Flexible Freedom

When I got a flexible work schedule, I was elated. It started out like a honeymoon phase — seriously. I could start whenever I wanted, and sometimes that was at ten in the morning. Other times, it could be as late as two in the afternoon. My lunch break was whenever and however long I decided to take it. No one could tell me I couldn’t step away to take a walk or read.

However, that flexibility would soon become my enemy. Sure, it promised me more control over my time in a day. But was I truly operating from a sense of control when I took an extra ten minutes for lunch?

That’s when I knew something was off. I had a manageable workload, and somehow I found myself working well into the night. All because I lacked the discipline to manage my time wisely. The freedom in flexibility wasn’t as easy as I thought it would be.

Which leads me to the second lesson I learned after six years working from home: Discipline is not an option — it’s actually a requirement.

Neglecting My Time

After learning about time management, I thought that structuring my day would be a breeze. I was using my calendar to find time for everything I needed and wanted to do. Yet somehow, finding time became a possibility rather than a necessity.

So, the mornings disappeared as I woke up whenever I pleased. The nights suffered as I used them to finish my work. I quickly lost the time and realized that a flexible day was costing me more than it was worth.

It was awesome to clock in and out as I needed, but without discipline, it altered the rest of my day. Procrastination crept in as well — the “doing it later” mindset ruined my time management just when I was getting the hang of it.

Respecting My Time

While I had freedom, I now needed to rein it in with some discipline. It sounds like a controlling act, but it isn’t. Discipline is how I manage my time and use it wisely so I have a fulfilling day.

My time shouldn’t work against me. Creating and sticking to time blocks were my solutions — but how did I make sure I used them?

In the past, I always woke up early for work. But when I started waking up for myself, it was easier to get up. In the beginning, I used my early mornings for hobbies. Instead of being pulled out of bed from obligation, it was much easier to rise when I had a book to read or a cozy game to play. So while I still clocked in later in the day, my life outside of work wasn’t neglected.

Since then, my schedule has adjusted — and that’s completely okay. As a night owl, I learned that waking up for work is better for keeping my nights free. Maybe in a few months, I’ll change my mind. As long as I restructure with discipline in mind, I’ll always find the next best schedule for me.

Flexible Balance

So, maybe I was a bit careless in the beginning of having a flexible schedule. All I got from that was burnout and low energy. With discipline, I’ve created balance and tend to have more great days. I know the structure is working when time seems to fly and I’ve completed everything before dinner.

I also learn how sustainable working from home really is. It isn’t a free schedule with no boundaries. With structure, I’m capable of working from home, clocking in and out, and taking reasonable breaks without losing time.

Flexibility means I get to make my own rules, instead of abandoning them completely. With discipline, my schedule remains intentional.

Have a cozy workday, dear.