Spilled Milk

Every weekday, from 8AM-5PM, I sit in my apartment, and I work.

I am the remote worker.

I can go for a walk.

But what if my boss messages me?

I can take a shower.

But what if my Teams status goes on yellow too long?

I am the multitasker.

I watch TV in the background while I do my work.

Sometimes the TV takes over.

Sometimes the work fights back.

I write this blog.

Every few lines I reach over to my work computer.

I click around on Teams, and my status is preserved.

I’m anxious about using tools to keep my status active.

I feel like I can’t leave my computer.

But I can write this blog.

I can listen to music and sing and dance.

But only for a few minutes.

Then it’s check status, return to activity.

I’m ready for action.

If someone asks me for something, I do it.

I perform my tasks and I perform them well.

I am an active participant in meetings.

But when no one asks for anything.

And there are no tasks.

And I don’t have a meeting.

What is there to do?

Aside from being the multitasker.

The multitasker, my mind runs wild.

Yet my feet stay still.

I could take a thirty minute nap.

I could take a walk.

I could buy groceries.

I could go to the laundromat.

I could go get a nice meal.

I could go work out.

I could meet up with a friend.

But then my status goes dark.

I could do all of these things.

If I weren’t worried about my status.

If the company weren’t worried about my status.

Status, status, status.

The invisible shackle.