Working from home
Discussion
I've been offered the chance to work from home (I work in IT) and was wondering how others have adapted to it?
I work in a busy-ish office with around 25 other people but the office is being moved an extra hour away. Because of this, they realise that I'm unlikely to stay and have offered home working as an option. I'll do visits to customers but these are likely to be no more than once or twice a week, if that.
I have an office room already which is a dumping ground for all my junk so I'll be redecorating, but what else should I do to make sure I don't get distracted or miss the company of others too much.
Thanks
I work in a busy-ish office with around 25 other people but the office is being moved an extra hour away. Because of this, they realise that I'm unlikely to stay and have offered home working as an option. I'll do visits to customers but these are likely to be no more than once or twice a week, if that.
I have an office room already which is a dumping ground for all my junk so I'll be redecorating, but what else should I do to make sure I don't get distracted or miss the company of others too much.
Thanks
thehawk said:
You glans will be red raw after the first few days
But I can adjust the seat height on my home office chair? 
Back to topic, builders have just finished converting a room into a purpose-made office and it's definitely improved my productivity - no TV, but lots of computers screens and book shelfs help me get into a work mood.
Edited by fido on Thursday 17th March 09:15
fido said:
But I can adjust the seat height on my home office chair?
Back to topic, builders have just finished converting a room into a purpose-made office and it's definitely improved my productivity - no TV, but lots of computers screens and book shelfs help me get into a work mood.
I currently have an ikea desk and bookshelves but I'm wondering if I should improve on this. Will add a small hifi for tunes/radio.Back to topic, builders have just finished converting a room into a purpose-made office and it's definitely improved my productivity - no TV, but lots of computers screens and book shelfs help me get into a work mood.
Edited by fido on Thursday 17th March 09:15
Wife's work will be getting shot of some decent expensive office chairs which I'm trying to blag. We're also looking to fit French doors which will be nice in the summer.
You're in IT? So, to a certain degree you could actually work from bed. Brilliant!
I could never work from home, no discipline but also being on your own is so boring as you can't have much banter with yourself...I've tried it.
Is there also a possibility that you'll lose tough with current office affairs/politics etc if you're not actually there?
I could never work from home, no discipline but also being on your own is so boring as you can't have much banter with yourself...I've tried it.
Is there also a possibility that you'll lose tough with current office affairs/politics etc if you're not actually there?
I'd avoid it like the plague!
At the moment, I have the best of both worlds, in that I can work from home if I need to wait for a delivery, or I want to get some specific bits of work out of the way in peace and quiet, but I couldn't hack it for more than a day or so per week.
1. Difficult to keep concentrated & disciplined
2. Get bored and lonely
3. Lose track of office politics
4. No more learning from others around you in a similar role
5. Did I mention "bored & lonely" yet?
6. Out of sight = out of mind. Can be good at times, but also makes you invisible when the next promotion comes up.
7. Your wife will expect you to be able to "just put up a bookshelf, and pick the kids up from school, and pop to the shops, etc..."
8. You will get bored
And so on....
At the moment, I have the best of both worlds, in that I can work from home if I need to wait for a delivery, or I want to get some specific bits of work out of the way in peace and quiet, but I couldn't hack it for more than a day or so per week.
1. Difficult to keep concentrated & disciplined
2. Get bored and lonely
3. Lose track of office politics
4. No more learning from others around you in a similar role
5. Did I mention "bored & lonely" yet?
6. Out of sight = out of mind. Can be good at times, but also makes you invisible when the next promotion comes up.
7. Your wife will expect you to be able to "just put up a bookshelf, and pick the kids up from school, and pop to the shops, etc..."
8. You will get bored
And so on....
I've done it many times over the years with varying degrees of success.
At present I'm living abroad, as a lifestyle choice and so the onus is on me to make it work and this time it really is.
The main differences I can see are, a proper office - not just a desk shoved in a spare room but monitors mounted on the wall, a good chair.
The main issue I have is that my girlfriend often pops in during the day and while she understands that I need to work it can be hard telling her to bugger off when I'm trying to work (especially when a quick shag's on the cards).
I've worked very hard on communication links - Home broadband isn't always perfect so I have a backup in place in case it goes down (decent 3g dongle). Not perfect but keeps me connected in most cases. I've got a VOIP line which acts as an extension and so that calls can be transferred to me easily. Skype etc. This is the first time I've been available on a regular phone (before it was very much I'm on my mobile so people wouldn't disturb me). Having people call me throughout the day keeps me on my toes.
Music I've been tough with. Temptation is to put a decent stereo in but personally I get quite distracted, not so much by the music but by choosing albums on spotify etc. Therefore I just stick with a basic radio if I've got music on.
I do still spend the odd morning in bed with my laptop but less then I did before. And this post is testament that I get easily distracted, but then I did that when working on site too!
At present I'm living abroad, as a lifestyle choice and so the onus is on me to make it work and this time it really is.
The main differences I can see are, a proper office - not just a desk shoved in a spare room but monitors mounted on the wall, a good chair.
The main issue I have is that my girlfriend often pops in during the day and while she understands that I need to work it can be hard telling her to bugger off when I'm trying to work (especially when a quick shag's on the cards).
I've worked very hard on communication links - Home broadband isn't always perfect so I have a backup in place in case it goes down (decent 3g dongle). Not perfect but keeps me connected in most cases. I've got a VOIP line which acts as an extension and so that calls can be transferred to me easily. Skype etc. This is the first time I've been available on a regular phone (before it was very much I'm on my mobile so people wouldn't disturb me). Having people call me throughout the day keeps me on my toes.
Music I've been tough with. Temptation is to put a decent stereo in but personally I get quite distracted, not so much by the music but by choosing albums on spotify etc. Therefore I just stick with a basic radio if I've got music on.
I do still spend the odd morning in bed with my laptop but less then I did before. And this post is testament that I get easily distracted, but then I did that when working on site too!
Good luck trying to explain to the Mrs that working from home, does mean you actually have to work, or you'll find yourself
Having breakfast toghther....down the cafe
Mid morning coffee.....at Nero/Starbucks
Lunch.......down the pub
Mid afternoon coffee.......Nero/Starbucks
Quickie before the kids get home.
Look after the kids, while she "pops out for 5 minutes"
Me, I am lucky I can do either, so tend to work at the office for most of the day and head home about 3 or 4, and finish the day of there. Or head in later if needed.
As for blocking websites with a firewall you control, isnt that a bit like locking the cookie jar and putting the key in your own pocket.
Best advice I can give, is if you have to work from home all day, plan your whole days work out (the day beofore if you can) and have in mind the bear minimum you MUST have done by the end of the day.
Having breakfast toghther....down the cafe
Mid morning coffee.....at Nero/Starbucks
Lunch.......down the pub
Mid afternoon coffee.......Nero/Starbucks
Quickie before the kids get home.
Look after the kids, while she "pops out for 5 minutes"
Me, I am lucky I can do either, so tend to work at the office for most of the day and head home about 3 or 4, and finish the day of there. Or head in later if needed.
As for blocking websites with a firewall you control, isnt that a bit like locking the cookie jar and putting the key in your own pocket.
Best advice I can give, is if you have to work from home all day, plan your whole days work out (the day beofore if you can) and have in mind the bear minimum you MUST have done by the end of the day.
bull996 said:
The hardest thing about working from home is getting over the guilt of doing "non work" things all day, like gardening etc.
It dosent take long!
This. It dosent take long!
I've "worked from home" a few times over the years, the odd day or week depending on the client and work load.
I've always found the time excellent for cracking (one off) on with doing the house up. So a week "working from home" can quickly be translated into decorating that room, or sorting that patch in the garden out etc...
Fortunately for me I don't have an over developed sense of guilt so can achieve a LOT when WFH.
And I've always thought that being paid to sit at home and watch porn has added to it's pleasure rather than distract me by prodding my sense of guilt
Thanks for the comments. I'm fully aware of the possiblity to be distracted 
I'm going to try and work it so that I spend a couple of days either in the office or on a customer's site. There are plenty to chose from and it'll break up the week.
From a music POV, I'm intending on having the radio on so at least I can hear another voice (Radio2 and Radio4). I occasionally listen music through headphones at work but only occasionally as it can sometimes be distacting... although mostly it keeps me focused.
I'm going to try and work it so that I spend a couple of days either in the office or on a customer's site. There are plenty to chose from and it'll break up the week.
From a music POV, I'm intending on having the radio on so at least I can hear another voice (Radio2 and Radio4). I occasionally listen music through headphones at work but only occasionally as it can sometimes be distacting... although mostly it keeps me focused.
Piersman2 said:
This.
I've "worked from home" a few times over the years, the odd day or week depending on the client and work load.
I've always found the time excellent for cracking (one off) on with doing the house up. So a week "working from home" can quickly be translated into decorating that room, or sorting that patch in the garden out etc...
Fortunately for me I don't have an over developed sense of guilt so can achieve a LOT when WFH.
And I've always thought that being paid to sit at home and watch porn has added to it's pleasure rather than distract me by prodding my sense of guilt
lol. Exactly this!I've "worked from home" a few times over the years, the odd day or week depending on the client and work load.
I've always found the time excellent for cracking (one off) on with doing the house up. So a week "working from home" can quickly be translated into decorating that room, or sorting that patch in the garden out etc...
Fortunately for me I don't have an over developed sense of guilt so can achieve a LOT when WFH.
And I've always thought that being paid to sit at home and watch porn has added to it's pleasure rather than distract me by prodding my sense of guilt
Gassing Station | Jobs & Employment Matters | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff