by Dawn A. Vogel

Created on: February 07, 2007   Last Updated: November 13, 2010

Over the Christmas holiday this past year, I was hired for a large freelance writing job. I was absolutely thrilled! This would surely be the first step towards my goal of working from home, in my pajamas. If I could only get more freelance jobs like this one, I was sure that I could quit my "real" job, and work from home every day! Of course, it never works out like you plan it.

The first thing I discovered was that staying in my pajamas all day only made me want to be lazy. Until I actually showered and got dressed, it felt like a normal Saturday to me-a day when I don't have to do any work.

The second thing I realized was that I was very resistant to putting in a full eight hour day from the comfort of my living room. I could usually work consistently for two hours before I needed a break, and it was a rare day when I worked for more than a couple of these two hour blocks. When I am at my regular job, there are enough distractions and other tasks that require doing to keep me from getting too tired of work. But the fact that I am at work always pulls me back to my desk. Working from home didn't seem to have that same gravitational force.

Finally, I acknowledged the fact that while the freelance writing job was fun, and earned me some extra spending cash, there was no way I could support myself on that kind of money. I would have to take on 3 or 4 similar jobs, all at the same time, to even come close to making enough money to live on, let alone at the spending level to which I am accustomed.

Coupling this with my other realizations, I've discovered that I really don't have the attention span and dedication to work from home, in my pajamas. While I still think it could be a lot of fun, I know that I'm much better off keeping freelance writing as a side job, while I spend my days at a normal job.

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