There’s a lot of noise out there about working from home. Some people say it’s the greatest thing since Pop-Tarts got frosting. Others say it’s slowly dismantling society one pajama-clad email at a time. Researchers toss around data like it’s a game of statistical dodgeball, and still, no one really agrees.

And let me tell you, their insights were as honest as they were hilarious. If you’re thinking about swapping your cubicle for the kitchen table, read this first.

First up: the strange but universal truth that people don’t think you’re really working. You can be juggling Slack notifications, deadlines, a marketing funnel, and three client calls in one day—and someone will still assume you’re folding socks and watching Bridgerton. It’s weird. And a little insulting. But it’s also very real. Friends and family mean well, but they often interpret “working from home” as “available for brunch, errands, and small talk at all hours.” The solution? Change how you talk about it. Call your home office “the office.” Say things like “I’m heading into a meeting” instead of “logging on to Zoom.” The more seriously you take your work, the more others will start to get the memo. Boundaries are like Wi-Fi passwords. If you don’t set them early, people will just keep trying to connect without asking.

Then there’s the thing no one warns you about: the invisible to-do list of home stuff that magically becomes your problem. Because you’re the one home, you get nominated for every domestic task by default. Waiting for the cable guy? That’s you. Accepting an IKEA delivery? Also you. Emergency plumber visit? Surprise! It’s still you. It starts small—like putting away laundry between calls—and snowballs into “how did I end up meal-prepping, dog-walking, and cleaning out the junk drawer all during business hours?” The answer is: you never set the rulebook. It’s okay to say no to dishes at 2PM. It’s okay to delegate the Comcast guy. Just because you’re in the house doesn’t mean you’re not on the clock.

And if you have kids? Well. Get ready for surprise guest appearances in your video calls. One of the moms in our group said her toddler once tried to feed a banana to a client over Zoom. Another had to mute herself mid-pitch because her twins were fighting over a dinosaur sticker. Depending on your industry, this can range from “adorable and relatable” to “career-ending scandal.” If your clients are in startups or online businesses, there’s a decent chance they’ll be unfazed—maybe even amused. But if you’re dealing with, say, traditional finance or law? You might want to invest in a lock. Or a babysitter. Or possibly a decoy Zoom background with no children in sight. The truth is, kids will interrupt. The question is whether the person on the other side of the screen can roll with it.

That said, there’s a very real upside to all this chaos: your health might get better. Really. Working from home often means better sleep, healthier lunches (goodbye, vending machine despair), and fewer hours wasted commuting or pretending to look busy in a cubicle. You can squeeze in a workout between meetings, take a walk in your neighborhood, and avoid awkward office cake ceremonies (“It’s Carl’s birthday! Again!”). Your time is yours. You get to wear soft pants. And if you want to eat lunch in your backyard while listening to a podcast about haunted lighthouses, no one can stop you. Working from home is, in many ways, the gateway to building a life that actually fits you. Healthier routines. More autonomy. Less forced small talk with that one coworker who always eats tuna at their desk.

But cabin fever is real. Even if you’re the type who lives for quiet mornings and uninterrupted solitude (hi, it’s me), the lack of human interaction will catch up to you. One day, you’ll blink and realize it’s been four days since you talked to another adult face-to-face. You’ll forget how to make small talk that doesn’t involve project updates. You’ll feel weird at dinner parties. You’ll start giving your plants names and narrating their lives like a reality show. The solution? Get out of the house on purpose. Go work from a coffee shop. Join a coworking group (virtual or in-person). Put on real clothes. Have lunch with a friend. Find your people—the ones who understand the work-from-home rollercoaster. They’ll remind you you’re not alone, even if your cat is currently your most frequent collaborator.

Here’s the final truth bomb: working from home isn’t a magic fix. It won’t solve all your problems or automatically make your life Pinterest-perfect. But it also isn’t the disaster some people claim it is. It’s a tool. A structure. A blank canvas. You still have to figure out how to use it.

So ask yourself: do you need the energy of other people to stay motivated? Or do you thrive when you can work in silence and pick your own playlist? Do you get cabin fever easily? Or does working in your own space feel like freedom?

There’s no right answer. Just your answer.

And if you ever need to take a Zoom call from the closet again because your neighbor started mowing the lawn mid-presentation? Just know: you’re not alone. We’ve all been there.