Working from home woes
Discussion
So, great new job. Fantastic, reputable company that has a number of people working from home due to offices all over Europe (nearest office is 2hrs drive from me). Work isn't incredibly complicated (high level sales in an industry I know).
I'm really struggling to be motivated & productive. I've worked on some bits this week that if I was around other people i'd have done in a day or two but it's taken me four days. Distractions aren't too bad save for dogs and usual home based stuff (cleaning, laundry, etc).
Added complication is my wife works from home a significant amount and so far i've had b
kings for breathing, not getting her a coffee when I was making my own, and all manner of misdemeanors.
I keep telling myself that life will get easier as I go out on the road, but can anyone give any tips on how to stay productive?
I'm really struggling to be motivated & productive. I've worked on some bits this week that if I was around other people i'd have done in a day or two but it's taken me four days. Distractions aren't too bad save for dogs and usual home based stuff (cleaning, laundry, etc).
Added complication is my wife works from home a significant amount and so far i've had b
kings for breathing, not getting her a coffee when I was making my own, and all manner of misdemeanors.I keep telling myself that life will get easier as I go out on the road, but can anyone give any tips on how to stay productive?
It's about discipline and structure. At the start of the week have a to-do list of what you need to achieve, and stick to it. Perhaps have scrum calls each day with colleagues to keep informed and pieces of work on track. If your wife asks you to make her a coffee or walk the dog, say you're working. Sounds like you do have distractions, so maybe take yourself to a library or coffee shop to get away.
I don't work from home often but when I do I'm usually more productive not less so and it's usually that I taken the decision to work from home to do a specific task away from the distractions of the workplace.
The key thing is to treat it like any other working day. You need an office space away from anyone else who's at home or anything that may distract. Get up, showered, dressed etc. as you would do for a working day and be at your desk for 08:30 (or whenever you usually start) and then get on with it. Just the usual breaks for a drink, lunch etc. I could imagine that having the wife around does have it's issues though if she's moaning at you for breathing then you shouldn't be working somewhere where she can hear you breathing.
The key thing is to treat it like any other working day. You need an office space away from anyone else who's at home or anything that may distract. Get up, showered, dressed etc. as you would do for a working day and be at your desk for 08:30 (or whenever you usually start) and then get on with it. Just the usual breaks for a drink, lunch etc. I could imagine that having the wife around does have it's issues though if she's moaning at you for breathing then you shouldn't be working somewhere where she can hear you breathing.
Re wife, you need your own private office space. If you have room for a "summer house" you can split into to sperate rooms for you both I'd look at that, oh and some ground rules (coffee/music/chipping in on phone conversations that are fk all to do with you/her) As for motivation you need to set goals and treat it just as if your were going to the office, ie start at 8/9am, dress as if you were going to work (you cant work in pjs), dont do "home" stuff in work hours and set goals for each day.
Now some one post that wking sketch that always gets posted I work from home treads.
In case your wondering I have been working with my wife for the past 6 years running our own business, with at least half my time spent working from home.
k all to do with you/her) As for motivation you need to set goals and treat it just as if your were going to the office, ie start at 8/9am, dress as if you were going to work (you cant work in pjs), dont do "home" stuff in work hours and set goals for each day.Now some one post that w
king sketch that always gets posted I work from home treads.In case your wondering I have been working with my wife for the past 6 years running our own business, with at least half my time spent working from home.
I feel your pain. I’m ‘working from home’ again today but really struggling to motivate myself. If I was in the office with the ‘management’ watching I’d be head down but as it is I’m getting distracted all to easily today. It doesn’t help that I’m pissed off with the job and I’m working with a bunch of lazy cocks.
Hey ho, it’s a long weekend in a few hours, send out a few emails then crack open a beer!
Hey ho, it’s a long weekend in a few hours, send out a few emails then crack open a beer!
Like other suggestions, I find it about discipline.
Start the day with a to-do list of what you would expect to complete during the day (regardless of location). Accept you need breaks (I am writing this in one of mine!), but don't let yourself finish for the day until completed!
I have worked at home for most of the last 20 years and still have good and bad days. Yesterday was bad, so I came back to the list after the kids were in bed, and wife had gone out. Today is good, and I only have one more item to go (and I am waiting on a colleague before I can get that one done!)
Start the day with a to-do list of what you would expect to complete during the day (regardless of location). Accept you need breaks (I am writing this in one of mine!), but don't let yourself finish for the day until completed!
I have worked at home for most of the last 20 years and still have good and bad days. Yesterday was bad, so I came back to the list after the kids were in bed, and wife had gone out. Today is good, and I only have one more item to go (and I am waiting on a colleague before I can get that one done!)
My biggest problem when working at my home office is the seemingly endless stream of people (friends, family) ringing the bell as they see my car there and just expect to 'pop in for a coffee'.
I have to answer the door as I get deliveries or I would simply not answer it, but it is really difficult (if not awkward) to try to explain to visitors that I am in fact working and am half way through something like payroll or complicated emails and really can't stop.
I think you need to have an "office" at home, maybe a converted bedroom or garage so you can shut yourself away from the rest of the house.
You then need to set yourself the discipline of going to work at a set time, have a lunch break at a set time and finish work at a set time, and do not get distracted by non-work issues.
Well apart from posting on PH of course, which nowadays seems to be part of most posters working day.
Oh and tell the wife to stay away and leave you alone during working hours.
Some parts of the above might be more difficult and have more significant repercussions than other parts.
You then need to set yourself the discipline of going to work at a set time, have a lunch break at a set time and finish work at a set time, and do not get distracted by non-work issues.
Well apart from posting on PH of course, which nowadays seems to be part of most posters working day.
Oh and tell the wife to stay away and leave you alone during working hours.
Some parts of the above might be more difficult and have more significant repercussions than other parts.
I am mainly at home now, as is my wife.
We've taken to completely changing the way we work so we do stuff at hours that suit us but we do have our own workspaces and if we have something formal like a conference call we can generally look ok.
She's more organised than me but we can both more or less do a full day and still have time to do stuff together during the daytime when the kids are out.
It works for us but if we had set hours we'd struggle.
We've taken to completely changing the way we work so we do stuff at hours that suit us but we do have our own workspaces and if we have something formal like a conference call we can generally look ok.
She's more organised than me but we can both more or less do a full day and still have time to do stuff together during the daytime when the kids are out.
It works for us but if we had set hours we'd struggle.
Consider finding another space that isn't home?
Obviously there are things you can't do in a public place, but I have access to a University library (quiet, no one dicking around like they would in a public library) and use it for a lot of things that don't need my physical presence a 40 minute drive from my house.
Obviously there are things you can't do in a public place, but I have access to a University library (quiet, no one dicking around like they would in a public library) and use it for a lot of things that don't need my physical presence a 40 minute drive from my house.
work from home weeks at a time now, only venturing into the office for meetings that can't be done via skype/webex
I find myself working later - but having more frequent breaks.
emptying dishwasher, putting a load into the washing machine, doing the odd small job around the house etc
i do work work in bursts and then relax a bit.
I agree re structure, i try to be at my 'desk' at 8am ready to go. I don't shower until lunch time ish and only actually get dressed if im on a video call or expecting a delivery.
We have a dedicated room as our WFH office - other half does 2 days a week for her day job and one full week of evenings once a month for our business in the office too - it's got two separate desks, one is 2m with dual 24inch monitors etc, the second desk is 1.4m wide and has 2x 21 inch monitors.
We have a big drywipe board up on the wall, yearly planner, laser printer, shredder, filing cabinets and two sonos play1s for radio/concentration playlists.
i find environment a big factor - i actually enjoy walking in to our office (codename: The HomeOffice) spend some time and money making it feel professional rather than sitting up at the dining room table etc.
I find myself working later - but having more frequent breaks.
emptying dishwasher, putting a load into the washing machine, doing the odd small job around the house etc
i do work work in bursts and then relax a bit.
I agree re structure, i try to be at my 'desk' at 8am ready to go. I don't shower until lunch time ish and only actually get dressed if im on a video call or expecting a delivery.
We have a dedicated room as our WFH office - other half does 2 days a week for her day job and one full week of evenings once a month for our business in the office too - it's got two separate desks, one is 2m with dual 24inch monitors etc, the second desk is 1.4m wide and has 2x 21 inch monitors.
We have a big drywipe board up on the wall, yearly planner, laser printer, shredder, filing cabinets and two sonos play1s for radio/concentration playlists.
i find environment a big factor - i actually enjoy walking in to our office (codename: The HomeOffice) spend some time and money making it feel professional rather than sitting up at the dining room table etc.
I work from home 90%.
Don't find I need any structure. I've been doing it for several years.
It works excellent for me personally.
It isn't for everyone though so some people may not find WFH good for them.
I can understand the girlfriend/wife issue.
You have to be firm and stand your ground about things.
Mine is like "can you hoover" or "can you go to the shops for me" - I'm like sorry I'm working.
If she gives me st I have to be blunt and tell her since work pay my wages and by extension our mortgage that she waits until 6pm when I finish.
She still moans occasionally but what can you do!?
Don't find I need any structure. I've been doing it for several years.
It works excellent for me personally.
It isn't for everyone though so some people may not find WFH good for them.
I can understand the girlfriend/wife issue.
You have to be firm and stand your ground about things.
Mine is like "can you hoover" or "can you go to the shops for me" - I'm like sorry I'm working.
If she gives me s
t I have to be blunt and tell her since work pay my wages and by extension our mortgage that she waits until 6pm when I finish. She still moans occasionally but what can you do!?
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