Yeah that’s the title, dull day job pays the bills. There’s a lot of things I could say about my dull day job. I’m a software developer that’s what I do during the day I work from home. Sometimes it’s fun and sometimes it’s not. When I started programming it was exciting and fun. But one thing I learned is that when you make your life depended on it it isn’t always a good thing.
Work From Home is Not What You Think
People give you that advice that if you do something you’re passionate about will never work a day in your life. Doing something that you are passionate about to survive can decrease your passion. Yes, I said that and I meant it. Because sometimes your passion doesn’t pay you enough to survive and other times your passion gets fettered in worked drama. I have been victim to both situations.
The picture that I selected for this featured image on this post is not me. The woman in the picture makes it look like you’re all dressed up and it’s all great that couldn’t be farther from the truth. It was all I could find. Most of the images showed these perfect people doing their perfect job. Yeah, that’s a lie. Nobody does that. Many of my co-workers blur their background when in conference. Others will sit in front of a blank wall. I don’t do either of those things. I don’t go on screen because I’m a hot mess.
Sometimes I don’t get my clothing on until after lunch. So yes, I do work in my pajamas. But sometimes I’m scrambling around to go put clothes on right before meeting if I have to be on screen. Most of my coworkers do not get on screen. Now that might sound kinda cool but it’s actually kinda lazy.
The other thing, it makes it look like her desk is totally clean. I couldn’t be laughing harder than I am right now it at the end of the day after working my dull day job, I have no desire to straighten up my desk. There’s also not enough space for me to put things. So I end up just moving things around and it still looks like a mess
Working from home requires boundaries
I have been working from home for most of the last 20 years. There’s a few stints where I had to go in at least once or twice a week but for the most part I work from home. It’s important to put boundaries not just for other people but for yourself. Early on, I wasn’t immune to working many many hours a day for my employer. However, it’s one thing to be there on time and not have any time suck down from commuting. It’s completely different when you find yourself working before an actual start time for your job and after that’s ending time. You really need to have a start and end time
When I end my job in the afternoon, I shut down my work laptop. I have my phone, and if there’s an emergency I will come back. Other than that, there is no reason for me to be working past the hours I’m required to work.
Dull day job pays for your dreams
It’s taken me 20 years to learn that a job pays to help you survive. The purpose of the job is not to be the end-all of everything that you are. The purpose of the job is to help you gain enough money to survive and do the things you love to do. There is absolutely no reason, to let your job override your life.
I hate to say this but… The best advice I ever got about jobs was from my ex. Probably the only thing that he ever gave me that was worth anything other than my daughter. He told me a long time ago that you work to live you don’t live to work. Took me 20 years but now I believe him.
Don’t quit your dull day job
A lot of people have a lot of dreams. I see people who want to make something of themselves by doing something that they love to do. And some people are successful at that endeavor. I’m not going to deny that it is possible. However, and you knew that was coming right, sometimes you just gotta grind it out at a dull day job until your passion pays for stuff.
PS. I’m still working on Editing My First Book. Follow me on Facebook to watch me succeed or fail, depends on the day.
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