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Who works from home? Need your advice
My company has been trying to sell our building for a few years now and finally succeeded... We're a small office and most of us will now become "mobile" and work from home or wherever. We're getting laptops, cell phones, etc.
That means that after this week, I'm mostly going to be working out of my home office. I'm excited about this in some ways, but sad/worried about it too.
For those of you who work from home, I'm wondering how you keep from going crazy being all by yourself for such long stretches? Do you miss having a separate office to go to, and being in the same space with other coworkers? How do you keep from getting distracted by things at home (like doing chores or fun distractions) and staying focused on work? And how do you separate yourself mentally from work at the end of the day when your home IS your work space too?
I'm getting worried that I'm not nearly disciplined enough for this kind of set up. Any other thoughts, tips, suggestions re: working from home would be much appreciated! I'd like to try and make this transition as smooth as possible. Thanks!
Re: Who works from home? Need your advice
There was a post on this on the MM board recently if you want to try to dig it up. I think it was within the last week.
I think if your work is compelling, it's not hard to stay focused. I only work from home periodically when I can, and I love it. In a previous job, though, the work sucked and I couldn't stay focused without the discipline of being watched by co-workers.
DH worked from home for a few years. He's a workaholic and stepping away from work was a problem. You need to try to establish work hours, and when that's up, walk away from the computer. If you'll have an actual room to use as an office, maybe shut the door to help with focus while you're in there working, and then walk out and shut it behind you at the end of the day.
I do think it's good to get out of the house when you can. I used to encourage DH to leave and go get a sandwich for lunch at least. If you're the type that can't work in complete silence, then maybe see if you can work in a coffee shop.
I'm sure others will have more ideas. Enjoy your new flexibility! I would love not having a commute anymore!
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I only work from home on occasion, but if we move next year, I will be working from home full-time. I've worked from home enough to at least have some input, though hopefully others can give you more. I had/have the same struggle with trying to stay disciplined.
I allow myself to sleep in during the time I save in not commuting but I still give myself enough time to shower and get ready like I was going into the office (more or less). I work better when I'm sitting at a desk or somewhere else less comfy. If I worked from home full-time I'd definitely make a room into an office and only work in there. Plan ahead and give yourself a set amount of time for breaks and lunch. You can be generous with them, but strictly keep to them. Maybe even run them by someone so you are accountable. I don't have a problem with not talking to co-workers in person (lol) but, if you do need that human interaction, maybe you could assign a break or two to make calls to someone you know? Heck, Roni will be at home soon, right? Just no calling during naptime, maybe.
Also, be especially sure to keep healthy snacks around. Eating will be even easier when you're stuck at home all day. You also might want to try working at a cafe some days. It will keep you from cleaning/watching TV and the presence of other people will provide some degree of an office environment.
What doesn't work? Any combo of these (for me): Waking up when you would normally start work, not showering/dressing like normal, sitting with laptop in bed or on couch under blankets, sitting in front of TV (even if it's turned off), not keeping track of breaks. If I spend the day in bed working on the laptop, I can't fall asleep at night. My brain needs that distinction in zones for sleep, play, and work.
Good luck!
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Yep, that board is definitely a fun read.
Found the post: http://community.thenest.com/cs/ks/forums/thread/52245450.aspx
a little bird (not me but someone i know awful well
) said: "don't plan to work eight hours a day. you save at least an hour not going to meetings you don't need to be at, or dealing with people interrupting you with sh!t you don't need to know about." that's a direct quote and the little bird was dead serious.
Exactly this^^
I work from home a few days a week during the academic year and every day during the summer. I have a few work spaces in the house, which help me get in a little variety. We have an office where there's a real office set up. And then I have a big chair and ottoman that I often work out of. And then there are days that I work in front of the TV in the family room.
Often times, I start off in the office and then relocate to the TV later, but it probably depends more on task.
I do miss my coworkers when I'm at home a lot, but I find that I'm MUCH more productive at home b/c I'm not in meetings or gabbing with folks all the time like I am in the office.
Chores rarely distract me. I hate chores. And I guess fun stuff doesn't either b/c I know I have to get my work done some time. Sometimes if there is something fun I want to fit in, it motivates me to be more productive.
And I usually quit working when it's dinner time. I rarely log back on after dinner unless I have a deadline. I close my computer, move my phone away so I don't hear the email reminder, and then really just don't think about it.
Really, the hardest/worst part of working at home for me is having ready access to my kitchen. I tend to eat way more!! LOL
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I have no advice for you but wanted to say good luck! You'll be great.
When I worked from home there were some days that it was really hard and some days were easier. On the days that were hard, I reminded myself that not every day in the office was super productive and I didn't get myself down that much, I just kept working until I reached my quota for the day even if it meant working an extra hour or so past when I had scheduled myself for. I figured, if I didn't like having less time to have a life then I'd condition myself to miss those hours of free time and focus more when at "work."
On days that things were extra bad, I closed the door to the office, turned on some music, and shut everything out so I could focus more on the screen.
I'd say the hardest thing (and this was the case for a friend who also worked from home for a couple of years) is cabin fever. I really hate being home all the time in the first place, so this made things a little worse. DH would come home from work and I'd be all over him and then want to go out right away when he was tired from his looooong commute. Unfortunately I couldn't work on my laptop, but our friend did and he started to go to different places once a week to keep his spirits up. He'd go to a park one day, Starbucks the next, the mall another. Anywhere that there was people and work in different spots so that he got out.
HTH!
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