At this point, I don’t have much to say about my use of a second monitor. In spite of that, I’ll share some thoughts on computer based work.
The Good
I’m going to start out this list with what I think is the best part of my working conditions, being able to work from anywhere with an internet connection. While I work from home a majority of the time, I have many options open. With this freedom, I’ve been able to take a few trips to see family across the country without having to spend any time off.
Thanks to mobile hotspots, that opens me up to so many places. I once briefly worked from a rest stop in the midst of a long drive. The reason for my logging on during this drive seeps a bit into “the bad” territory, so I’ll save that for the next section.
With the freedom of working almost anywhere, it also offers flexibility of when to work. This doesn’t mean that I can just skip work whenever I want, but I do have loose working hours in a given day. Starting the day can range from 8 to 9 AM, and that’s without prior notice. With a request to managers, I’ve been able to work a 6 AM to 2 PM day in order to get on the road for a camping trip as soon as possible.
This flexibility doesn’t apply to just starting and stopping the work day. There are times when I don’t feel like I can put in a real effort into work. I might have slept poorly or am just distracted in general. I can step away for a bit and come back to my work later with a better mind to tackle the task ahead.
Regarding the actual work done, the resulting creation is one of my favorite elements. Computers allow us to create something from nothing. By pressing a bunch of keys over and over, eventually the computer can make what the creator wanted, or a close approximation at least. While this isn’t as evident in my day job, a lot of my hobbies really scratch this itch, especially game development.
I am an amateur through and through, but even I am amazed that a bunch of words I put on a screen result in various results by a player’s input.
The Bad
While all the above are great, computer based jobs do have their downsides.
Freedom and flexibility can be nice, but they also open a door to always be able to work. Sometimes it can be hard to just put something down for the day and get to other responsibilities like health and relationships.
This is where that rest stop work comes in. I was on a drive to a camping trip and I wanted to check a few things a few hours after work. There have been other times I’ve put off other things for a chance to check in on work.
Some positions, mine included, involve “on call” work, which means that I am on deck to assist if something comes up and receive a call. Admittedly, I’ve been very lucky in this department as I’ve had only a handful of issues come up in my time working. Admittedly, the biggest annoyance here is getting spam calls on my work phone, as I feel obligated to answer in case it’s some issue popping up.
The other challenge I regularly face is the habits this work develops. For the most part, I’m stationary and staring at a screen for several hours straight. If I’m feeling tired or sore on a given day, I might find myself sitting for most of those hours too.
Addressing the Bad
Luckily, these negative elements are pretty easy to mitigate.
For the timing and responsibility, having scheduled events shortly after work has helped a lot. A group of friends started running shortly after work hours, so joining them has been a good way to unplug when needed.
The runs after work are also a nice way to get some movement in. Also with the weather getting nicer, getting outside has become less of a hassle. I’m trying to get lunchtime walks back into my daily routine. They are a nice way to move around and take a break from screens for at least a few minutes per day.
Just by looking at the word count of the sections above, it’s easy to tell I overall enjoy the opportunities I have working the way I do, even if there are some possible downsides.
Trying Out Before Buying In 