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How I Work

September 7th, 2010

I’m a blogger and a freelance writer, so that means I spend my life pretty much chained to my computer. I write for fun here, write for fun and pay here, write blog content for pay here, and goof off here.

While I work, I take breaks to chat with friends and family around the country and in Canada, whether it’s on Skype, Twitter, g-chat or email. I don’t think I could work from home without my network of people who are also working at home or are plugged in through social media. It would be way too isolating.

I always find myself wondering how my friends and the other good people of the Internet do their thing. Are they surreptitiously blogging at work when the boss isn’t looking? Getting their best work done at Panera or Starbucks? Typing out blog posts and designing websites at home in their pajamas? Tweeting from the bathroom?

I was really curious, so I decided to do this one-time meme about how we as bloggers work. For all I know, I’m doing it wrong.

My desk is in our living room. I read that is is incredibly un-feng-shui for a desk to face a wall and not a door, but this was the only place to put the central computer without making an office out of one of the bedrooms. Since the kids use this computer, that wasn’t an option.

Speaking of kids, it’s getting harder and harder to get time on the computer in the evenings because they are very computer-savvy and are always wanting to play games. When they overpower me and take the computer, I slink off to my bed with my laptop.

I use a Hewlett Packard PC and as much wireless as I can. I even have a wireless printer now and can print photos off my iPhone. I usually have 87 or so browser tabs open for research I’m doing for work, and always g-mail, g-reader and Hootsuite for Twitter. Skype is always open and between the chat room, Twitter and g-chat, I can always procrastinate, vent or get an answer for a question I may have. The iPhone is always nearby for texting all the people who aren’t on Skype, Twitter or gmail.

There is an inspiration board of sorts where I stick things like pictures of the kids, paychecks (Yay!)  and strange things like a picture of me from my youth where I’m wearing a hoopskirt (?). I really need to work on this.

This is my view from my desk. We just had the pool and back yard re-done and the waterfall on the spa makes me happy, happy. I get very distracted by the huge, gangly herons that walk around on our deck.

I try to get most of my work done right after I get home from taking the kids to school. I drink three or four cups of this coffee and can sit for hours if I’m on a deadline. When I lose feeling in my legs I take a break and try to get everything moving again.

Lunges always work, but Maria loaned me her mini-tramp and that’s more fun. Did you know there is an entire fitness industry built around mini-tramps (rebounders)? That’s just the kind of thing I can spend an hour researching if I’m procrastinating.

I’m sure there are some nude bloggers, but I’m not one of them. Just shorts and a t-shirt for me or pajamas if that’s what I wore to drive the kids to school. It happens. I don’t eat much while I’m working. I’d rather just take a break to eat and watch a dvr’d Weeds or The Big C, then get back to work with my two sidekicks, Buddy and Earl the Cat.

My husband and my non-blogging friends are very confused by this working at home on the computer thing. Jack thinks I watch soap operas and eat bon-bons all day. He actually uses the phrase bon-bons. He is always surprised, each and every time, when my paychecks arrive. I don’t mind, though. I will continue to explain to him what a blog is and how to find one.

I love what I do and the people I’ve met doing it. The Internet is where it’s at.

If you wrote a “How I Work” post, link up below.

Category: The Internet

680 comments to How I Work

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