Working from Home
Discussion
How do those that do this deal with distractions?
Do you have a routine? Do you treat your home office as if it wasn't connected to the house?
For the past few months my contract has stipulated that I have no place of work etc etc but I have been going into the office (45 mins away) quite a lot, maybe 3 or 4 times a week.
It's time consuming and there's not a lot of room there.
I like the concept of working from home i.e. I've been up since 5:30 working away (official start time is 8am finishing at 5pm) so if I want to take the dog for a walk before it goes dark then I wouldn't think twice of doing so.
When I'm in the office I'm focused and the day flies by, get loads done. When I'm at home I feel like I'm working but I'm much less productive.
Do you have a routine? Do you treat your home office as if it wasn't connected to the house?
For the past few months my contract has stipulated that I have no place of work etc etc but I have been going into the office (45 mins away) quite a lot, maybe 3 or 4 times a week.
It's time consuming and there's not a lot of room there.
I like the concept of working from home i.e. I've been up since 5:30 working away (official start time is 8am finishing at 5pm) so if I want to take the dog for a walk before it goes dark then I wouldn't think twice of doing so.
When I'm in the office I'm focused and the day flies by, get loads done. When I'm at home I feel like I'm working but I'm much less productive.
I've never understood why more office workers don't work from home, if all they are doing is working on a PC and telephone. Just to be able to save yourself travelling costs and time must be a bonus. Of course, the flipside is having the discipline to be "at work" mentally, and I suppose the social aspects of "going to work".
Maybe it's time more employers made it economically advantageous to stay at home, and the government offered some sort of tax incentive for home based workers.
Maybe it's time more employers made it economically advantageous to stay at home, and the government offered some sort of tax incentive for home based workers.
I live in Manchester and work in Leeds so I work from home one day a week to help break my week up. It's usually Wednesday.
I get up and work from our dining room as this is the quietest place in the house. In the next half hour or so, the kids will be up so I'll most likely migrate upstairs as they come down.
I try to keep in a separate room with the door closed. If I get bored, I stick the radio on or venture out of my 'room' for a brew.
I get up and work from our dining room as this is the quietest place in the house. In the next half hour or so, the kids will be up so I'll most likely migrate upstairs as they come down.
I try to keep in a separate room with the door closed. If I get bored, I stick the radio on or venture out of my 'room' for a brew.
Working from home you say?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co_DNpTMKXk
(NSFW if naughty words would get you into trouble)
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co_DNpTMKXk
(NSFW if naughty words would get you into trouble)
I'm working from home today and rest of the week. Currently waiting on software update finishing on laptop hence writing this on my phone.
For me I have a large desk in spare bedroom upstairs so I connect into works systems via my home wireless. I'd definetely say for me I need to be away from any distractions such as tv being on downstairs etc stuff like that. But working from upstairs I get along jut fine and would honestly say I get more done home working than in the office.
I'd say the hardest part is getting going on the morning as let's face it you don't exactly get up early and shower ready for a days working at home, and you don't go through the whole travelling into work routine. But coffee and some breakfast and off you go.
For me I have a large desk in spare bedroom upstairs so I connect into works systems via my home wireless. I'd definetely say for me I need to be away from any distractions such as tv being on downstairs etc stuff like that. But working from upstairs I get along jut fine and would honestly say I get more done home working than in the office.
I'd say the hardest part is getting going on the morning as let's face it you don't exactly get up early and shower ready for a days working at home, and you don't go through the whole travelling into work routine. But coffee and some breakfast and off you go.
I'm an IT contractor and have worked in quite a variety of places all of who have different policies on working from home.
I have a "proper" bespoke office at home so I'm not working in the kitchen or dining room, but I have to say that I don't really like being on my own all day and I'd much rather be in the proper office with notmal people.
I do find it very useful as a backup option though - the last few months on the M62 have been shocking for closures so I've simply worked from home (several times after having to turn round and come back). If it snows I'll be doing it as well.
I have a "proper" bespoke office at home so I'm not working in the kitchen or dining room, but I have to say that I don't really like being on my own all day and I'd much rather be in the proper office with notmal people.
I do find it very useful as a backup option though - the last few months on the M62 have been shocking for closures so I've simply worked from home (several times after having to turn round and come back). If it snows I'll be doing it as well.
I'm guessing that link SlimRick is the Mitchell and Webb one? 
I can't WFH personally as I just end up dossing around the house, finding stuff to do and periodically nipping back to check on "urgent" emails. I just don't have the discipline. I've tried the whole get up and dressed for work (shirt trousers etc) but its no good. Therefore, I only WFH when I absolutely have to. It's a shame really as my commute over the past year or so has varied from 1hr 30 to 2hrs each way. That'd be up to 4 hours of my day reclaimed if I could do it.
I can't WFH personally as I just end up dossing around the house, finding stuff to do and periodically nipping back to check on "urgent" emails. I just don't have the discipline. I've tried the whole get up and dressed for work (shirt trousers etc) but its no good. Therefore, I only WFH when I absolutely have to. It's a shame really as my commute over the past year or so has varied from 1hr 30 to 2hrs each way. That'd be up to 4 hours of my day reclaimed if I could do it.
HOGEPH said:
I've never understood why more office workers don't work from home, if all they are doing is working on a PC and telephone. Just to be able to save yourself travelling costs and time must be a bonus. Of course, the flipside is having the discipline to be "at work" mentally, and I suppose the social aspects of "going to work".
I imagine, it's not the employees who don't want to work from home, it's the employers who don't trust the employees.Anyway, to answer the question OP: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT put the tv / xbox / personal computer on. Or the washing machine. You will get distracted. Get out of bed. Don't sit in bed on your laptop, you'll go back to sleep / watch films instead / have a marathon sex session with the missus as it wont feel like you're actually working.
I find having a similar routine to working in my office is great when working from home, this is mine:
8am log on. Make sure co-workers and boss know you are online promptly (Instant Messenger program status set to 'active'.
8.05am take a shower.
8.20am go on Pistonheads.
10am make breakfast, while reading PH.
11am do a bit of work.
12am stop working and have a snack. Then read PH.
1pm-2pm eat lunch at computer, while reading PH.
2pm-3pm take a lunch break, and leave the house. DO NOT put tv / xbox on
3pm-3.30pm do some work.
3.30-4.30pm go on PH, relax, maybe put the tv on, go purchase dinner etc.
Finished.
Edited by Riknos on Wednesday 2nd January 09:16
A separate room that is the office. Ok it has some personal stuff in the room but basically I commute across the landing and work in the office.
I couldn't do it if I was in the lounge/kitchen. I had to send a photo to the "real" office of my work space to show it was a separate area (and roughly complied with H&S).
I couldn't do it if I was in the lounge/kitchen. I had to send a photo to the "real" office of my work space to show it was a separate area (and roughly complied with H&S).
Riknos said:
I imagine, it's not the employees who don't want to work from home, it's the employers who don't trust the employees.
Anyway, to answer the question OP: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT put the tv / xbox / personal computer on. Or the washing machine. You will get distracted. Get out of bed. Don't sit in bed on your laptop, you'll go back to sleep / watch films instead / have a marathon sex session with the missus as it wont feel like you're actually working.
I find having a similar routine to working in my office is great when working from home, this is mine:
8am log on. Make sure co-workers and boss know you are online promptly (Instant Messenger program status set to 'active'.
8.05am take a shower.
8.20am go on Pistonheads.
10am make breakfast, while reading PH.
11am do a bit of work.
12am stop working and have a snack. Then read PH.
1pm-2pm eat lunch at computer, while reading PH.
2pm-3pm take a lunch break, and leave the house. DO NOT put tv / xbox on
3pm-3.30pm do some work.
3.30-4.30pm go on PH, relax, maybe put the tv on, go purchase dinner etc.
Finished.
And still get more done than if you were in the office.Anyway, to answer the question OP: Do not, I repeat, DO NOT put the tv / xbox / personal computer on. Or the washing machine. You will get distracted. Get out of bed. Don't sit in bed on your laptop, you'll go back to sleep / watch films instead / have a marathon sex session with the missus as it wont feel like you're actually working.
I find having a similar routine to working in my office is great when working from home, this is mine:
8am log on. Make sure co-workers and boss know you are online promptly (Instant Messenger program status set to 'active'.
8.05am take a shower.
8.20am go on Pistonheads.
10am make breakfast, while reading PH.
11am do a bit of work.
12am stop working and have a snack. Then read PH.
1pm-2pm eat lunch at computer, while reading PH.
2pm-3pm take a lunch break, and leave the house. DO NOT put tv / xbox on
3pm-3.30pm do some work.
3.30-4.30pm go on PH, relax, maybe put the tv on, go purchase dinner etc.
Finished.
Edited by Riknos on Wednesday 2nd January 09:16
I used to work from home occasionally, but since changing jobs haven't been allowed to.
I still do out of hours work from home (Work in IT) whenever possible, as it allows me to fit it in around family commitments.
As others have said, have a place dedicated to work from, with the phone, and laptop set up, and all the usual office trappings, and have a routine.
I've worked from home for the past 8 years and it is a real case of swings and roundabouts.
The only way it works for me is if I get up, have a shower, get dressed and then have a separate space/room to work in. Otherwise, I get too easily distracted.
The flexibility is great but you also need to know when to switch off. It can be very easy to carry on working for far longer than you would normally.
Also, I do miss the social interaction of the office so I make sure I am on the phone a lot and try to go in to head office 3 to 4 times a month.
If you can make it work for you then its bloody great.
The only way it works for me is if I get up, have a shower, get dressed and then have a separate space/room to work in. Otherwise, I get too easily distracted.
The flexibility is great but you also need to know when to switch off. It can be very easy to carry on working for far longer than you would normally.
Also, I do miss the social interaction of the office so I make sure I am on the phone a lot and try to go in to head office 3 to 4 times a month.
If you can make it work for you then its bloody great.
The biggest danger in working from home is not my own ability to avoid distractions, but the ability of my wife to understand that I am working from home.
I get lectures from her that I don't take her business seriously (earning pocket money direct selling) - yet today I have had the 2 kids left while she goes to the gym and now she wants to leave them while she walks the dog
I yearn for the day when I can have a heated cabin in a large garden to enable me to work from home!
I get lectures from her that I don't take her business seriously (earning pocket money direct selling) - yet today I have had the 2 kids left while she goes to the gym and now she wants to leave them while she walks the dog
I yearn for the day when I can have a heated cabin in a large garden to enable me to work from home!
Puggit said:
The biggest danger in working from home is not my own ability to avoid distractions, but the ability of my wife to understand that I am working from home.
I get lectures from her that I don't take her business seriously (earning pocket money direct selling) - yet today I have had the 2 kids left while she goes to the gym and now she wants to leave them while she walks the dog
I yearn for the day when I can have a heated cabin in a large garden to enable me to work from home!
Like this ? http://officepod.co.uk/I get lectures from her that I don't take her business seriously (earning pocket money direct selling) - yet today I have had the 2 kids left while she goes to the gym and now she wants to leave them while she walks the dog
I yearn for the day when I can have a heated cabin in a large garden to enable me to work from home!
dtmpower said:
Like this ? http://officepod.co.uk/
No!That is NOT a man-den!
Hmmmm, how can the remote cabin be both a place of work, and a refuge from the wife and kids outside of work hours?
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