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June 8th, 2007

Working from home

freelance working

Most people would, if given the chance, like to work from home. There are of course huge benefits. Unfortunately I am finding that the perceived benefits are all outweighed by the sheer isolation. As a cartoonist I’d say about 95% of my communication is done via the internet, about 3% by letter and perhaps 2% by telephone. It is therefore entirely possible for me to go a week of my work time without speaking to another human being on the telephone, let alone face to face (I do speak to people in non-work time I should hasten to add). This is not really good for my general wellbeing, mental health etc. This has the knock on effect that I then find the work I have to do harder to do, meaning I spend even more time staring at a blank piece of paper and less out and about, and so on and so forth.

I think I need to make some sort of change, but I’m not sure what. I’ve tried to find somewhere local to go and work where there are other people, but without success. I can get into London fairly easily, but the cost of travel and renting a desk would make doing my current work from there prohibitive I think. I can get to other places on the London Fenchurch Street-Upminster-Basildon-Leigh-Southend railway line easily too, but again I haven’t found anything.

I don’t really know why I’m telling you this. I do try to avoid angsty self-centred blog posts as much as I can, but you’ll have to forgive the odd one. But you never know, there might be someone reading who has an idea or good advice or with whom I could collaborate in some way. If so get in touch - in the comments or dave (at) cartoonchurch dot com if e-mail is more appropriate.

This might be my last blog post for a few days for one reason or another. We’re just a bit busy with this and that. See you on Monday or thereabouts all being well.



This is a single Cartoon Blog entry, posted by Dave on Friday, June 8th, 2007 at 1:07 am.

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27 Responses to “Working from home”


  1. Anne says:

    Well, let me be the first to greet you as one home-worker to another. It’s about 11:30 p.m. where I am. Unlike office-working folk, I’m writing to clients rather than sleeping or watching TV. This means I’ll wake up a little later in the morning.

    I wish I had some helpful suggestions. I’m pretty well tied to the house because I work with my hands. I’d guess 80% of my work is done alone in my studio with the other 20% of my time being spent on the Internet–uploading things to my site, doing write-ups, and answering inquiries. I also use the Internet as my “water cooler” or the place where I interact with other humans, much as I’m doing now. My husband works at night; he’s at work now and will arrive home at 7:30 a.m. His “night” begins at about 10 a.m., and he waks up in time for supper.

    I find I *have* to get out, and I also find that it’s my nature to vegetate behind these walls. So I force myself to make treks–to the library, the grocery store, out to get supplies, or whatever.

    I kind of hate that I’m in the middle of a wonderful neighborhood–less than a block from the Baltimore Harbor, which is a nice body of water with a water taxi that takes you off to museums or downtown or to restaurants. I could get on it at any time, but mostly I end up vegging out here.

    I do enjoy interacting with people on a couple of Internet lists and in person with folks at the local Dog Park. Having a dog means that you at least have to get some exercise each day.

    I want to keep working at home–but like you, I find myself missing actual “face time” with other humans.

    Not much help, I’m afraid–but at least you know there are other people Out Here doing the same kind of thing.

    Anne

    June 8th, 2007 at 4:45 am
  2. David Austin Allen says:

    You have public libraries in the UK, right? Starbucks?

    June 8th, 2007 at 5:33 am
  3. Matt Glover says:

    Just checking in bro - hang in there!

    I hang out at the local pub or cafe from time to time to work, and then do a bunch of other stuff on a regular basis that is not cartoon related, but very people related. I’m an introvert, so the people stuff wears me out, but it keeps me balanced and sane!

    June 8th, 2007 at 6:42 am
  4. John says:

    I know what you mean about the isolation. I was a self-employed work-from-home person for 6 years and it got to me sometimes. As David says, coffee shops could be a good place - they often have tables large enough to take notes on, with plenty of passing life. If there’s a “Christian coffee shop” nearby, you could even stay on-message! :-)

    pax et bonum

    June 8th, 2007 at 8:22 am
  5. Dave says:

    Thanks for comments thus far.

    Coffee shops: I do go, but they don’t really help with the human interaction aspect as you don’t really talk to anyone there. Same with the library.

    Also the coffee they serve is strong, which is great but it means I’ll only have one coffee which means I can only stay for so long. I could drink fruit juice more I suppose. Then there’s travelling time as there isn’t anywhere immediately around here. All in all a good place to go, but only for so long and every so often. I personally haven’t felt that coffee shops etc solve the problem.

    June 8th, 2007 at 8:40 am
  6. Kate P says:

    You need the home-worker’s equivalent of a car pool. Could you get something (editorial rather than paid advert) in your local paper about getting together with others, and maybe have “work=ins” at each other’s homes once in a while? This way you avoid the cost of buying a drink just to sit somewhere populated to work. I realise you all need your own computers etc, but as an occasional thing it might work. I remember the isolation of being an at home mum, much as I love my children. Some days I never spoke to another adult, and it was networking with other mums that kept me sane (almost :) )

    June 8th, 2007 at 9:48 am
  7. Judith says:

    Know what you mean exactly. I live alone with two fine cats and do ‘Vicaring’ in an extremely rural place in Ireland!

    I go out to visit people - then discover everybody else’s dysfunction and madness and peculiarities ….so I am really glad to come back to the safe sanity and tranquility of my lovely home. In my last job (at a busy cathedral) we had a lot of ‘working together’ with secretarial staff working in offices and meetings etc. - It was fun, but even then I remember beating hasty retreats to find some peace and quiet.

    But how to find a community which balances up solitude? Difficult I’d say.

    Someone out there will say ‘Church’ - sorry …..that is still work to me ‘cos I’m in role even if I’m trying everso hard to be plain me!

    Dave have you tried Skype? It is free and a great way to have a chat and see the person you are talking to. Even the cats can have a go!!!

    Judith

    June 8th, 2007 at 10:29 am
  8. Rev Sam says:

    Hmm. I have a different problem, but related. I have to get away from the parish every so often, just so I can stop being ‘the Rector’ and pretend to be a normal human being again (and that’s why your cartoons are so healthy btw).

    Are you anywhere near Lakeside?

    June 8th, 2007 at 11:10 am
  9. Michelle says:

    I have no good advice nor do I have anything clever to add, but keep up the good work. Angst-ridden as it is. I really enjoy your posts! Maybe the solitude is why you’re so good!

    June 8th, 2007 at 11:36 am
  10. Clare says:

    I work from home to and this totally resonates. I also find I have a seemingly unlimited capacity to fritter time away rather than concentrate on what I’m supposed to be doing!

    I really like Kate P’s suggestion of “work-ins” - there a few people I know near me who work from home too, I may suggest it. Though I guess it would have to be regular enough that it didn’t turn into just a chat session! Dave, I’m in London I’m afraid but if you want to come over for a “work in” let me know!

    I have also thought about meeting up with other local homebased workers for coffee/lunch/tea - perhaps you could try that. Do you know any others near you?

    June 8th, 2007 at 11:47 am
  11. lionfish says:

    Hello, I’ve been having the same problems: I’ve been working from home for the last 4 months, and have started feeling the walls closing in on me. I’ve enjoyed the work, but I’m now looking for part-time work in the ‘real world’ to give needed human contact.
    I think the problem with the suggestions to work in libs or cafes is, although one is surrounded by people, one is still alone - if that makes sense?
    So my suggestion is to do some part time work in ‘real’ jobs: Even maybe one day a week. Maybe volunteer work?

    That’s my idea anyway :)

    Hope it goes well, lots of people have this problem I think.

    June 8th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
  12. Arti says:

    As another home worker, I can really identify with what you say. That’s why I really enjoy my “minor” 8 hour a week job, gardening and doing ooutdoor maintenance at my church. There’s usually someone there to talk to and I get on really well with the person who is the church housekeeper. We tend to try and make time for chat and prayer on the days that I am down there which helps us both I think. Have you thought about a small part time job that would give you a bit of contrast. I love doing tutoring and enjoy all the preparation too but I think if I was only doing that I would find it quite isolating.

    June 8th, 2007 at 6:47 pm
  13. Rachel says:

    I am based at home and find I have productive days usually followed by unproductive ones. The knack is not to get too cross with myself at the end of a seemingly wasted day.
    I do a few hours of voluntary things primarily for my mental health, all with people: helping struggling kids in a school, desk top publishing in a church office.
    I also belong to a walking group - hearty exercise and a good natter, whatever the weather, one morning per week. It is like being part of an ongoing drama series - our lives all have their ups and downs. Talking whilst not keeping eye contact is very therapeutic, especially when you see lovely views and get lost occasionally!
    I need people, and the internet isnt enough. Not sure if this is any help to you, but breaking the inertia by a change of scene and seeing some faces helps me.

    June 8th, 2007 at 11:46 pm
  14. Eolai says:

    Five years of solitude for me. Luckily I taught my dog to speak, which helps somewhat though the vocabulary is limited. My friends in the real world, who I see no more than once a week, are used to me babbling like a monkey as I release a week or more’s worth of human contact in a single paragraph.

    So I sometimes go the pub route for work, but only at quiet times; if you end up with a load of interaction then you end up with no work done.

    But I bring my sketchbooks and notebooks on the bus and other unlikely places, stealing moments from the more public side of life that I can then (in theory) pay back from what would have been alone at the screen time.

    Good luck with finding the balance, especially if it isn’t there to be found.

    June 9th, 2007 at 12:30 am
  15. Unordered says:

    How about working in a church building or para church organisation somewhere? There’s gotta be a spare desk somewhere. There’s quite a bit of building sharing happening around here. Then there’s someone to see when you’re getting a (free) cup of tea in the kitchen.

    June 9th, 2007 at 3:00 am
  16. Moira says:

    My rule when working from home is to go out at least once during the day and speak to someone you know. If you can’t arrange to meet a friend for lunch, do you have small local shops or a post office where you and the staff know each other?

    June 9th, 2007 at 11:39 am
  17. Kathryn says:

    Oh dear, yes….Husband is madly introvert self employed clock maker, so never sees anyone at all, but that’s fine for him. I find that even with the intensely populated elements of ministry it’s too easy to spend a day without actually interacting with anyone till the family gets home (whereupon, of course, I’m due out at some grim and ghastly meeting). My guess is that lots of church spaces would be really rather happy to have a cartoonist in residence…I’d certainly find you houseroom, were you any where near here at all.
    Now - may I borrow your comments briefly? (am taking assent for granted - apologies!)
    Judith - you posted on my blog a while ago, and it would be good to be able to connect- once, long ago on a Reader’s day, you did a workshop on creation spirituality which excited me hugely and was one of those blue touch-paper moments. Just wanted to say “thank you” really…

    June 9th, 2007 at 7:03 pm
  18. Dave K says:

    If y’like I could e-mail you a looping Quicktime movie of me pretending to work and every 5 minutes I look up and say ‘Fancy a cuppa?’ or ‘Pass the stapler will ya.’ Though I’m working on some noisy music at the moment and it might all be a bit distracting. Plus I’m really not sure why I’d need a stapler to perform musical tasks.

    June 9th, 2007 at 8:10 pm
  19. David Keen says:

    As a couple who work from home (1 vicar, 1 mum), we’ve started having irregular coffee get-togethers for other homeworkers at our end of the street. The isolation issue seems to be a common one. What we need is a bell on the roof to announce that the neighbourhood cafetiere is ready.

    June 9th, 2007 at 11:37 pm
  20. Philip of samaria says:

    as one who has the priviledge of going out to work - full sympathy. You could do bloggers symposia at your local starbucks (they might even sponsor it) - y’know best practice in amusing links, graphics, how to get noticed…

    you could do a regular workshop in your church ‘how to become a cartoonist blogger’ that would sell out for sure and get people in!

    Dave K’s suggestion is great - you could have video wall of ‘colleagues’ all playing wacky tunes with staplers

    June 10th, 2007 at 8:51 am
  21. Karin says:

    Hi Dave, could you do some of your work in your local library? You might get to know some familiar faces there. Some libraries even have tea and coffee available. It could be a start until you have something better worked out.

    June 10th, 2007 at 6:40 pm
  22. Ian says:

    Can’t think of anything, but prayers; and some fine suggestions above. God bless.

    June 11th, 2007 at 7:58 am
  23. Michelle says:

    Well, seeing as I’ve been a bit slow in arriving at this post, the suggestion I was going to make has already been made, but I’m going to add my two pen’orth anyway… does a local church have any spare office space? That may even kill two birds with one stone - human interaction *and* should the vicar (or some other random church type person) do something stupid or embarrassing you’re on the spot to cartoon it. :D

    June 11th, 2007 at 1:43 pm
  24. Bryan says:

    Well, I am a pastor and a people person. Last year I had six months of chemo, and minimal people contact. It drove me crazy! I know not all are as people needy as I, but we were all created with the need to connect. There are so many good ideas in these comments. What I have learned is that you just have to put it in your plan to connect, then work your plan. Don’t put it off.

    June 11th, 2007 at 8:18 pm
  25. sally says:

    Prayers Dave :-)

    June 12th, 2007 at 1:00 pm
  26. Dave says:

    I’d like to say a huge thank you for all of these thoughts and comments - seriously, they are much appreciated. Now all I have to do is decide which of these splendid ideas I should try.

    June 12th, 2007 at 9:48 pm
  27. Paul says:

    Could offer you occasional ‘change of office’ or ‘tramp around my garden’ at a countrysidey Rectory less than 15 minutes from Basildon, if it is any use?!?…

    June 13th, 2007 at 7:22 pm