From my blog

The joy of working alone

When I posted this tweet, several followers assumed I was being sarcastic. I wasn’t. For me, working at home, alone, has been one of the best career moves I’ve ever made.

I’ve always been happy on my own. As a child, I could often be found reading, drawing or building something out of lego. I learnt the piano, perhaps the supreme solo instrument. I always disliked team sports, and today enjoy running (alone, not races) rather than any group activity. And I’ve never really been one for joining clubs or socialising in large groups.

‘In the museum’ by Scott Liddell

Basically, I hate people. But is that so wrong? It takes all sorts to make a world.

However, I never thought I’d be able to bring my sociopathy to my work – because, as a sort of publishing editor/project manager, I always thought my skills wouldn’t transfer to a freelance context. So I’d look at freelancers with envy as they walked out of the office to complete an assignment in their own way, at their own pace, and – most importantly – completely alone.

Knot working

Fast-forward a few years, and I’m giving freelancing a try following redundancy. Immediately, the standard salarybod questions come out. ‘Isn’t it hard working at home?’ ‘Don’t you get lonely?’ ‘Is it hard to discipline yourself?’

No, no and no. I’m right back in a groove I’ve been dancing to since 1976. People give me the work and I go off and do it, only very rarely submitting to a meeting or a conference call. And, having been raised on the uncompromising demands of Technical Lego, I don’t find myself sneaking downstairs to watch reruns of Knot’s Landing.

Also, it quickly becomes apparent to me that what salaried folk call ‘work’ is actually a bit thin. Take out the lunchtimes, coffee breaks, loo trips, emails, company admin, meetings and impromptu friendly chats and it’s a wonder they get anything done. It’s the irony of the post-industrial age – organisations built with the aim of turning people into machines actually transform them into unproductive nuggets.

OK, I still have to use the loo. But it’s not so far away, and I never get waylaid by someone asking me about some ludicrous PowerPoint presentation. I also have to deal with emails and admin – but, as a freelance, all that stuff is much more to the point. The line between productive/profitable and wasteful/pointless is, for me, usually pretty clear.

Political animals

What I really don’t miss is the politics. Even at the time, I knew all that bickering and backbiting was pointless, but it was practically impossible to avoid being sucked in. Put a few humans in a room and they’ll inevitably start creating factions, alliances and conspiracies. On one level, it’s kinda fun, and it adds spice to the daily grind – but it’s also a major drain on the energy and initiative within an organisation, and the dark side can be extremely dark.

So I don’t mind having no colleagues – especially when I’ve got Twitter, the watercooler you can walk away from. Whenever I want a dose of wit, fellow-pro chat or just downright silliness, I don’t even have to leave my desk.

Of course, I’m not really a sociopath. I do actually interact with other people, most notably my family, for minutes on end every day. And that’s the best thing about working alone – if things go well, you can get everything done with no friction or faffing about, and spend what’s left of the day with the people who matter. Which, in my book, is nearly as good as being alone.

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Comments (18)

  1. I’m currently dying a hangover-related death in an altogether too loud office.

    As such, you’re describing some sort of heavenly working arrangement.

  3. As one of those followers who questioned your tweet, I was somewhat relieved when you responded to confirm you were ‘rejoicing’ rather than complaining.

    I’m about to celebrate my first year as a freelance writer early next month and my feelings about working alone are very similar to the ones you express here. I’m very much a people person rather than a sociopath, but when I’m working I prefer peace and quiet and my own company. I am so much more productive these days than I used to be in a loud, busy office with lots of chatty, easily distracted colleagues.

    Love your description of Twitter as the water cooler you can walk away from: some days I find it harder to walk away than others, and sometimes I just have to force myself to run!

    Like you the one thing I really don’t miss about the office environment is the politics: the griping and sniping that not only takes up time but drains you emotionally no matter how naturally optimistic and care-free you are.

    So, here’s to peace and productivity; solidarity in solitude. Tom you’re not alone, even though you are.

  5. Hmm. I often need to write alone, but find it gets lonely the rest of the time, hence the reason I have always tried to keep a desk space in a studio with two or three like-minded people. The times I have worked in a ‘proper’ office with suits and telephones and politics it has not worked out. Writing is a lonely pursuit.

    But I do miss the social network, the after-work drinks, flirting with the new girl, whatever. It’s really really important for me to have a very active social life as I spend so much time working alone and without that social support network, who do you have to fall back on when you need a friend to chat to, need a couch to crash on, need a car to borrow or a hand to help with your move? Twitter isn’t very good for that.

    As a side note, it’s becoming more and more expensive (£250+) to rent a single desk in central london so I’m facing the possibility of working full time alone. I’m not sure how I feel about that but you’ve made me a little more optimistic. See you on Twitter! =)

  6. Couldn’t agree more. I’m now approaching 30 without ever having what salarybods would call a ‘proper job’, and on the few occasions I’ve spent time in offices I’ve always come away even more appreciative of being freelance. Great post.

  7. I could have written this myself, even down to the playimg with Lego and the running. I’m bald as a coot, too.

  9. I’ve only been freelancing for about 1-1/2 months. I really thought I might have some withdrawals but so far I am LOVING it – for all the reasons you describe. I try to have lunch with a friend once a week and I do find that I’m more chatty when my husband gets home. But that’s plenty of social interaction for me. I’m a natural introvert (meaning I get my energy from being alone) so it appears that freelancing is the perfect gig for me.

  11. I knew I couldn’t be the only one who loves working alone – great article! I’ve been freelancing for six years now and although I’ve had offers of a ‘proper job’ I can’t envisage myself in the traditional office again.

  12. I work at home and love it.

    I have no problem with self-discipline. When my office door is closed and I am inside I am at work, when it is closed and I am outside I am at home.

    I do on occasions find myself having quite lengthy conversations with the cat (Dennis).

  13. I have worked on my own since 1980.

    As long as there is music playing at my work ,i am fine.
    If someone else gives me a hand , i get anxious and feel i have to think for him as well to get the job done.

  14. Great article – I always thought I was the only one who felt like this too. I HATE working in a shared office, especially one that is open plan. I much prefer to just get on and work without all the ‘hilarious’ banter some workplaces encourage.Or worse still the irrelevant conversations on topics in which I have no interest.

  15. The problem is that people are always there. I’d be up for a little bit of a chat now and then, but find it impossible to concentrate with people nattering all around me. Even at home I quite often put my headphones on, without playing any music, to keep out the very modest ambient noise, and I’ve also used earplugs on occasion.

  16. With you all the way. I went 100% freelance in June 2012 and LOVE working at home, with only the dogs as company. Sadly, the lure of big bucks draws me into technical writing contracts with on site work, so the joy of home-based work can only be for a few months a year. But even as a self-employed contractor, the corporate BS is much less intrusive. That always bugged me more than the weak banter.

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