Right now I (Helena) work from home. It's incredibly convenient to have a job that I can do from home and get paid by the hour. At the same time, it is a bit difficult to get time off when many other things are demanding your attention ...
My job at the moment
I have done an assignment for Gävle University from home, but it is (largely) finished. Now I have another assignment from Karolinska Institutet, which I can do from home and charge by the hour. I am translating and culturally adapting an American health programme. It's actually a perfect job right now, as we're travelling a lot and I would find it difficult to be in a workplace full time.
At the same time, it's a bit difficult to work from home sometimes. The blog of course takes time and there are always other things to do: laundry and dishes and errands and stuff like that. And then, of course, the sun on the deck! Yesterday I took my backpack and went for a walk to ICA Maxi at Lindhagensplan, past Hornsberg beach where it was full of sunbathing people.
Headaches ... and a big yacht
It's not all gold and green forests all the time either. Peter has occasional problems with back pain and I often have problems with headaches and migraines. I could write my own blog about the misery, but I don't want to do that ...
But, as I said, headaches are boring to write about, so instead I'll show you this large yacht that has been moored at Hornsberg beach for a few weeks. Walking past yesterday, I couldn't help but listen to a conversation between a son (aged 12) and his father, both of whom looked relatively well-off.
Son: - Dad, can we afford to rent that for a week?
Father: - NO
Johnny Friskilä says:
Hehe, sitting at home and culturalising American texts is something I have also done. Or maybe rather, corrected translations that were not directly culturally adapted. 🙂
07 July 2016 - 8:14
Åsa says:
I need some discipline to work from home, but it has its advantages. I've just started working now and have to commute to Lisbon. So far I think it's fun and exciting, but in the long run it's a bit too much with all the travelling time. I'm sorry to hear about different pains. Away with it!
07 July 2016 - 8:28
Mr Steve says:
Working from home is certainly convenient, but it requires some discipline when there are so many other attractions around the corner.
It looks rather sterile with the grass squares in the yacht picture. Much nicer in the first picture.
I wonder what questions that 12-year-old will ask when he turns 18.
07 July 2016 - 9:05
Rosita says:
Ouch for the evil. Hope things get better soon. Like you, I also work mostly from home - but on a full-time basis. The best thing for me is not having to use transport. Even though it is quite affordable for me to get to Rådmansgatan, I still save 90-100 minutes/day by working from home (about 3 days/week). Another similarity - I translate or, like Johnny above, proofread translated American texts to be culturally adapted to the Swedish market. I work directly with Miami and there are some late nights because of the time difference - it's nice to be able to work from home. But soon the catalogue production will be finished - then the focus will be on the "regular" writing job - web, blog (job blog), ads, social media, newsletters).
"Get well soon" and a wave from another homeworker.
07 July 2016 - 9:09
nils-åke hansson says:
I have only worked from home for a short time when I was involved in programming a configurator to get some peace and quiet. Otherwise, I have refused to be connected at home to work.
What a wonderful time we have now!
07 July 2016 - 9:32
Ditte says:
It sounds great to be able to work from home and maybe later on while travelling. benefit and pleasure.
I realise that it takes some discipline to get it done, but if there is a deadline it is easier.
I have only worked from home a few times, but on the other hand I have found it useful to separate work and leisure. But a combo would be good.
I hope your migraine and Peter's back pain goes away because it puts a damper on a lot of things.
And today is another beautiful and cloudless summer day. Just enjoy!
07 July 2016 - 9:47
Goatfish says:
Working from home has its pluses and minuses. As with everything else 😉
I myself have always sat in an office, if you call it a home office, so the furthest I can go is that I have been connected to Stockholm and also to Skåne. Today, 10 years later, it's nothing remarkable at all.
Everyone has cramps, more or less. Life is up and down. Sometimes you need a creepy-crawly hug, that's just the way it is 😀.
Sunshine greetings! 😀
07 July 2016 - 9:49
Anette says:
Working from home gives you a lot of freedom but also requires some discipline.
I now work part-time ? full-time two months a year. Luxuriously worse ?
07 July 2016 - 10:30
Across the board says:
Working from home has advantages and disadvantages and requires discipline. Good luck to you
07 July 2016 - 11:01
Sofie - Country life with three little ones says:
A: Well, I won't say I hate technology, but it's just that I'm always so far behind that by the time I get something, it's already old and replaced by something new in terms of phones, TV, music and everything else....
Not easy being young but still old!
Have a nice day!
07 July 2016 - 11:05
admin says:
Johnny, how nice that you have done similar work! I haven't worked with this kind of thing before, but it's a good fit now both logistically and because I'm familiar with the subject area.
Åsa, how do you go to Lisbon and how long does it take? Can understand that it's fun now for a change with a job!
Steve, the square metres right there at the quay are a bit more "sterile". But overall I think it's very nice at Hornsberg beach!
Rosita, thank you so much for the get well greeting! Glad that we work with similar things and that you also work at home! By the way, it sounds like you have a fun and varied job. Wishing you a continued nice summer!
Nils-Åke, I have often thought it was good to go away to a workplace, but now that we are travelling so much it would be difficult. So now I am very happy for this job 🙂 .
Ditte, it is very practical to be able to work from home right now and I completely agree with you about the deadline. I don't have one right now, which probably makes it a bit difficult, haha. I do not work full days, but at least try to get a few hours together every day, maybe half days or so.
Geddfish, it does have its pluses and minuses. Agreed, everyone has their ailments and you have to find ways to deal with them or relate to them. Sometimes the headaches get better, but sometimes I get stuck in long hard periods when I don't know how to get out of it, Thanks for your greeting and comment!
Anette, nice to be able to work part-time sometimes. I also do it now, even if it would have been better financially if I worked a little more 😉.
Criss-cross, that's right! Thank you very much!
Sofie, haha, I can also be late when it comes to new technology. I like technology when I know it, but I find the learning phase hard... 😉.
07 July 2016 - 11:07
Emma, sun like sun? says:
Being able to work from home is perfect, but as everyone says, it requires discipline. Not just by the worker, but by the whole family!
It is so easy to go and start talking about small things in the middle of the other person's work! Of course, the best thing would be to have an office in a completely different part of the house or your own little house/shelter, but those facilities don't exist. So the fact remains that sometimes you have to bite your tongue in order not to disturb or bite your tongue every time you are disturbed.
07 July 2016 - 11:25
Role o Carina says:
I would like to work a few hours from the motorhome!
Remaining hours explore Europe 🙂
Take care.......
07 July 2016 - 11:57
Ama de casa says:
It's great to be able to work from home. I did it sometimes before, and full-time for a couple of years as well. It was extra good then when we moved here to Torrevieja and the office was in Kista. Liiite far to commute 😉
Now - as being Ama de casa - I work at home instead of from home 🙂 ).
07 July 2016 - 13:41
Cattis says:
Being able to work from home every day would be perfect...today I can do it once in a while and love every day it works! Sad with migraines...have a partner who has the same problem.
I fully understand that other things are tempting during the days though...how wonderful to be able to enjoy such views!:)
07 July 2016 - 18:08
Deciree says:
Poor you who have such a hard time with migraines. It is not good. It is certainly nice to be able to work from home... but also a lot of discipline you have to have 🙂 Hugs
07 July 2016 - 18:31
Goatfish says:
I was thinking about your migraine, Helena.
Have you checked your blood pressure?
One of my children, who exercises a lot, suffers from migraines, but it turned out to be high blood pressure, so with medicine and tai massage he is almost recovered.
Kram, Gerd.
07 July 2016 - 18:31
admin says:
Emma, you are absolutely right! This week I've been alone during the day and that's fine. But if there are others at home, it is important that they understand that you are actually working!
Rolle o Carina, it would be perfect to find such a solution! 🙂
Ama de casa, haha, a bit of a long commute perhaps 😉 It's lucky that you can take care of the Spanish household so well instead!
Kattis, there's nothing wrong with the view! Sad that your partner is also affected by the migraine shit ...
Deciree, I've often liked having a workplace too, but now that we're booked up with all sorts of things, I'm very happy for this job!
Geddfish, thank you so much for thinking of me and writing again! My blood pressure is not particularly high. Nevertheless, for many years I have taken a blood pressure-lowering medication as a preventive against migraines, and then I got so low blood pressure that I fainted from time to time 😉 Now I have removed the medication temporarily because my neurologist wants to do a new investigation... Thank you anyway!!!
07 July 2016 - 18:50
Lena - good for the soul says:
It's perfect to be able to work from home. I usually do it on Fridays normally. I am quite disciplined so it works well actually. Then that many others think that you don't work but "work", that's up to them.
Hug Lena
07 July 2016 - 20:09
BP says:
Being able to work from home in such a nice environment as you have requires discipline. On the other hand, you can do the job whenever you feel like it (in the middle of the night, for example), as long as you meet the deadline if you have one.
I know exactly what a migraine is. You wouldn't wish it on even your worst enemy.
07 July 2016 - 20:29
Matts Torebring says:
Wow, what a boat!
Every morning I think to myself, "Thank you for being healthy and enjoying life"! Too often we just take it for granted. Hope you both feel better.
I have a book at home somewhere, called "Working here". That is exactly what you are doing now. Hope a lot of work rolls in for you/you as much energy and commitment as you put into the blog.
07 July 2016 - 21:11
musician says:
I'm quite happy that I don't own such a yacht. how much trouble it must be. There are a lot of worries just with our little boat. Even if you're a billionaire, you have to administer a lot of things, crew etc. etc. Which friends you have to take there to show the boat and a lot of other things.
I wouldn't wish migraine on my worst enemy (if I had one). As a consolation, I can only say that it gets better with age - at least for me. But of course that's because you don't stress as much in retirement as you do when you're working.
Hugs from Ingrid
07 July 2016 - 21:13
admin says:
Lena, it's practical to be able to work at home one day a week, but it's boring if people think you're "working". When I do sit down and work, I'm probably almost more efficient at home, but for me it's rarely 8 hours.
BP, yes, today I have worked a lot in the evening. A great freedom to be able to organise it as you want. Sad that you know what migraine means... No one wants that...
Matts, you should be happy as long as you are healthy. Nothing in life is to be taken for granted! And thank you, we also hope that jobs are rolling in!
Musikanta, isn't that right? Just as you write, it must be a lot of work, even if you have money...! Many people get rid of migraines in the menopause and that's a small comfort. My mum got it, but my grandmother said it went away after 90... (She was 99).
07 July 2016 - 21:56
Annika says:
Working from home is often ideal. My husband does it, and if there is wifi, he can work from anywhere in the world. BUT you have to be disciplined, absolutely. Glad you can do it sometimes. OJ what a yacht there on Hornsbergs Strand. Wow!
Sad, sad with all the ailments. Feel better!
07 July 2016 - 23:18
admin says:
Annika, thank you so much for your comment and get well wishes!!!! Yes, working from home is really practical sometimes!
10 July 2016 - 20:44
Inga Magnusson says:
When you live like you do, being able to work from home must be a quality of life. I have to admit that I would not be able to do it, I have too little self-discipline. But it becomes a habit of course.
11 July 2016 - 5:35