Hi, my name is DJ Nelson and I don’t give two hoots what you think about me.

Though that may sound a bit harsh and quite aggressive, my lack of worrying about what others think is really one of my endearing qualities.

Fem 2.0 is hosting a blog carnival regarding work in the 21st century. The question to be answered is, “what is considered gainful employment?”

Let me take a deep breath because I can get a bit sensitive about this topic.

Before I graduated from college I knew that I never wanted to work for anyone else. The idea of being stuck in an office for 40+ hours a week was simply revolting. After a few summers of full-time internships, I was simply burned out. I literally felt as if my brain was oozing out of my head and my level of intelligence was dropping at a rapid rate. I knew that is not how I wanted to spend my life.

No disrespect to those who live this lifestyle but it just wasn’t for me. I didn’t understand why I had to sit at a desk for 8 hours each day when I was done with all of my work after 4 hours.

Of course, this is not the norm, so I met a lot of resistance. (Hi Mom and Dad!) But I persevered, and my first job out of college, in addition to the business that I ran all throughout college, was performed from my apartment living room.

So back to the topic at hand- what should be considered “work” in the 21st Century economy?

It’s hard for me to wrap my mind around why this is even an issue, because as long as someone is not soaking up your resources, then why do you care how they spend their time?

Are we as a society really so focused on what others think about us that we have to discuss and label “valid work choices?” If so, then it’s going to take a long time to get through this discussion because there are plenty of people who believe that unless you follow the traditional path, you aren’t working.

But how can I blame them? It’s hard to break old habits and accept new things when you don’t take the time to research them. You just end up stating what you’ve been told instead of thinking for yourself. “Go to college and get a job at the office” is seen as THE way to do things by a large portion of our society.

But it’s time to break that line of thought.

Home office equipment, the internet, and various other technologies have made it so easy for us to have flexible work options. Everyone does not have to go into an office everyday in order to be productive. Everyone does not have to work the same hours.

9am to 5pm is the same amount of time as 12pm to 8pm. What about the night owls who would work best from 8pm-4am? As long as the job gets done, why does it matter what time they do it? The same goes for working Monday-Friday. It doesn’t have to be the norm. Personally, I work Wednesday-Sunday. I know others who only work 3 days per week.

Don’t even get me started on this notion that you must work 40 hours a week. If I can get all of my work done in 20 hours then you better believe I will, and I won’t be apologetic about it. It doesn’t mean I am lazy, it means that I am efficient. I value my time beyond anything else, and time with family and friends is something you can’t get back.

We are all indivduals and our work choices should reflect that. It should be seen as a positive thing, not a negative one.

I’m glad that I have the opportunity to work from the comfort of my home, during the hours that I choose. I love being on a flexible schedule that allows me to enjoy my work, while still having time for my family.

If you take that as me not really “working”, then that’s your problem- get over it. Step outside of your boundaries and you might be pleasantly surprised.

See Also: The Truth About Working From Home

This post will be updated with responses from the blog carnival once it’s live.

Update 3/27/09:

Here are some responses from the blog carnival.

Working as a Professional Feminist (Viva La Feminista)

What if Women’s Work Was a Centerpiece of the Stimulus Package?   (Pundit Mom)

Finding Work / Life Balance in the Big City (National Women’s Law Center)