I Go on Vacation While Working in My Pajamas

You got that right: vacation and work all in one breath.  How is that possible?

I don't know about other work-at-home people.  Me, I'm having the time of my life, enjoying the flexibility that comes with my work-at-home job (or jobs, to be more accurate).

What am I talking about?

Well, for starters, let's look at my 50-hour per week job.  Yes, that's 50 hours - minimum.  That's nothing compared to my 80-hour work weeks while I was killing myself in a corporate environment. Add to that the 16-20 hours travel time to and from the office and the 10 hours getting-ready-for work, I was left with a measly 58 hours for everything not related to work.  No wonder I kept having nightmares (if I got to sleep at all) about getting a life.  Let's not even touch the issue of travels - those stressful long waits at the airport, the scary midnight trips to wherever, and the times spent packing and unpacking.  My lifestyle was contained in a suitcase.

Oh, yes, there was variety.  But, flexibility?  Not much. 

True, I got to see places, met people, ate local food.  But, for years, I never really had a real vacation - one that's not squeezed into a busy work schedule, one when you can turn off your phone, when you don't need to hunt for a local cafe to check emails.

Things have changed.  Now, I continue to work a lot but, as I am (almost) my own boss, I get to control my time.  I don't juggle anymore.  I simply put work, vacation and other things into more manageable schedules.  No mixing. Simply enjoying:  enjoying my work when I'm working and enjoying my vacation when I'm vacationing.

Proof?

The Cagsawa Ruins.  I've passed this area once or twice during official trips.  Never have any pictures because there was no time to stop and take some.  Not anymore

i never even saw this gate before

never got the chance to be amazed

a ruin that's still standing!!!

history!  not just a page in a book

will this hold up

look at those weeds at the top

what used to be a church entrance?

somewhere in there was the altar

how can something dead be alive?

and be there to be enjoyed

mayon, seemingly ashamed for having caused things to die.  yet, still standing - proud, eternally beautiful - a reminder that nothing's permanent....

Yes, I've traveled this way before.  And I thank God for making me pass this way again - as a work-at-home - able to arrange my schedules so I can have time to...take pictures.

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Who Says Working in My Pajamas is a New Career?

I thought, when I decided to work in my pajamas, that I have opted for a new career altogether.  Big mistake!

Training to Work in My Pajamas.

True!  I set out to be a virtual assistant.  I went on training to be one.  I attended Jomar Hilario's Virtual Assistant Seminar.  Jomar offers two virtual assistant workshops: face-to-face and the downloadable version.

I wanted to see how an on-line VA training would go.  It went really well.  The materials were clear and concise.  I was done with the workshop in less than 4 hours.  But that's not all.

The training was hands-on.  There were assignments.  And I got to learn on my own.  My, how I learned!  With the simple steps, I was able to submit my assignment on time.  I created my blog the 'VA Essentials'.  I got the hang of it, I actually did another blog 'got carried away'.

Working in My Pajamas as a Newbie.

I started out with an on-line writing job. 

Who would have thought? Somewhere deep inside me was this desire to write.  I know I have poems and short stories filed away in some boxes.  For years, I never found the time to really write.  Except for those memos, project papers and reports, I never got to the kind of writing that would make me feel I'm doing something that I love.

But that's not all.  You see, as one of Jomar's trainees, I was able to join his FB group.  In that group, you'll find all kinds of posts for on-line jobs.  There was this post that no one seemed to be taking notice of.  You know why?  The employer was looking for someone 'extraordinary'.

Scary!  I don't think I'm extraordinary.  But the job requirements seemed to suit me to a T.  I thought, "Why not? What have I got to lose?".

Guess what?  I got the job.  It was a short project but I got the time of my life.  It paid well.  The hours were flexible I was able to continue writing.  And my boss was....extraordinary.    He left some really extraordinary feedback in my oDesk profile.  Projects started to flow in from then on.

Doing What I Love Doing While Working in My Pajamas.

It's amazing how things started to fall into the right places after that one extraordinary stint with an extraordinary man.  Now, I'm doing two things I love doing - two things that has been the highlight of my corporate career : Training and Recruitment.

Yes, I do everything on line.  I work in my pajamas helping people find jobs.  I work in my pajamas designing training materials to help people succeed in their jobs.

By working in my pajamas, I did not change career.  I only changed locations.  I can work anywhere, in fact.  I never have to go on leave to take care of personal things.

I have a career.  And I don't need to be in corporate clothes to do what I love to do.  I'm a happy, career woman - in pajamas.

And I continue to write...

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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my pajamas at work

It's been a long time since I've touched this blog.  One would think my pajamas went on a long vacation again.

Not this time.

This time, my pajamas went to work.  And my, what work!  The only difference from my corporate life is I'm home.  My work hours are the same - long, busy.

But wait!  How come the word stress doesn't even come to mind?  I work long hours but I'm not stressed?  And I have time to eat, exercise and do house work?  I even found time to have a room converted into a home office.  (I should blog about this).

There's something to be said about working from home.

Every morning I wake up, refreshed.  I get 6-8 hours of sleep.  A rare thing when I was employed elsewhere.

There's no morning rush.  So, I have time to stay in bed, feeling the morning sun seep in from the east and the cool wind from the west.  I have time to lay still and thank God for the chirping of the birds and the swaying of the tree leaves right outside my window.

Then, I reach out for my bible-for my spiritual nourishment.  I get up and I actually have time to make up my bed.

My morning ritual has gotten really simple.  No need to dress-up.  No need for make-up.  No hair dryers or iron plates.

Breakfast is leisurely.  Not the usual crackers and banana that you bite into while driving.

I've started to enjoy my bathroom rituals since I started working from home.  I actually have time to look at the mirror while brushing my teeth. 

You know what I love the  most? Getting dressed! Shorts and comfortable tees.  And pajamas!  Flipflops instead of shoes.  No need for a purse or a handbag.  All I need to do is cross over - a couple of steps, maximum three- from my bedroom to my home office.

How about work?  Well, this is the biggest surprise.  I thought I would have to give up my career altogether while working from home.  I thought the work-from-home career is for virtual assistants, writers and IT people only.  Big mistake!

After a really short stint as a personal assistant, now I'm doing (on line) two of the things I love doing the  most: recruitment and training.  Yes! Training.

Another wonderful surprise is the new friendships I've started to develop via Skype.  If you're a bonafide breathing, feeling human being, you just can't stay impersonal for long.  Somehow, the need for a more personal interaction comes into the picture.  No physical interaction-true.  But emotional bonding is possible. 

What is it to you?  Well, it's an option.  You're not trapped in your current cubicles.  You don't need to continue hating your life the minute you open your eyes from sleep (or the lack of it). 

I'm not going to tell you that you'll have time for family 24 hours a day.  You will be working.  You're just at home.  Just a shout away in case of emergencies.  With more free time because you'll save on travel and getting ready for work.

A lot of people still cannot imagine what I'm doing.  I'm at home but I'm working.  I get paid in dollars and the money goes straight to my bank account. I get paid while working in my pajamas.  And I get to learn while I work. 

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my pajamas is in japan

I haven't posted in this blog for some time.  I got busy with some small projects and getting a visa.  A visa for Japan - yes!  That was a long shot. But I got myself a 3-month visa. On sponsorship, of course.

This is the beauty of working from home.  Or working in your pajamas.  I don't need to go on leave for the 3 months I'll be out of the country.  I may be in thicker, warmer pajamas.  But I'm still in my pajamas.  Working.

I get to walk every morning here

or here

 

sometimes here

Sometimes I bike to see this view

Oftentimes,I walk by this river (Edogawa) which is pretty close to my sister's house

I take really long walks everyday.  But I'll be home early mid-morning.  Working.  In my pajamas.

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my pajamas got 'TESTED'

My pajamas finally got to take the oDesk tests.  And my pajamas got some real 'testing'.  Whew!  Talk of pressure!  My pajamas got really wrinkled and soiled as my mind went through the grueling test questions. I don't remember getting this kind of pressure taking all those college tests.  Not even those employment screening exams.  Or maybe they were too long ago, I can hardly remember.

And that's one of the lessons my pajamas learned after taking all 13 tests.  Never assume that any test is easy.  You may have passed them before.  But the mind has a way of  'resting' and 'relaxing'.  The mind forgets what it has learned, especially when the lessons are not being used for quite a time. 

My pajamas refused to get flustered, though.  Look at my test results.

You might say, so what?  Well, if you're interested in working in your pajamas, working and earning from home-no traffic, no toxic work environment, having more time for self and family- these exams could just be your ticket.

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Needless to say, I'm happy working in my pajamas.  Right this very minute, I'm working wearing my green shorts and white shirt, with the river and some fruit trees providing me with a very relaxing view.  And I can still chat with my niece.  I don't even have to comb my hair (unless I have an online meeting). But I did brush my teeth - hello!

today is the day

Today is the day my assignments are due.  I was supposed to have finished everything a week ago.  After all, all my tutorials are done.  I only had the Odesk and the Brainbench exams to finish.  Unfortunately, I was unable to focus on these since March 11.

What's March 11?

(from ww.itn.co.uk)

That's March 11! The 9.0 quake that stunned the world and shook a lot of families.  Including us.

joz, vej, zaj

Those are my nieces.  Staying with their Mom and Dad in Chiba-ken.  Since the quake, we were constantly monitoring them and finding ways to get them home.  There was no way I could have taken the Odesk and Brainbench exams.  Not until after they're back home with us - which was last Saturday.

So, I've been cramming since March 21.  Reviewing all my assignments and finally, taking some Odesk exams. I have a few hours left.  I will make sure Jomar gets this before sunrise tomorrow. That's a promise. Or today will be the day I will hate myself.  For letting go of an opportunity to keep on working in my pajamas.

it's back to reality for my pajamas

I'm done with my 10 VA Projects.  Hallelujah! I just need to finish the ODesk materials.  Then I'm heading back to the city.  Tomorrow, hopefully.

My pajamas went through a really challenging 2 weeks.  Almost three, actually.  A lot of late nights.  Gallons of coffee.  Forgetting lunch sometimes.  Wearing pajamas everyday. I just might need a new pair of pajamas. And a new pair of eye glasses.  And a new laptop with bigger screen! I've been using this computer.  I don't need to tell you how challenging it can be.

But my pajamas are happy.  It was very exciting for them I'm sure.  Venturing into something new.  Learning so many useful tools.  Testing writing (and reading) skills. Trying to be creative.  Researching like crazy. Forgetting Facebook.  Well, not exactly.  Having less Facebook - that would be more accurate.

I'm not sure if my pajamas are eager to go back to city life.  It's kind of nice out here.  But my pajamas know - this is not reality.  I would still work in my pajamas.  It will just have to be somewhere else.

my pajamas got sidetracked

I was supposed to finish my Odesk assignments - still in my pajamas.  Unfortunately, my pajamas got sidetracked.  And I'm not complaining.  Sometimes things happen and you just have to rearrange your priorities.

The recent Japan disaster had my whole family reeling.  When family members are in the midst of such monstrous distractions, everything else will have to be laid aside.  I hardly had the time to open any site except for FB as this was the only form of communication we had for a couple of days. 

Now the worst seems to be over for Tokyo.  But something's wrong with my internet connection. It's been intermittent for days.  I'm getting really frustrated.  I remember how internet connections went awry after the Indonesia quake.Or was that Taiwan?

Well, there's not much I can do.  It's waiting time for my pajamas. 

my pajamas went on leave again

This time, it's an emergency leave.  I spent almost the whole day with my niece. Helped her finished 22 assignments.  That's not the hard part.  The hard part was I was doing the tutoring online.

That's my niece.  Her name's Vej.  And she's in Tokyo.

Well, I was able to work (some) while she's busy with her homework.  I was unable to accomplish much today - not in terms of my own assignments.  But I am more than willing to do this again with her.  Especially because she's not keen on homework.  But for some reason,  she didn't mind working on them today.

It's probably because of the novelty of doing it online. Or maybe because she's always more behaved with me - her favorite Tita.  Or because she was having so much fun working on her schoolwork.

• I gave her stars for each task that she did - a total of 150 stars!
• We would do shoulder and head rolls together - in between each homework
• I let her sing and dance when she can't seem to finish what she's doing
• She got to choose (for my approval) what she ate 

I am sure she had fun - we had to force her to go offline and go to bed.

And it wasn't a whole day leave for my pajamas.  While she was doing schoolwork, I was able to finish another tutorial - How To Use Evernote.

Am looking forward to more days like this.  Another proof of how good it is to 'go-to-work-in-pajamas'