Friday 18 January 2013

Hooray for the office



I feel sorry for the humble desk job. It’s taken a bit of a beating for some time as being drab, undesirable. How many times have you come across an article or blog post online enticing you to quit your ‘boring office job’ and go creative full time? Probably loads (I’m a stringent researcher).

Anyway, I thought it was about time someone stuck up for our desk jobs. I go to work five days a week in an office, 9 to 5, or near enough. Some days I sit fidgeting, hardly able to wait for home time when I can get back to whatever I’m working on. I yearn for a life with more time to do the things I want to do, to pour energy into getting things off the ground and making more money from my art. But it doesn’t work like that, not for me. I think I need to be taken out of a creative headspace, in order to be creative. If that makes sense. Some of my best ideas occur at work. I take a little notebook everywhere with me, and if something great pops into my head, I write it down, then go back to it later.  So, motivation to create is almost never a problem.

Besides, instead of heaping scorn on a job that gives us routine, regular pay, office chatter, dodgy coffee, we should try to look for the positives. After all, anyone can love their job when its their ideal job. I think the true triumph lies in deciding to love the mundane, the humdrum, the same old.


I can’t speak for everyone, but in a world of deadlines and acres of tedious admin, I do manage to find reasons to be really glad of my humble office gig. Miranda Hart in her recent book reminisced joyfully over her days as a temp. I just loved that. She could have whinged and sighed about the long, arduous road to fortune and fame, but instead she looks back at those years with real fondness, and lists the top ten things about her office years. Here’s a couple of mine:

I get to dress up
There’s no dress code at my work, and it’s really easy to slouch in wearing jeans, which is quite nice on some days.  But at least two days a week, I make an effort to go in looking nice and professional. It feels great, and when I started this ’twice a week’ thing it actually made me like my job better.  I dig out the nice shoes, a pencil skirt and accessories. I’ve met freelancers who lament having nothing to get dressed for. 

Work friends
Some argue that youd never spend your time with these people if you didn’t work with them.. Maybe true, but you have to be pretty unlucky to not have a single person at work that you like. I have lasting friendships forged in mundane jobs. Work binds us together, creates camaraderie. Office parties and drinks can be planned and looked forward to.  Peeking over the edge of the cubicle to gossip about last night’s TV, whilst checking emails and munching on toast is a pretty good feeling.

Salary
So, it’s out there. I like having a regular salary. It’s reassuring and helps me to plan. And if I want more money, that’s when I need to get up off my backside and make my other projects work harder. Security is not a sin. In these tough economic times I am truly grateful to have a job, and a salary. It’s sadly an all too rare commodity nowadays. Blessings are well and truly counted. Of course, things change, who knows what the future  holds?

Just because your job seems boring, it doesn’t mean YOU are
We all try to define ourselves by something. What defines us? Is it our marital status? Our children, or lack of? Our job? Often we look to these things to define us, and so there is a temptation to big our jobs up, or to be ashamed of them. I say no more! My office job allows me to solve problems, to work in a small team, to have a laugh, to pack interesting lunches, to shop for smart skirts and funky jewellery. My office job gives me somewhere to go each day, and stops my home from becoming a prison where I’d go stir crazy. Maybe one day I will leave this job, maybe one day I’ll pull a Miranda and be doing something  completely different and ’exciting ’. But I vow never to write off the office as a boring place. It’s only boring if you’re not looking hard enough. And it will never define you if you don’t want it to.

9 comments:

  1. This is so very true. Especially the first one. It's nice to see a different take on this topic, and I totally agree with you!

    What a great post. I am now following you on Bloglovin'. Can't wait for more posts of yours!

    Sabrina
    http://bbutterflybrain.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thank you Sabrina! I love your blog too, thank you for being my first follower! I’ll be popping over to your blog regularly to see what you’re up to :-)

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  2. This is such a great post! I'm working design freelance at the moment, and I have to say I've always found office jobs really appealing, especially as freelance is such a constant struggle... I think it's the thought of having work friends and your own desk (sad I know) and a bit of financial security that is luring me in. Everyone always complains about "boring office jobs", so it's really nice to hear a positive view!

    Good luck with your new blogging venture, I'll definitely be following along :) xx Rachel

    http://pointlessprettythings.blogspot.com

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    1. Cheers Rachel, I think it's always a case of the grass is greener, but I have to remind myself there are great things about a regular job. Nice to know I'm not alone! I'll pop over to your blog and have a little peek and a little follow :)

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  3. Thanks for this. I've been struggling with it. It is really awesome to hear some pros on keeping a job. I'm really worried after I get my marketing degree, I'll end up somewhere boring.. But I need to focus on the main pro of having a real job: security. Love your blog. I'm following you on bloglovin'.
    Liz
    http://liz-makes.blogspot.com/

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    1. Thanks Liz, I'm delighted people have enjoyed it. Thanks for following me, I'll definitely be going over to your blog for a peek. I wish I'd done marketing at University sometimes, it really interests me. I hope you find something when you graduate!

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  4. I really love this post Hannah, I can totally relate! I work full time in a pretty demanding job, and have started blogging on the side. While in an ideal world, it would be lovely to blog/follow my creative pursuits as my sole job, unforunately it's just not reality....so why not embrace the office job?!

    I do find that I like structure and being organised, and having a full time job forces me to be, if I want to get everything done. I also like the fact that I get to work with great people everyday, I definitely wouldn't get that face-to-face interation if I was working for myself.

    Love the blog so far, will definitely keep following!

    www.cinnamonandsouth.blogspot.com

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  5. Your ability to balance your time is inspirational. You make SO much stuff alongside a desk job. I had no idea you worked full time. Congratulations.

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    1. Cheers Joseph, good to see you around in the blogging world again, you make some great stuff too. :-)

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