, I've had another realization. Now that I'm working in my pajamas, I also have more time for friends.  In less that a month, I went to 2 class reunions, several lunches and dinners with friends and a weekend getaway. I can hardly email my friends when I was working in a regular corporate environment!

How is that possible?  I have, at a minimum, a 60-hour work week.  That's already 20 hours more than what is required in a corporate setting.

Well, let's do some math.  Bear with me, though.  This is my absolute "waterloo" - math, I mean.

By not going to a regular office, I am saving, daily:

• 1 hour in my morning rituals ( I used to need an hour and a half)
• 1-2 hours travel time to work
• 2 hours travel time to go home
• at least 3 hours in meetings

On the average, I have 7 hours extra on my hands since I started working in my pajamas.  That's 35 hours a week.  Which means that, if I go by my usual regular work hours I still have 15 hours free time, on top of my weekends.

But that's not it.  The beauty of working in my pajamas is that my time is my own.  I am able to control 99% of my time.  Depending on the personal demands, I can go easy and work through my weekend.  Or I can work double time so I can have my weekend free.  And with the extra 7 hours a day, there's a lot of leeway. 


All in all, I've been having a grand time.  I'm doing what I like doing working in my pajamas.  I'm learning a lot of things while working in my pajamas.  I'm earning my living while working in my pajamas.  I'm enjoying family and friends while working in my pajamas.

A dear friend said, not everyone is cut out for this type of work.  Maybe she's right.  Maybe she's not.  It's for you to explore.  Then, you decide.

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Will I Be Here to Eat the Mangoes

Of course that's a mango tree!  I don't need to tell you that. What I need to tell you is - that's not ours.  Before you even request that I bring you some.

That mango tree- heavy with flowers and baby mangoes - is the prized possession of my Mom's neighbor.  All I need to do is step out from my bedroom into the balcony, stretch my arms, and grab all the mangoes I can grab.

I know- some people would call that ...stealing? Well, not in this town. In this town, any fruit of your neighbors- that you can reach- is yours.  That's a law.  My Mom's law.  And I believe her.  Because in this town, that's everybody's law.

Since there's no threat that I would have to go to court for eating our neighbor's mangoes, I've been dreaming (and planning) of getting several of these succulent fruit.  There's only one problem.  They're not yet ready for stealing.  Sorry! I mean picking. 

Everyday, since I arrived here 12 days ago, I would step into the balcony, look at the tree and wonder- will I ever get to eat the fruit?

Looks like it.  Yes, I've been here for 12 days.  And I so badly need to go back to the city. But I'm only half-way through with my VA projects.  5 out of 10. I don't know if that's good or bad. All I know is that I'm getting the hang of it.  Learning so much.  Enjoying working-in-my-pajamas so much. Overusing my laptop so much (that doesn't sound right!) - but you get my drift.

I am yet to finish the VA projects.  But I will.  Soon! Probably in complete, perfect timing with the ripening of the mangoes.  I just need to keep on working. And visiting our neighbor's mango tree while I'm here.

I'll keep you posted.

In the meantime, check out Jomar Hilario's VA Seminars

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i'm not in pajamas

It's almost midnight but I'm still working.  If I stop now, I'll have to start all over again tomorrow.  I don't want to stop the flow of my thoughts.  I'm always like this when I'm designing a training program or preparing a presentation.  And I don't mind.  Would you mind doing what you love to do?

That doesn't mean I don't get tired.  I do. And I need to take short breaks.  I do that when I'm downloading or uploading a file.

I hop on a twister.

Or do some crunches.

That's why I have to do away with my pajamas.  The situation calls for cycling shorts.  And I'm still happy that 'I go to work in my cycling shorts'.

the problem with pajamas

By this time you already know I'm all gaga about pajamas-at-work.  I can give you a litany of the perks.  I've probably done that already.  But like everything else, working in pajamas - or working at home - has it's downside.  maybe i shouldn't call it 'downside'.  Let's be more positive and call it 'upside'.  (how creative!!!)

So, let me start over - the upside of 'working in pajamas' is that you have to police yourself.  You don't need to be in your cubicle at a certain time.  You don't have a boss who will check on your work all the time.  You have no officemates to egg you on when you don't feel like working.  You're on your own.

On your own, it's so very easy to slip into the no-schedules habit.  You go about your day with no plan, no end in mind.  You simply coast along, not knowing whether you are on target or not.  You keep yourself busy without being aware if you spent more time clearing your closet than actually working.  And then you cram.

The challenge of working from home, on your own, in your pajamas is - going about your day as if you have an 8-5 job.  Yes, 8-5.  You should have the normal 8 hours of work, with an hour of lunch break thrown in.  Unless it's absolutely necessary to work extra.  By necessary, I mean, you have more work to do.  Not because you dilly-dallied for days - then work yourself crazy to keep up with a project.

Just remember - you may be in your pajamas but you're still at work.  It's only a matter of geography.  And just like any other job, you need to produce results. Or you'll find yourself  RETIRED - in your pajamas.