Working from Home - Sheer lack in motivation
Discussion
I've been working from home now for about 2 years and starting to really lack motivation in anything I do work related. The company is a decent one (though could pay me more), multinational, however the nearest office is 30 miles away and having moved house to in the middle of nowhere last summer it's a pain getting to the office, then there is parking etc.. or maybe that's an excuse as I have a motorbike, but then my boss is based in Switzerland and I have no team here in the UK to even see face to face.
However, back to the topic, I spend all day at home and occasionally do some work (design documents, conference calls etc) but these last few months since I moved house I find doing work so laborious, and often end up going out for a drive, tinkering with the car/bike or having a blast out on the motorbike. Some might say its the perfect job, that I cannot.
Guessing most of you will say get a new job, but the current job market is not its best at the moment and last thing I want to be is be first in and then first out when they need to make sacrifices. I've thought about giving it all up, rent the house out and buggering off abroad to work, Dubai, Singapore etc...... maybe I've just answered my own question by writing this down.
Either way any ideas welcome!
However, back to the topic, I spend all day at home and occasionally do some work (design documents, conference calls etc) but these last few months since I moved house I find doing work so laborious, and often end up going out for a drive, tinkering with the car/bike or having a blast out on the motorbike. Some might say its the perfect job, that I cannot.
Guessing most of you will say get a new job, but the current job market is not its best at the moment and last thing I want to be is be first in and then first out when they need to make sacrifices. I've thought about giving it all up, rent the house out and buggering off abroad to work, Dubai, Singapore etc...... maybe I've just answered my own question by writing this down.
Either way any ideas welcome!
I can sympathise, I often find myself doign the same.
Earlier this year I actually managed to "work from home" whilst effectivly managing 3 building contractors doign work to the house and make tea every 5 minutes for them too.
I find that taking a break, actually going out for lunch, a walk to the shops or around the block for 10 minutes helps.
Aside from thatk, its really a drawback of homeworking
Earlier this year I actually managed to "work from home" whilst effectivly managing 3 building contractors doign work to the house and make tea every 5 minutes for them too.
I find that taking a break, actually going out for lunch, a walk to the shops or around the block for 10 minutes helps.
Aside from thatk, its really a drawback of homeworking
Rich_AR said:
I've been working from home now for about 2 years and starting to really lack motivation in anything I do work related. The company is a decent one (though could pay me more), multinational, however the nearest office is 30 miles away and having moved house to in the middle of nowhere last summer it's a pain getting to the office, then there is parking etc.. or maybe that's an excuse as I have a motorbike, but then my boss is based in Switzerland and I have no team here in the UK to even see face to face.
However, back to the topic, I spend all day at home and occasionally do some work (design documents, conference calls etc) but these last few months since I moved house I find doing work so laborious, and often end up going out for a drive, tinkering with the car/bike or having a blast out on the motorbike. Some might say its the perfect job, that I cannot.
Guessing most of you will say get a new job, but the current job market is not its best at the moment and last thing I want to be is be first in and then first out when they need to make sacrifices. I've thought about giving it all up, rent the house out and buggering off abroad to work, Dubai, Singapore etc...... maybe I've just answered my own question by writing this down.
Either way any ideas welcome!
How can you get away with doing so little work? Do you have one of those pointless jobs that may have had a purpose when their spec was created but over the course of time have devolved into nothingness?However, back to the topic, I spend all day at home and occasionally do some work (design documents, conference calls etc) but these last few months since I moved house I find doing work so laborious, and often end up going out for a drive, tinkering with the car/bike or having a blast out on the motorbike. Some might say its the perfect job, that I cannot.
Guessing most of you will say get a new job, but the current job market is not its best at the moment and last thing I want to be is be first in and then first out when they need to make sacrifices. I've thought about giving it all up, rent the house out and buggering off abroad to work, Dubai, Singapore etc...... maybe I've just answered my own question by writing this down.
Either way any ideas welcome!
Geronimo said:
How can you get away with doing so little work? Do you have one of those pointless jobs that may have had a purpose when their spec was created but over the course of time have devolved into nothingness?
I'm specialist in what I do, work comes and goes, the company is 120,000 people strong, the customer pays for my time as such. They could utilize me more, but that is down to management on the projects etc and I do wave the flag asking for more work. Rich_AR said:
I've been working from home now for about 2 years and starting to really lack motivation in anything I do work related. The company is a decent one (though could pay me more), multinational, however the nearest office is 30 miles away and having moved house to in the middle of nowhere last summer it's a pain getting to the office, then there is parking etc.. or maybe that's an excuse as I have a motorbike, but then my boss is based in Switzerland and I have no team here in the UK to even see face to face.
However, back to the topic, I spend all day at home and occasionally do some work (design documents, conference calls etc) but these last few months since I moved house I find doing work so laborious, and often end up going out for a drive, tinkering with the car/bike or having a blast out on the motorbike. Some might say its the perfect job, that I cannot.
Guessing most of you will say get a new job, but the current job market is not its best at the moment and last thing I want to be is be first in and then first out when they need to make sacrifices. I've thought about giving it all up, rent the house out and buggering off abroad to work, Dubai, Singapore etc...... maybe I've just answered my own question by writing this down.
Either way any ideas welcome!
I've been working from home for about 2 years now. Have a team of 9 people but all over Europe so never see them and office is 100 miles away. I'm still motivate but have told myself the moment I can't be arsed to do much work is the day I look for a new job/start a business! Sounds like you need a new job to motivate you. Then again, maybe the company will use the laziness as a god reason to get rid of you in the recession so you'll be extra motivated t find something new anyway However, back to the topic, I spend all day at home and occasionally do some work (design documents, conference calls etc) but these last few months since I moved house I find doing work so laborious, and often end up going out for a drive, tinkering with the car/bike or having a blast out on the motorbike. Some might say its the perfect job, that I cannot.
Guessing most of you will say get a new job, but the current job market is not its best at the moment and last thing I want to be is be first in and then first out when they need to make sacrifices. I've thought about giving it all up, rent the house out and buggering off abroad to work, Dubai, Singapore etc...... maybe I've just answered my own question by writing this down.
Either way any ideas welcome!
Do you think it would really be that different if you were office-based? Many of the posters on these fora work amongst peers in an office and spend 50%+ of their working life on here.
You are not alone in how you feel. If you can stay employed, earn enough to allow you your guilty pleasures in life and pay the mortgage, in this climate I say carry on. But instead of feeling bad about it, stick to a more structured day and when your work is done, do something else such as car tinkering, gym, bike ride etc.
Do they expect you to sit around waiting for the phone to ring?
You are not alone in how you feel. If you can stay employed, earn enough to allow you your guilty pleasures in life and pay the mortgage, in this climate I say carry on. But instead of feeling bad about it, stick to a more structured day and when your work is done, do something else such as car tinkering, gym, bike ride etc.
Do they expect you to sit around waiting for the phone to ring?
Been working from home for the last five years.
Motivation often dwindles. However, rest assured that even on your least productive day you are probably still achieving more than 99% of office based cubicle workers.
A few things you can do is take a break and go to the gym or just do some exercise at home. The worst thing you can do is sit in your work space and drop into a downward spiral.
I usually just need a short visit to a client site for a meeting with the cubicle based battery hens to convince myself that I would much rather be home based.
One of the other things you can do is meet a mate for lunch etc.
Good luck.
pp
Motivation often dwindles. However, rest assured that even on your least productive day you are probably still achieving more than 99% of office based cubicle workers.
A few things you can do is take a break and go to the gym or just do some exercise at home. The worst thing you can do is sit in your work space and drop into a downward spiral.
I usually just need a short visit to a client site for a meeting with the cubicle based battery hens to convince myself that I would much rather be home based.
One of the other things you can do is meet a mate for lunch etc.
Good luck.
pp
Pferdestarke said:
Do you think it would really be that different if you were office-based? Many of the posters on these fora work amongst peers in an office and spend 50%+ of their working life on here.
You are not alone in how you feel. If you can stay employed, earn enough to allow you your guilty pleasures in life and pay the mortgage, in this climate I say carry on. But instead of feeling bad about it, stick to a more structured day and when your work is done, do something else such as car tinkering, gym, bike ride etc.
Do they expect you to sit around waiting for the phone to ring?
Not sure, guess I have a few friends in the local office and in someways I could 'network' more with people.You are not alone in how you feel. If you can stay employed, earn enough to allow you your guilty pleasures in life and pay the mortgage, in this climate I say carry on. But instead of feeling bad about it, stick to a more structured day and when your work is done, do something else such as car tinkering, gym, bike ride etc.
Do they expect you to sit around waiting for the phone to ring?
Structure sounds about right, just signed up with the local gym. I guess I cannot see the void between work and home.
Not sure what they expect me to do, apart from be at my desk 9-5! I am what is known as flexible resource and work want us homeworkers to have a flexible work-life pattern.
Edited by Rich_AR on Tuesday 30th December 11:35
Pickled Piper said:
Been working from home for the last five years.
Motivation often dwindles. However, rest assured that even on your least productive day you are probably still achieving more than 99% of office based cubicle workers.
A few things you can do is take a break and go to the gym or just do some exercise at home. The worst thing you can do is sit in your work space and drop into a downward spiral.
I usually just need a short visit to a client site for a meeting with the cubicle based battery hens to convince myself that I would much rather be home based.
One of the other things you can do is meet a mate for lunch etc.
Good luck.
pp
]Motivation often dwindles. However, rest assured that even on your least productive day you are probably still achieving more than 99% of office based cubicle workers.
A few things you can do is take a break and go to the gym or just do some exercise at home. The worst thing you can do is sit in your work space and drop into a downward spiral.
I usually just need a short visit to a client site for a meeting with the cubicle based battery hens to convince myself that I would much rather be home based.
One of the other things you can do is meet a mate for lunch etc.
Good luck.
pp
Thanks PP.
"the cubicle based battery hens" hehe!
I also fall into this trap from time to time. I have an office just round the corner but I end up sitting with the lappy working remotely with the mobile by my side. It is really tough sometimes to get ready and get out. Sometimes I dread the phone ringing and me having to actually go out and work somewhere. I think when the climate picks up I might need to find a new venture.
jkennyd said:
I also fall into this trap from time to time. I have an office just round the corner but I end up sitting with the lappy working remotely with the mobile by my side. It is really tough sometimes to get ready and get out. Sometimes I dread the phone ringing and me having to actually go out and work somewhere. I think when the climate picks up I might need to find a new venture.
The dreaded phone ringing whilst you're still in bed and having to quickly compose yourself.... I know it well... too well infact 
Rich_AR said:
The dreaded phone ringing whilst you're still in bed and having to quickly compose yourself.... I know it well... too well infact
I go to tghe office every day now!
I have worked from home for a number of years. Sometimes it does become a struggle to get things done. I find I am at my most productive early in the morning so tend to start work around 6.30am and work through to about 10 or 11am. I can get so much more done in the first few hours before the phone starts ringing and people start sending emails etc. I find it also gives me a boost when I think about most people having to travel to work and sitting in traffic jams etc. My commute consists of about 20 metres via the kitchen to get a coffee.
I usually take a break between 11am and about 2pm and either go for a run/walk/down the gym. Start work again about 2pm, feeling refreshed etc and work until about 6pm when my partner gets in. Seems to work quite well for me but I am very self disciplined about getting started first thing in the morning.
I find it hardest when I don't have much urgent stuff to do, or when working on a project I have no real interest in, but when I think of the alteratives - commuting, working in an office, office politics, time wasting etc - it soon gives me a boost of motivation to get it all done.
I've had days where I just cannot get into my work so I find that the best thing is to just close the office door and go and do something else, to start again tomorrow in a better frame of mind.
Everyone is different, I know some people are incapable of working from home as they are drawn to daytime TV. I only ever have the TV on if I am following a sporting event.
I usually take a break between 11am and about 2pm and either go for a run/walk/down the gym. Start work again about 2pm, feeling refreshed etc and work until about 6pm when my partner gets in. Seems to work quite well for me but I am very self disciplined about getting started first thing in the morning.
I find it hardest when I don't have much urgent stuff to do, or when working on a project I have no real interest in, but when I think of the alteratives - commuting, working in an office, office politics, time wasting etc - it soon gives me a boost of motivation to get it all done.
I've had days where I just cannot get into my work so I find that the best thing is to just close the office door and go and do something else, to start again tomorrow in a better frame of mind.
Everyone is different, I know some people are incapable of working from home as they are drawn to daytime TV. I only ever have the TV on if I am following a sporting event.
Phoenix said:
I know some people are incapable of working from home as they are drawn to daytime TV. I only ever have the TV on if I am following a sporting event.
I occasionally work from home and that's the big no-no for me - i never have the TV on during the daytime, ever. It's even worse than surfing PH, because it removes the feeling of being in a work environment. So yep, making your home into an office helps a bit - that also means no beer outside lunchtime.Gassing Station | The Pie & Piston Archive | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff