Working from home driving me nuts

[rbox]

So I've worked from a home office on and off throughout my career. The longest stretch was from 2009 to 2015. Since September, I'm back to it. Even with the occasional travel, it's so isolating. This is aggravated by the fact that I live in a small town with no tech industry. People's eyes glaze over when I tell them what I do.

I'm a people person but spend the majority of my day by myself with the closest people on Skype. How many other people here work from home and how do you handle the isolation?

[Thatguy]

I do but travel well over half the time. Don’t miss an office job at all.


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[GradyPhilpott]

Rent an small office in a large office building an hour's drive from where you live and commute every day.

[Old Expat Beast]

I love working from home. There are few things in life more annoying than office politics and commuting.

[Baco Noir]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I love working from home. There are few things in life more annoying than office politics and commuting.

+1 Been doing it for 7 years full time and love it even though I’m an extrovert. The noisy office environment and pettiness, I can do without.

[Rockrolex]

I worked in an office for 44 years. Then I retired, so I don't worry about the commute any more. As for working from home, I did that on several occasions, but usually was not overly productive on those days. I kept getting interrupted by my family while I was trying to work.

[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I love working from home. There are few things in life more annoying than office politics and commuting.

I could not agree more. I work from home 2-3 days per week, and would do the whole week if allowed. Anything but isolated. It is peaceful (except when I must act as a referee to my cats squabbling), and so much more enjoyable without annoying personalities, “busy bodies”, and the ever-present office politics.

[fmc000]

I started commuting when I was 19, at the University. Now I'm 49 and I'm still a commuter, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.

I wish I could work from home once in a while...

[4vCoupe]

Originally Posted by fmc000

I started commuting when I was 19, at the University. Now I'm 49 and I'm still a commuter, two hours in the morning and two hours in the evening.

I wish I could work from home once in a while...

4hrs per day commuting?! I would go crazy with that commute.


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[fmc000]

Originally Posted by 4vCoupe

4hrs per day commuting?! I would go crazy with that commute.

Nah, I read a lot and get some sleep

[Passionata]

get a secretary

[Abdullah71601]

I worked from home for three years I my last job. Hated it. I prefer an office environment where I can interact and collaborate face to face.

Try setting up a small office outside the house if you can, so you can go to work. The small psychological bump from leaving the house every day helps. If there are professional forums you can ping for social interaction in your field you can get some helpful banter in your day.

Or just hang out with us all day.

[Dan Pierce]

Half the month on the road, half the month I wear a robe.

My time on the road, with running thru airports to catch tight flight connections, rushing to return the car rental, and trying to remember what room number and floor my hotel room is located, can get old quickly.

So when working from home my morning commute from master bedroom to office is pure Heaven.
dP

[brandrea]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Half the month on the road, half the month I wear a robe.

My time on the road, with running thru airports to catch tight flight connections, rushing to return the car rental, and trying to remember what room number and floor my hotel room is located, can get old quickly.

So when working from home my morning commute from master bedroom to office is pure Heaven.
dP

Amen Dan. Life on the road gets very tiring.

I don’t work from home, but my office is literally 5 minutes from home, and there’s only 3 of us, which keeps the office BS to a minimum

[Brenngun]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Half the month on the road, half the month I wear a robe.

My time on the road, with running thru airports to catch tight flight connections, rushing to return the car rental, and trying to remember what room number and floor my hotel room is located, can get old quickly.

So when working from home my morning commute from master bedroom to office is pure Heaven.
dP

I had a similar work pattern but have been slowly increasing my home office time to now about 80%. Could not be happier except maybe increasing that to 90% (target for 2018). So much more face to face time with my family. After all isn't that what it's all about? There's nothing better IMHO.

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

Half the month on the road, half the month I wear a robe.

My time on the road, with running thru airports to catch tight flight connections, rushing to return the car rental, and trying to remember what room number and floor my hotel room is located, can get old quickly.

So when working from home my morning commute from master bedroom to office is pure Heaven.
dP

I'm in this boat. Luckily, I have direct flights to most of the places I go, so no connections. Throw in two a day workouts, and life on the road gets old very quickly.

[Dan Pierce]

Originally Posted by brandrea

Amen Dan. Life on the road gets very tiring.

I don’t work from home, but my office is literally 5 minutes from home, and there’s only 3 of us, which keeps the office BS to a minimum

But can you wear your robe in the car & office?

Originally Posted by Brenngun

I had a similar work pattern but have been slowly increasing my home office time to now about 80%. Could not be happier except maybe increasing that to 90% (target for 2018). So much more face to face time with my family. After all isn't that what it's all about? There's nothing better IMHO.

No place like home, my friend!

Originally Posted by Rolex addict

I'm in this boat. Luckily, I have direct flights to most of the places I go, so no connections. Throw in two a day workouts, and life on the road gets old very quickly.

Many of my flights are direct as well. Throw in occasional upgrades, Uber, TSA Precheck, etc, all in all I've got it easy.
dP

[Rolex addict]

Originally Posted by Dan Pierce

But can you wear your robe in the car & office?


No place like home, my friend!

Many of my flights are direct as well. Throw in occasional upgrades, Uber, TSA Precheck, etc, all in all I've got it easy.
dP

TSA precheck is a must. Once CLEAR comes to Charlotte and Philly, I'm all over that like a fat kid on a doughnut!!!

[beshannon]

I am still trying to adjust to working from home two days a week after reporting to a full time job for 42 years.

While it does have its perks, it can also be annoying

[NewEnthusiast]

I work from home two days a week and go into the office the other three. I love being at home. The office is open plan so very noisy, distracting and generally stressful. Not helped by coworkers who don't respect that their priorities are not necessarily mine and a lack of privacy when sensitive conversations need to be had. Being at home allows me peace to think not to mention the savings of time and money from the lack of commuting... also it's a great excuse to spend time in my man-cave.

[Cobain]

First world problems.

[Art 1]

Originally Posted by Cobain

First world problems.

Most of us here live in the first world. I'm sure the OP is well aware that others have deeper difficulties.

[Art 1]

I could never work from home. I need to be out and about seeing things and meeting people.

[Wesley Crusher]

Working from home every now and then is ok, but I don’t think I could do it full time. I like interacting with people and I find myself to be more productive in the office vs at home.

[gliderpilot]

I have been working from home for 10+ years, the key is to get out often so that you appreciate the serenity when you get back home ;-)
I go out for lunch, coffee, walk the dog, shopping, rock climbing gym, library, quick local scuba diving trip, go fly a plane for an hour or two, take a day off and go sailing, cut a few trees and chop them for firewood, go out with a camera and take some pictures, go for beer with friends,...
Sometimes it feels like I don’t have enough time left for actually working, problem solved :-)


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[TheVTCGuy]

I have worked from home for 15 years, although I travel probably two weeks a month. It does have challenges and benefits, but over all I could never do a 9 to 5 in an office, just make me miserable.

[BristolCavendish]

Originally Posted by Old Expat Beast

I love working from home. There are few things in life more annoying than office politics and commuting.

Makes sense to me.

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

....but over all I could never do a 9 to 5 in an office, just make me miserable.

Home. Where else can one go to work everyday in a bathrobe, sweat clothes (or even a pair of boxers)?

Cubicle life sucks. One of the simple pleasures in my vocation is being amongst the trees and ferns (depending upon the ecosystem). No petty office drivel to contend with and in the event I do encounter its various incarnations, I'm always more than willing to share those tales here in Open Discussion.

[rbox]

Originally Posted by BristolCavendish

Makes sense to me.


Home. Where else can one go to work everyday in a bathrobe, sweat clothes (or even a pair of boxers)?

Cubicle life sucks. One of the simple pleasures in my vocation is being amongst the trees and ferns (depending upon the ecosystem). No petty office drivel to contend with and in the event I do encounter its various incarnations, I'm always more than willing to share those tales here in Open Discussion.

I was in my downstairs office today working when I heard the door open and footsteps upstairs and thought "Oh crap". It was my girlfriend dropping in from work to see me. She found me sitting at my desk disheveled in my PJ's.

Second time I've made that mistake.

[Dr. Robert]

Work? What is that?

[Boothroyd]

I have home officed in tech for the last 20 years. Mitigated somewhat by a local office I can work from once or twice a month. But my team is spread across the US, so that doesn't buy me much.

One thing I think is important--keep your work area for work and don't take your PC out of that area. Don't bring work into your living area/keep it separate. I find it much more productive that way. When I walk out of my home office to the living room, I am off the clock until I return after dinner or in the morning.