For example I’m doing some data cleansing stuff as a tacitical solution to a large existing problem on an OS layer, so it’s meant concentration levels have been high and critical analysis high.. This I can do for limited periods before my brain gets all fuddled.
You delete a few things off your overcrowded desktop?
This is a sore subject with me now.
i had been allowed to WFH 2 days a week for the last 4 years,as I had handed notice in as the 45min commute pissed me off plus we had/have childcare issues. The firm offered this up as a solution so I stayed.... pretty much just on this basis.
anyway the firm have literally grown ten fold and a couple of months back I was handed a new employment conditions which state that I can no longer WFH.
this is based on the fact I’m the only one of 20 or more engineers that had WFH benefits in their employment conditions.
Its messed things up considerably and I’m left fuming really as now I sit with a bunch of very chatty-disruptive youngsters (under 30’s) and struggle to get work out of the door and now have to rely on eldest son to look after the youngest which he’s not happy about and making life difficult.
I miss the old WFH days and will start looking again but it’s not what I want they have just sort of forced my hand.
https://getcoldturkey.com/ if you have no willpower.
Agree with setting hours and getting out of the house - have 2 kids in nursery so I drop off and pick up so I always get out first thing and have to finish at 5.30. Still not quite figured out how this will work once eldest starts school.
Do video calls by default - set up desk so you have a plain wall behind or some colleagues have pulldown screens or curtains to hide the mess. Although the background blurring in Teams now saves some of that. I spend half my day on calls so if anything could do with a bit less contact.
For example I’m doing some data cleansing stuff as a tacitical solution to a large existing problem on an OS layer, so it’s meant concentration levels have been high and critical analysis high.. This I can do for limited periods before my brain gets all fuddled.
You delete a few things off your overcrowded desktop?
Yip, you got it 🤩
I’m, BTW, only WFH one/two days a week. Which fits in perfectly because when I’m in the office it’s normally the High Level SteerCo stuff.. and honestly that does my head in and I’m due some down time.
🧟♂️
One of the good bits is as you're WFH, it's assumed you'll be occupied at times with family stuff, dealing with deliveries, having to pop to the shop or may be in the bathroom. So whenever someone calls and you don't answer it's just accepted you're not available right now, so you can just not answer the phone/email/IM request (set your availability to 'away').
In the office you can be pestered every two seconds because you're there, or if someone calls, they'll call repeatedly until you answer.
I find doing the work just depends what it is. Something that's dull and doesn't really need doing, then it likely won't get done, so you do other stuff all day and it probably gets forgotten about or you can wing it later. Things that I'm actually interested in doing I might get very involved in and consumes far more of my attention than in an office. So much that I neglect to do the home bits I wanted to do while WFH anyway, and even miss out on the evening group rides because I forget the time.
Then there's the shit-hit-the-fan issues in the office and you spend ages trying to diagnose customer issues remotely with a bit of Chinese whispers going on between everyone, and it's hard to take a break. Today is one of those days.
I use the tranquility of not being interrupted to get tricky analytical stuff and reports done.
A dash of heavy metal playing in the background, cup of tea and stop for sandwiches and an episode of 70s detective drama over lunch.
If I'm doing reporting work my productivity is higher at home.
I've been working from home for 7 years now. 2 employed and 2.5 self-employed, and 2.5 as a joint partner of a business. This year is the first time I've really 'got it', previously in the pursuit of discipline I'd sit at my desk 9-5 regardless of whether I have any work to do. Now I use the flexibility to spend time with family or ride when not busy (I also work evenings and weekend if I have to although thankfully rare).
Good: No commute (money and time savings)
Very high productivity on task based work,
Flexibility for deliveries, doctors appointments etc
Not so good: Can be isolating, especially if your job does not include much interaction with others (my business partner and I have hangouts open most of the time so it's like a virtual office,
Similarly working remotely can distance you from your colleagues or clients, embrace the chance to get out.
Very easy not to leave the house which isn't healthy mentally or physically (I try to a quick ride or Zwift before work or and walk at lunchtime).
Your partner may not understand that you are at work, mine finally does but for a few years I was given a daily list of chores to do.
Having young kids at home on non-nursery days is a nightmare sometimes, my 3 year old generally gets it now but with another on the way I've moved the office further away from the hallway which helps.
I that it's easier to avoid work that I don't want to do, especially things without deadlines.
