Bad habits whilst working from home

[Chicken_Satay]

mstrbkr said:

Would love to know what kind of stuff it is you’re ordering! I thought I relied on amazon a bit too much but I’ve got fewer than 50 orders on it this year.

I'm curious to know too. I do a lot of online shopping but not on Amazon. I find that Amazon often has stuff listed that I may want but isn't in stock. Apart from that though, everything else appears to be just a load of cheap st.

[QuartzDad]

mstrbkr said:

Would love to know what kind of stuff it is you’re ordering! I thought I relied on amazon a bit too much but I’ve got fewer than 50 orders on it this year.

Furniture wax
Booze
Chrimbo presents
Coffee pods
Torch, PH thread
shed loads of IT stuff
Mothballs
Car bulbs
Number plate screw covers, son needed two, bought 36....
86mm oil filter wrench
Car wax
Vacuum cleaner
Fish oil
Face masks
socket set
socket set rail clips
Jigsaws
Christmas baubles
Ratchet spanner set
Bathroom mirror
replacement toothbrush heads
phone screen protector

That's October and September....

[p1stonhead]

mstrbkr said:

Would love to know what kind of stuff it is you’re ordering!

This year, excluding weekly food shop, effectively everything. Not really exaggerating at all.

[Birdster]

How do you see your total count?

I’ve tried in the iOS app and on the laptop. I just see this.

[Woodrow Wilson]

Lord Marylebone said:

Working from home is really not the utopia people think it is.

There have been loads of discussions about WFH on here recently, and I think many people will be glad to get back to an office, and even glad to be back to their commute, dare I say it.

It certainly isn't utopia, unless vegetating in front of a monitor, working through various tedious (often re-work) tasks without human company, broken up by dysfunctional, often needless, online meetings is your idea of perfect.

The drive commute is not someting to look forward to, but by bike it is great and even by train it can be quite pleasant.

[Woodrow Wilson]

crofty1984 said:

Presenteeism is my worst one. I know I'm not naturally disciplined so make sure I always start at 9 or earlier and finish no earlier than 5. In my office unless on a teabreak or lunch. Problem is I seem to have days where I don't actually achieve much. I'd be better off if I could say to myself - do these tasks for the day, then knock off early, rather than stretching them out all day. I'd probably actually achieve more.

Same here. I feel obliged to sit at my desk for working hours, with a very important break for freedom at lunchtime.

[Woodrow Wilson]

fat80b said:

Our place has gone the extra mile for the home setup.

$1500 to spend on equipment - desk, chair, monitors, headsets etc.

Expense your home internet.

Loads of support and regular care parcels / extra stuff sent through

Regular feedback surveys to see what extra they should do

Resulting in additional support for childcare costs and a cash bonus to spend on anything you like.

Plus the best of all - no meeting Fridays

Civil service?

[dontlookdown]

Woodrow Wilson said:

crofty1984 said:

Presenteeism is my worst one. I know I'm not naturally disciplined so make sure I always start at 9 or earlier and finish no earlier than 5. In my office unless on a teabreak or lunch. Problem is I seem to have days where I don't actually achieve much. I'd be better off if I could say to myself - do these tasks for the day, then knock off early, rather than stretching them out all day. I'd probably actually achieve more.

Same here. I feel obliged to sit at my desk for working hours, with a very important break for freedom at lunchtime.

You are institutionalised and this old office habit takes time and effort to break. Try escaping for 10 or 15mins at other times and work up from there.

I have been self employed and WFH for 4yrs, after 20yrs as an employee in various offices.It took me a year to realise I didn't have to do 8.30-6.00 If I didn't want to anymore, and another year to properly kick the habit and stop feeling guilty about 'time off' during the day. So long as the work gets done you are not slacking. It can even make you more productive sometimes.

It's worth sticking at it because the ability to take a break or nip out for an hour or two in the middle of the day is one real perk to WFH.

[anonymous-user]

Chicken_Satay said:

I'm curious to know too. I do a lot of online shopping but not on Amazon. I find that Amazon often has stuff listed that I may want but isn't in stock. Apart from that though, everything else appears to be just a load of cheap st.

We find ourselves doing quite a bit of 'ordinary' shopping with Amazon these days.

Food, coffee, alcohol of various types, toothbrush heads, batteries, pet food etc.

My only complaint with Amazon at the moment is that we pay to be Prime members and yet often what we have ordered for next day delivery is delayed a couple of days. This issue seems to be getting worse.

[Red9zero]

Lord Marylebone said:

We find ourselves doing quite a bit of 'ordinary' shopping with Amazon these days.

Food, coffee, alcohol of various types, toothbrush heads, batteries, pet food etc.

My only complaint with Amazon at the moment is that we pay to be Prime members and yet often what we have ordered for next day delivery is delayed a couple of days. This issue seems to be getting worse.

Same here. I bought some salt from Amazon the other day, as I couldn't be bothered to walk the 200yds to the local shop. Couldn't complain at 70p, delivered the next day though
The delivery is definitely a bit hit and miss though. A few times I have ordered stuff that was same or next day delivery, that suddenly changes to 2-3 days when you get the confirmation through.

[Woodrow Wilson]

Red9zero said:

I bought some salt from Amazon the other day, as I couldn't be bothered to walk the 200yds to the local shop. Couldn't complain at 70p, delivered the next day though

I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous.

[Doofus]

dontlookdown said:

You are institutionalised and this old office habit takes time and effort to break. Try escaping for 10 or 15mins at other times and work up from there.

I have been self employed and WFH for 4yrs, after 20yrs as an employee in various offices.It took me a year to realise I didn't have to do 8.30-6.00 If I didn't want to anymore, and another year to properly kick the habit and stop feeling guilty about 'time off' during the day. So long as the work gets done you are not slacking. It can even make you more productive sometimes.

It's worth sticking at it because the ability to take a break or nip out for an hour or two in the middle of the day is one real perk to WFH.

You are, as you have said, self employed. That makes a huge difference, and the way you work won't usually work for somebody who is employed. I don't have a 'proper' job either, and thus the way I manage my time is of no real relevande to this thread.

[anonymous-user]

Red9zero said:

Same here. I bought some salt from Amazon the other day, as I couldn't be bothered to walk the 200yds to the local shop. Couldn't complain at 70p, delivered the next day though
The delivery is definitely a bit hit and miss though. A few times I have ordered stuff that was same or next day delivery, that suddenly changes to 2-3 days when you get the confirmation through.

Probably something to do with the number of orders you’re putting in. All of my prime orders arrive next day (under 50 this year)

Edited by mstrbkr on Tuesday 27th October 09:03

[Red9zero]

Woodrow Wilson said:

Red9zero said:

I bought some salt from Amazon the other day, as I couldn't be bothered to walk the 200yds to the local shop. Couldn't complain at 70p, delivered the next day though

I'm sorry, but that sounds ridiculous.

It is, very

[Red9zero]

mstrbkr said:

Red9zero said:

Same here. I bought some salt from Amazon the other day, as I couldn't be bothered to walk the 200yds to the local shop. Couldn't complain at 70p, delivered the next day though
The delivery is definitely a bit hit and miss though. A few times I have ordered stuff that was same or next day delivery, that suddenly changes to 2-3 days when you get the confirmation through.

Probably something to do with the number of orders you’re putting in. All of my prime orders arrive next day (under 50 this year)

Edited by mstrbkr on Tuesday 27th October 09:03

I think it depends what you order. We have a large Amazon warehouse about 30 mins from here and they do seem to keep a very varied stock. We have got far too used to instant delivery though and anything over a week feels like forever !

[dontlookdown]

Doofus said:

dontlookdown said:

You are institutionalised and this old office habit takes time and effort to break. Try escaping for 10 or 15mins at other times and work up from there.

I have been self employed and WFH for 4yrs, after 20yrs as an employee in various offices.It took me a year to realise I didn't have to do 8.30-6.00 If I didn't want to anymore, and another year to properly kick the habit and stop feeling guilty about 'time off' during the day. So long as the work gets done you are not slacking. It can even make you more productive sometimes.

It's worth sticking at it because the ability to take a break or nip out for an hour or two in the middle of the day is one real perk to WFH.

You are, as you have said, self employed. That makes a huge difference, and the way you work won't usually work for somebody who is employed. I don't have a 'proper' job either, and thus the way I manage my time is of no real relevande to this thread.

Yes it does make a big difference being self-employed, but poster wanted to know how to tackle presenteeism while WFH, something which I do have some insight to. It is possible to learn from people who are in different but not entirely dissimilar situations

[Doofus]

dontlookdown said:

Doofus said:

dontlookdown said:

You are institutionalised and this old office habit takes time and effort to break. Try escaping for 10 or 15mins at other times and work up from there.

I have been self employed and WFH for 4yrs, after 20yrs as an employee in various offices.It took me a year to realise I didn't have to do 8.30-6.00 If I didn't want to anymore, and another year to properly kick the habit and stop feeling guilty about 'time off' during the day. So long as the work gets done you are not slacking. It can even make you more productive sometimes.

It's worth sticking at it because the ability to take a break or nip out for an hour or two in the middle of the day is one real perk to WFH.

You are, as you have said, self employed. That makes a huge difference, and the way you work won't usually work for somebody who is employed. I don't have a 'proper' job either, and thus the way I manage my time is of no real relevande to this thread.

Yes it does make a big difference being self-employed, but poster wanted to know how to tackle presenteeism while WFH, something which I do have some insight to. It is possible to learn from people who are in different but not entirely dissimilar situations

I appreciate that, but in many cases, presenteeism is driven from above, not by the individual themselves. I often claim to be unavailable for meetings when in fact I am, because I don't want people to expect me to be at their beck and call. I used to do that when I was employed, too.

I guess what I was saying that it is very much dependent on the type of organisation you work for, and the job you do there, and being responsible for your own diary/workload/time is not a luxury all of us enjoy.

[JakeT]

A lot of my time is passed through to me via our resourcing manager, who then passes things on to me. Or people come to me from sales, or our client services team. Or even clients directly. As a result, I suffer in the same way. If I have little/nothing to do, I still have to be online, and contactable which means sometimes small tasks take all day, or I sit twiddling my thumbs waiting for things.

[crofty1984]

dontlookdown said:

Woodrow Wilson said:

crofty1984 said:

Presenteeism is my worst one. I know I'm not naturally disciplined so make sure I always start at 9 or earlier and finish no earlier than 5. In my office unless on a teabreak or lunch. Problem is I seem to have days where I don't actually achieve much. I'd be better off if I could say to myself - do these tasks for the day, then knock off early, rather than stretching them out all day. I'd probably actually achieve more.

Same here. I feel obliged to sit at my desk for working hours, with a very important break for freedom at lunchtime.

You are institutionalised and this old office habit takes time and effort to break. Try escaping for 10 or 15mins at other times and work up from there.

I have been self employed and WFH for 4yrs, after 20yrs as an employee in various offices.It took me a year to realise I didn't have to do 8.30-6.00 If I didn't want to anymore, and another year to properly kick the habit and stop feeling guilty about 'time off' during the day. So long as the work gets done you are not slacking. It can even make you more productive sometimes.

It's worth sticking at it because the ability to take a break or nip out for an hour or two in the middle of the day is one real perk to WFH.

I agree with you to a point. Unfortunately in sales it's not a case of "here are the days tasks, complete them and your done" if you're quiet, you need to be calling more customers and generating more work, and need to be on call for them. If I was self employed I'd love to hit my annual sales target in October and take it easy, but unfortunately it's always more more more (thank you Credence Clearwater Revival).

[crofty1984]

Doofus said:

dontlookdown said:

Doofus said:

dontlookdown said:

You are institutionalised and this old office habit takes time and effort to break. Try escaping for 10 or 15mins at other times and work up from there.

I have been self employed and WFH for 4yrs, after 20yrs as an employee in various offices.It took me a year to realise I didn't have to do 8.30-6.00 If I didn't want to anymore, and another year to properly kick the habit and stop feeling guilty about 'time off' during the day. So long as the work gets done you are not slacking. It can even make you more productive sometimes.

It's worth sticking at it because the ability to take a break or nip out for an hour or two in the middle of the day is one real perk to WFH.

You are, as you have said, self employed. That makes a huge difference, and the way you work won't usually work for somebody who is employed. I don't have a 'proper' job either, and thus the way I manage my time is of no real relevande to this thread.

Yes it does make a big difference being self-employed, but poster wanted to know how to tackle presenteeism while WFH, something which I do have some insight to. It is possible to learn from people who are in different but not entirely dissimilar situations

I appreciate that, but in many cases, presenteeism is driven from above, not by the individual themselves. I often claim to be unavailable for meetings when in fact I am, because I don't want people to expect me to be at their beck and call. I used to do that when I was employed, too.

I guess what I was saying that it is very much dependent on the type of organisation you work for, and the job you do there, and being responsible for your own diary/workload/time is not a luxury all of us enjoy.

Definitely not having a go in my other post. You make a good point that I 100% agree with, were my own circumstances different.