I'm struggling with it. Always wanted the flexibility to work from home, but no way would I choose to do it full time like this. Made worse that I changed employer/job/career in September and am trying to learn a totally new job in virtual isolation.
Try and speak to someone every day, either a team mate, mentor, former colleague, just to break it up with a bit of social chit chat, but it's still tough. Made worse by decision to exercise alone in this lockdown, though been out with a mate the last couple of weeks which has been fantastic.
Wife is out and about visiting for her job, kids at least had 3 months at school at the end of last year, and seeing the difference that made to them all reminded me how unendingly shit it can feel here in the back bedroom permanently. New terms and conditions at work will give us the right to work from home at least one day a week if we wish, but can't see me doing more than 2 days a week at home when I get the option.
I appreciate that I have a job and can do it from home, so I'm better off than many and that just makes me feel worse for moaning about it.
With lockdown easing a bit soon, is there anyone else you know (could be someone you work with, or just a friend) who's also working from home that you could work with some or all of the time? E.g. take turns to host at home, or use a cafe when they open up. Maybe even look into co-working spaces usually used by freelancers.
This was something my partner suggested last summer when I was getting pretty bored of WFH - just me and the dog at home, and very little contact with colleagues sometimes. Never thought I'd miss the office, and will probably WFH regularly some of the time now I'm set up to, but not having another human to go for a coffee with, chat to, or just to make sympathetic noises when I shout at the computer for months on end did get to me, so I sympathise.
The constant chaos of young kids also means that I spend quite a lot of the day trying to appear professional on Teams calls / video when the kids are banging on the bedroom door / shouting / screaming / fighting each other outside.
On this,
Maybe this is an expectations thing. You're seeing it as a issue unique to yourself whereas the reality of working from home is that many, many people are going to be in a similar boat where they're subject to external distractions. If WFH is to become "the new normal" then there surely has to be some acceptance that little Timmy soiling himself / the postman's at the door / your OH whining that you've not put the bins out / pets unexpectedly fanging your ankles is also the new normal. These are atypical times and we need to acknowledge that and make allowances for it.
I hated working from home and couldn't get back in the office quick enough or do site visits. Even though I'm the only one there most of the time in the depot which I'm happy with as I am anti-social at the best of times. The difference for me was being able to completely separate work and home life. I still occasionally work from home but I do it when I choose to do it.
Those saying your happy WFH do you have family or actually live alone?
as on the previous page dont confuse WFH with pandemic-enforcedWFH
Ive worked on site, remotely and from home for a few years and the advantages are great. I choose where to work, when, to best suit the needs of the business.
WFH full time where you sleep,eat,work,sleep is incredibly draining. Ive gone back to an empty office, at least i get a change of building twice per day. But even so, with outputs being down, absences being up the workload is insane. There is no lunch break, there is no "nip out for a ride", there is no 'evening', the light at the end of the tunnel vanished sometime ago, i literally feel like ive a full skip on my shoulders all the time.
It will pass.
Those saying your happy WFH do you have family or actually live alone?
I was happy working from home then boomerang daughter came home from her failed marriage and set up a call-centre in my workspace! There followed 2 weeks of hell getting nothing done because of the uproar before I had an operation in early November.
I've been working solo in the office since early January (there was 6 weeks when I was furloughed while convalescing before Christmas).
Those saying your happy WFH do you have family or actually live alone?
My partner (a teacher) is wfh just now, but before we got together in the before times, I used to live alone, work from home & go on 2 week holidays alone too.
Started a new job last July. It's been hard. Not much non work chat over teams. Everything is hard to do because simple questions end up in a phone call with someone trying to explain remotely. I'm missing a lot of the side conversations where you find out what people are doing and generally get involved in conversations outside your main area.
I never thought I would say it but I'm missing not going into work. That said there is a balance. When I needed to get my head down and write something, I could set myself to busy and silence my phone and just get on with it. I like not having to commute, I also like that it's more flexible.
I think there a real sense of disconnect from colleges and mis the lunch time gossip and a pint on Friday lunch / after work.
Its great working from home and I have back to back video calls most of the day but you mis out on the stories, the what people did at the weekend banter (which is currently nothing).
We are lucky enough to have a room at home each set up to function as an office, mine also has the turbo trainer set up in it, but we start work at 8am skip lunch to fit everything in and finish around 6.
I don't see my wife any more now than I did when I went to the office and all we get to talk about is work in the evenings because we haven't done anything else.
Part of working from home loneliness is working at home alone but part is not having any new experiences / things to talk about like holidays, weekend meals out, new bike parts etc etc
That really sucks dude, it annoys me that drivers are such idiots it means you feel unsafe on the road. No one should feel like that.
I was out riding with a Paramedic yesterday and was asking him about road accidents in the lockdowns, his summary was 'less cars, more moronic driving' so the accident rate was pretty much unchanged. Entitled 'essential workers' driving around like they owned the roads picking arguments with trees / ditches etc and getting upset when the tree / ditch failed to acknowledge their essential worker status.
Makes for a light hearted conversation riding with a paramedic, I get a constant commentary on every village, hair pin bend, bridge, river - head on crash, suicide, heart attack, drowning, favourite hanging spot etc etc.
Just as an aside when we were allowed to meet in a cafe outside with a few different people in the dim and distant past a few of us arranged to meet for a coffee break to off load about WFH etc.
We were seen by a mangers wife and it got back to senior management and we were told in no uncertain terms we couldn't to that in work time as that was classes as a meeting. You can imagine how that helped moral...
The OP describes my own feelings quite well - I'm bored shitless with the current routine tbh, interspersed with periods of massive stress as I try and fail to provide decent homeschooling. I'd be ok with WFH a couple of days per week if I was able to meet with colleagues the rest of the time, go out for a beer occasionally and so on.
I also think that WFH makes me a far poorer manager: all those things I can solve in 5 minutes in the office now need a 30 minute zoom call booked in, and I never hear the little conversations within my teams that might need my attention. In the office, if I see that a colleague is having a bad day I can take them out for a coffee and let them vent - WFH it's reached a crisis before I know about it.
I’m sort of planning on looking for one of those shared offices spaces after the covid as I think it gives more change to working from home and a little commute in the summer would be nice.
I found an absolute cracker of place in Barcelona harbour but I’ don’t live in Barcelona 🙁
Looks like you have to be under 30 and a part-time hipster model to work there.
Part of working from home loneliness is working at home alone but part is not having any new experiences / things to talk about like holidays, weekend meals out, new bike parts etc etc
This...many times over.
I'm generally ok WFH...I've got an "essential worker" partner who works as "normal" so at least I don't live alone. I've also got a dog for some company and an excuse to get out for some fresh air.
I'm now blocking out at least an hour of my work calendar at lunch time for either a longer dog walk or bike ride.
I even do the occasional (local) ride where I'll accidentally bump into a couple of friends who just happen to be riding in the same direction as me...BUT, apart from bitching about work, there aren't really any new/exciting topics to discuss!
We do regular social chat meetings at work over Zoom but it's not the same. Again, no one has anything particularly new/interesting to discuss.
Luckily, a new guy started at work a couple of weeks ago and he's a mountain biker so we have something in common to chat about and our meetings end up talking about trails...
I'm a loner anyway so have only really missed the family get togethers during school holidays (as my brother would travel up from London with his family for some of them). I feel sorry for the people I work with multiple kids and partner also trying to work from home - some Teams calls sound like they're running a nursery from home. I get antsy if I can hear a neighbour doing some DIY a few houses away let alone having kids screaming in my ear and running about the place all day!
FWIW, I love working from home. Can't really imagine anything worse than being in an office with the noisy eaters, the bloke guffawing at yet another questionable joke and the person who feels compelled to come and interrupt your train of thought at the worst moment to tell you he's sent you an email...
But, it's all got too much for me too and I'm struggling with the monotony. Since about the new year, it's suddenly become a lot harder - the dark evenings have got to me in a way they haven't before. I keep wanting to pick the phone up to talk to friends then realising I haven't really got anything new to talk about. Even the "virtual pub" zoom chats with old friends seem too much like part of the problem. I'm definitely clinging on for an hour of warmer daylight to do something productive, or at least to clear the head after work.
Not sure if that helps, but you're not alone in finding this a bit much, even among people who'd usually chose working from home.
Those saying your happy WFH do you have family or actually live alone
Family.
Thanks all, appreciate the responses. Guess it wouldnt feel quite as bad if regular socialising outside work was allowed. It's the combination of everything that perhaps making it worse.
I'm happy to split the week in future and carry on doing some WFH, but at the moment I'm struggling.
Enthusiasm is at an all time low, I'm so pleased that the kids are getting back to school next week. That'll make a big difference to us as a family.
he constant chaos of young kids also means that I spend quite a lot of the day trying to appear professional on Teams calls / video when the kids are banging on the bedroom door / shouting / screaming / fighting each other outside.
As someone whose kids have left home I really like to see small individuals breaking things in the background/tugging at sleeves etc, it just adds a bit to my day, you'll doubtless be consoled to hear...
I feel I get plenty of work company via the screen, with some days just back to back talking to folks. Big difference though between work 'friends' and actual friends.
You should pretend that you have a dog, I'm being serious. Go out for a 15-20 min walk every day before work, even it is dark and raining. Then go out for some form of air at lunchtime. Then again in the evening.
I think it is critical to leave the house at least twice a day, make it a bombproof rule. It won't fix everything but will certainly help.
You should pretend that you have a dog
Can't I pretend I am a dog?
Can’t I pretend I am a dog?
Depends whether or not you are flexible enough to lick your own balls
get up, shower, work, eat, watch telly, bed, repeat.
That's how I feel at the minute.
Me as well, the only thing going for it is I'm cranking some daily exercise into the dull routine, unfortunately its an exercise bike staring at the walls in the garage. I get the hours saved commuting but somehow I'm getting up later and find it as difficult as getting up early.
Also feel a bit guilty about my team, I like to work with them, amongst them, on met some of them once since I started (day before lock down 1). They get a lot less interaction than I do.
I do the regular zoom/teams meetings but its not the same as face to face. I was always happy in my own company before and didn’t think I was that social, but turns out I do need to see other people
Strange, that’s exactly how I feel. I’ve always been very content in my own company but I wonder if that was because I was forced to be around others every day and being alone balanced that out. Now there is no balance as it’s all one side of that coin so it doesnt energise me the way it did.
I think there's a lot of that. I'm also in agreement with Perchy about being trapped with the people I love.
Very similar for me, I miss the chit chat for both social interaction and picking up the bits of work. I changed jobs in September and haven't got to build the support network, the allies, that I would have by now. Got a pretty decent relationship with my new colleagues but it's lacking the personal level.
Really glad I'm married with kids or I'd be going nuts!
The warmer and brighter weather is helping MASSIVELY now though... Spring is not far off!
One thing I started doing a few weeks ago, is going for a half hour walk in the morning, which is roughly the time of my commute, while listening to podcasts/audiobooks as I would when catching the tram to the office.
And how about we start a STW WFH zoom chat group once or twice a week? I am not much of a chatterbox myself and don't actually use zoom at the moment so not sure how to set it up, but it might be an idea for us to get a bit of banter away from just work colleagues.
I went into self isolation on the 12th March last year and never went back into the office. Just realised that I've spent every night in the house for the past 12 months - think that's a life first.
I try get out for three walks - even if it's just the equivalent of round the block. Small world of village life means there is always someone to pass the time of day with. Usually speak to a couple of people during the day about work things and have the odd zoom. Summer furlough was worse because I was pummelled with long covid and couldn't get out and about much.
I like it but I except it's not for everyone.
For me it's more productive, more efficient, more convenient better environment. Only bad sad is extra electric usage.
@airvent I totally feel your pain and there are four of us at home currently and I spend probably 2-4 hours a day on phone calls with clients and colleagues. Both me and Mrs gd do jobs that mean we can't work in the same room for noise and confidentiality reasons so we are shut away for hours at a time.
The reality as well is that many of us are working less efficiently because no matter how good our company's systems may be we are probably dealing with a truckload of people whose systems aren't as efficient. That's putting a drag on productivity and job satisfaction for many desk jockeys like me, which means more late nights working in a quiet corner of the house when the rest of the family is relaxing or in bed. It has become very oppressive.
We are not alone in this. I'm having these conversations with others on an almost daily basis to one degree or another.
This place really helps when I've stopped work when everyone else has gone to bed and I just want to do something "not work" that involves people. Kind of like a delayed conversation and for that my thanks.
Edit: and if it's really awful get in touch with your GP or try one of the NHS resources.
Just realised that I’ve spent every night in the house for the past 12 months – think that’s a life first.
Bloody hell me too. And LittleMissMC.
MrsMC has had a few nights away sorting out her parents who are now in care/sheltered accommodation.
MCJnr has had one night in a tent in the garden for a Scout challenge. In 2019 he had over 50 nights away from home for various Scout, DofE and music events.
Sorry to hear you're struggling....for me, it's ups and downs. The first lockdown was ok - it was sunny, could get out biking first thing before work and was in a much less demanding (and much less interesting) job. Approach into winter, shorter days, longer working days and half the week on teams meetings meant my head was battered by Xmas. Though to be fair, my colleagues were the same - stressed, tired - we just didn't realise it! Getting back onto site maybe 1-2 days every week, which helps, miss seeing certain people and figuring out plant from a drawing isn't always the best... However, being an introvert, I don't miss open plan offices, unnecessary distractions or knobjockery that happens when lots of people are forced together at work. I do enjoy pre meeting banter and our team are an excellent bunch of folk. I'm married, and my husband is in a similar role which helps, we've no kids - much respect to homeschooling parents...tough times for all for various reasons, take care.... spring's a coming and it's positive thinking we're hopefully on the right side of gradually emerging from our lockdown hibernation 🙂
Yep, posted in another thread but..
I’m quite an introvert and homely person so the novelty of not getting up at 5am, having coffee on tap, always being at home was excellent. But recently I’ve been getting frustrated with work and although there are other issues, I’ve come to realise that part of this is missing the little perks and subtleties of “variety” in my day.
Sitting on a train, 10 mins in a coffee shop, an enjoyable journey in the car, being here one day and there the next all seemed like a hassle sometimes until now. However, I do think this will morph into a 50/50 balance of what was, so they be less travelling and more Teams resulting in an even better more controllable balance.
However, I do think this will morph into a 50/50 balance of what was, so they be less travelling and more Teams resulting in an even better more controllable balance.
I think that flexibility will be the end result. Just taking a loooong time to get there.
I've worked remotely for five years, so on the surface of things, there is no real change. However, I was very dependent on getting out the house, going to restaurants and pubs, without those outlets it's been quite challenging. But beats commuting every day.
It's really started to get to me this week. I don't associate it with WFH though, it's lockdown that's meaning I don't speak to any of the people I normally would outside of work. I isolated running up to christmas so I've only had 2 weeks out of lockdown since September which is a scary thought. Still, I've got it better than plenty of people this year, I just wish it wasn't effecting my productivity so much
Not an issue for me personally but can quite understand it is for some.
However, the end IS in sight. Really. Spring is coming, infection rates are continuing to plummet and most of us (including basically everyone with significant vulnerability) will have been vaccinated in another month or two. So I hope those who are finding it a struggle can start to feel a bit more optimistic soon.
A mate on a Whatsapp group helpfully shared a photo of the last night all of us were all together for a beer - which was exactly a year ago. A whole year of basically missing out on the usual social chat, banter, actually using conversational skills. **** it's depressing
WfH for almost 12 months here. I feel OK with it but don't think I have it especially hard compared to other people as I live with my wife in a fairly large house and no kids to look after.
If I had to choose between WfH full-time or back to exactly as it used to be (office 9-5) it'd be a real tough choice. I think they're both equally good/bad but just in completely different ways. Luckily as others have said I'm holding out of some sort of hybrid arrangement which if possible, I think would be great.
I also agree that we should try and avoid conflating WfH and WfH+lockdown. I expect a lot of people who are struggling would not have found it quite so hard if it was simply WfH in normal times.
I read about an app the other day that is simply a live-feed video of other people silently working which you can just add to your screen. Apparently it worked quite well at increasing productivity and wellbeing.
Nahh ... WFH is perfectly fine by me. All good.
I have 4 computer screens of all sizes on at most time so all good.
I don't have to get up too early and I can smoke at will while in the meeting. Yes, I can.
I think i have become more sociable in lockdown.
It’s got to me this week. But I think like comments above, it’s WFH + lockdown. I’ve only left the county 4 times since October, and even then it was only to go the next county and the border is only 4 miles away! Plus getting COVID end of November and still not fully better now. It’s all just got a bit much. I actually don’t mind WFH too much - been doing it since mid March 2020 so it’s reached a level of acceptance and I have a decent office set up. But it’s the total lack of variation - I used to be in labs, giving lectures, meeting students etc which meant my week was quite varied. 100% online, no field work and lockdown has really started to grate now. I really need a change of scene. It’s definitely hit my productivity this week.
Yeah, lack of variety for me too.
I hate WFH. My job requires this most of the time anyway. If you fancy a coffee or to setup some kind of group send me a message. I find the pressure of home claustrophobic.
