The no phone zone

I just finished reading AJ Jacobs’  latest book, entitled, The Guinea Pig Diaries, in which he recounts how he tried on such experimental lifestyles as radical honesty, George Washington-style civility, and disciplined unitasking. 

In the book, Jacobs, an editor for Esquire magazine, talks about his own work-from-home situation quite a bit.  In addition to mentioning his love for the all-day-pajamas dress code (yeah!), he describes his remote work-from-home back-up location (his mother-in-law’s apartment–which doesn’t work out so well when she arrives home early from vacation, before he’s had a chance to clean up his collection of recently emptied soda cans). 

He also brings up the challenge that comes with setting boundaries during work-from-home work time.  On that final point, he describes an awkward telephone exchange with his mother: 

“A.J., I’m trying to buy Julie a present for–”

“Can I call you back?”

She seems a little put out.  I usually talk to her, seeing as I’m not an air traffic controller and can take a couple of minutes out of my day.

“It’s just that these are work hours,” I explain. 

It’s two-thirty in the afternoon and I’m trying to be one of the only people in America who still works a nine-to-five job.  I want to work, then stop.  I don’t punch a clock, but I do jot down my starting and ending time.

“I’ll call you at five-fifteen.”

Maggie Jackson, the author of Distracted, says it’s essential to set borders around work.  She does it physically, by sitting down, stretching her arms, and saying to herself, Okay, this is work time.   [from p165]

Sure, Jacobs is on a unitasking bent here, but I see the beauty of what Jackson has to say.  It’s easier said than done, though, right?   I’m at home, so that says to the outside world, “She’s available!” 

Perhaps I should consider a more business-like message on my voice mail to field calls from those who just might not get it.   Something like,

Hello.  You’ve reached Cheryl’s home office.  Cheryl isn’t available right now because she’s working…with clients…for money.  She knows it’s kind of abstract because she doesn’t work outside of her house and because her work is so part time that on any other day she might be baking cookies, playing tennis, or watching the TiVo right now.  But trust her.  It’s not that she doesn’t want to talk.  It’s just that she’s working.  Working, mind you, doesn’t mean ”busy” in a Cats in the Cradle kind of way.  She loves you and wants to spend time with you.  Just not at this moment.  She’ll call you back later…if she’s not baking cookies, playing tennis, or watching the TiVo in her non-work time. 

Cheryl does lead a complicated life, doesn’t she?  And aren’t you just a little bit jealous? 

Effective?  We’ll see.

Tags: AJ Jacobs, Boundaries, Phone calls, The Guinea Pig Diaries, Work from Home