It's hard to believe that I have been running SQLServerCentral for almost ten years. I've thoroughly enjoyed it, hope I get to do it another ten years, and am thankful every day for having one of the best jobs in the world. It fits me well, and surprisingly, it's a job I never expected to have as recent as 12 years ago.

When I started working full time for SQLServerCentral, I also started my telecommuting career. I hadn't ever worked outside of an office on a regular basis before that time, and now I wouldn't want to ever go back to an office full time. Aside from all the benefits of a flexible schedule and more time with my kids, the most valuable part of working at home is the lack of a commute.

IBM had a global commuter pain study recently, and this short video on eWeek highlights some of the results. I thought it was great that the study recognizes that there is pain involved in commuting, and the study talks about more than just lost time. There is evidence to support the idea that workers' health is actually lowered over time from the stress and traffic issues in many cities.

I firmly believe that investing in your health is very important for your future. If you can reduce the stress and the time spent on unproductive actions, like sitting in traffic,  you might actually find that you enjoy your job, and your life, more.

Many managers don't want to let employees work remotely, but you should try to convince them to let you try it. Gather stories that prove remote workers are productive, or ask to implement a pilot program. Try to prove to your manager that you can be effective a day or two a week. After all, many of you are effective away from the office when you're on call. Why not get permission to  extend that to a few other time periods during the week.

Steve Jones

The Voice of the DBA Podcasts

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Today's podcast features music by Everyday Jones. No relation, but I stumbled on to them and really like the music. Support this great duo at www.everydayjones.com.

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