Alone Time at Work

My job (the one that I consider to be my "main job") is an office/admin job and I typically spend the better part of my shift alone. I like being mostly alone at work; I am not stressed by others' energies/inputs/constant need to share, I am not stressed by them taking the time that could be used toward getting things done. If I need to do something, I do it. There is one less obstacle in my way.

Being alone at my job also allows me to truly take pleasure in other interactions. Purposeful interactions, meaningful ones. I can actually focus on the conversations/communications/interplay. How often have you had just the most draining day at work, you've come home, where your loved ones are, and thought:

"I swear to God, if one more person talks to me."

Why is this important to realize? Because, in my opinion, an immense contribution to the value of my life comes from the interactions I choose to have with the people I respect/love/care about. You lose so much from the experience if you start out drained from those meaningless communications from, say, your retail job. Your restaurant job. Your customer service job.

In my opinion, work should be work. Ideally, I would be able to get in, do my job, get out when I'm done and get paid the same wage as if I had dragged my feet and been less efficient. The problem with this (or at least a problem with this) is that there are certain jobs/positions that necessitate otherwise. Shops that demand your 8 hours a day, on the off-chance a customer will come in. These jobs are typically not very physically grueling, and in turn are very taxing on one's mind.

I digress.

The perks of the job that allows you alone time do not stop there; even things like errands become more enjoyable. Exciting, even. Grocery shopping is immediately less painful, as you have not had to "deal with people" all day. So when a stranger says something to you about the weather in passing, you don't instantly want to give them a dirty, desperate look and tell them to please leave you alone. Of course, I suppose, that could be the danger of having the alone-time-job; you may be destined to become these chatty Kathies, and as such the bane of others' existence. At the grocery store, the library, even the neighbor who says things like "mowin' yer lawn, eh?". I guess, as with most things, balance here is key.