Working from home driving me nuts

[dysondiver]

four hours a day as a commute ,, good grief , thats twenty hours a week , half a weeks work ,
nope , that would do me in.

[rbox]

Originally Posted by encarter13

I would like to try working from home a few days per week. Monday and Friday would be nice.

For the guys that work from home - Do you actually work from "home" or can home be anywhere with internet? For example, the beach, pool, golf course, Starbucks, Pub, etc?

I can't speak for all jobs but just for the type of work I do, which is a mix of development, consulting, internet marketing and DBA. It can be done from anywhere with an internet connection, although there's usually some setup involved in that such as IP whitelisting or making sure I have secure access to our servers from wherever I'm at.

I'm at my desktop most of the time just due to it being faster to get things done with two monitors and it's a little more stable than my laptop (my terminal windows lose connection when the laptop goes to sleep for example.)

When I started this time, I worked from a coffee shop a few days a week for a little while, just to help transition from the office.

[rbox]

Originally Posted by 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.

This is a good point. I have a walk-out basement in my house that I finished out for an office and den. It's just downstairs from the kitchen and close enough to be available while still able to close off for phone calls and such. It's really an ideal amount of separation.

[goin camping]

My time is split between home, field and office with also being sent to Sacramento and a few other places throughout the year.

On any given day I could be anywhere in L.A. County but if I have not set an appointment I work from home in Kern County but do try and visit the office a few times a month. If for no other reason to do my expenses.

No problem working from home. I just don't turn on the TV and have a separate work area i use. When I get bored of the house I go do my stuff at any scenic and serene spot. Oddly enough the best place has turned out to be a local shooting range. for some reason there is just enough noise from the parking lot and range where it is the perfect white noise environment. Odd I know but there are beautiful Oak trees to sit under. And best of all, no cell reception!

In my trunk are a lawn chair, Hibachi and my golf clubs. The joys of setting your own schedule...

A colleague of mine has rented a one room office at his local train station. He cannot get anything done at home but in his little 10 x 10 box he churns out a ton.

Try it all and you will find what works for you.

[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.

[rbox]

I am thankful for being able to work from home after the drama of my last office job. I had an assistant who was right in the middle of it so there was no way to escape it. I've been through it all at work, from office cattiness to divide and conquer managers and all kinds of manipulation. I don't miss it.

I guess I've just been inside too much, and getting a little cabin fever. I can't wait until spring and summer.

[artschool]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co_DNpTMKXk

[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.

[Boothroyd]

Originally Posted by encarter13

I would like to try working from home a few days per week. Monday and Friday would be nice.

For the guys that work from home - Do you actually work from "home" or can home be anywhere with internet? For example, the beach, pool, golf course, Starbucks, Pub, etc?

For me, the only thing that works is to work...that is, not to do those things. In fact, I tend not to answer my cell phone when out, as can call them back when I get back to my home office--I only run out for a few minutes a day and those are mine.

[Thatguy]

Originally Posted by encarter13

I would like to try working from home a few days per week. Monday and Friday would be nice.

For the guys that work from home - Do you actually work from "home" or can home be anywhere with internet? For example, the beach, pool, golf course, Starbucks, Pub, etc?

Anywhere with internet and quiet enough to take phone calls. My boss was annoyed when I took his call one day in a casino and he could hear it in the background.....told me to go to beach where it’s quiet.


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[TheVTCGuy]

One thing I know for a fact, when I started working from home I immediately became about three times more productive. I don’t know if it was less distraction, dealing with stupid coworkers, no idea, but I am much more effective in my home office.

[BNABOD]

Originally Posted by TheVTCGuy

One thing I know for a fact, when I started working from home I immediately became about three times more productive. I don’t know if it was less distraction, dealing with stupid coworkers, no idea, but I am much more effective in my home office.

Same here been doing it since 2009 and I am about three times more productive . No interruptions no problems no office bs. Get to travel about once a month which gets old but can’t have it all. Social life can suck when you only see your computer but better than driving two hours one way to work ...


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[JUSTIFIED]

I am a restless sort so I prefer getting out of the house, but do have flexibility to WFH when required, which is nice.

[rodrob59]

For the past five years I've worked from home but spend most of my time visiting clients. It's good not being tied to a desk, but I do miss interacting with coworkers.

[kneedeep]

WFH is awesome - I would not want to go back to an office.

[ejvette]

In 2 years I’m planning on working remotely from our home in FL I’m hoping to have the discipline to actually make it work!


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[FrankNYC]

I work from home, too. I miss the office: the structure, the socializing, etc.
I was more productive. I usually go to a coffee shop or diner (I rotate among 5-6 different ones, 2 or 3x a week).
They all know me now as that guy who comes in, orders a cup of coffee and maybe a pastry, and stay for 4-5 hours. They don't seem to mind since it's usually not too crowded during the weekday.

[timepieceluvr]

Love working from home. 9 years. Much better than Delta lounges, Marriotts and rental cars (unfortunately those occupy about 20% of my time). The only negative is that I probably work harder and longer than I ever would if I had to go into an office. When you shave twice a week and wear whatever you want to the prep time is greatly reduced and the time spent driving is now getting things done. Not coincidentally these years have been the best financial times of my career.


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[The Libertine]

Originally Posted by fmacken

Love working from home. 9 years. Much better than Delta lounges, Marriotts and rental cars (unfortunately those occupy about 20% of my time). The only negative is that I probably work harder and longer than I ever would if I had to go into an office. When you shave twice a week and wear whatever you want to the prep time is greatly reduced and the time spent driving is now getting things done. Not coincidentally these years have been the best financial times of my career.


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That’s just it: more productivity. I find that I start working earlier, and work later too when I work from home. But I’m okay with that because I have so much more flexibility when I am remote from office.

As to those who miss the socializing, why? I mean, how much socializing do you do in the office? I feel that when I work from home, between conference calls, Skype, WebEx, instant messaging, etc., there is no shortage of ability or opportunity to communicate with others. At home, I don’t have to listen to mindless blather of my coworkers; however, when in the office, not so easy to avoid.

[RXAPPP]

The isolation would be challenging however none moreso than having the discipline required to put in the time

[mtrunner]

Originally Posted by The Libertine

That’s just it: more productivity. I find that I start working earlier, and work later too when I work from home. But I’m okay with that because I have so much more flexibility when I am remote from office.

As to those who miss the socializing, why? I mean, how much socializing do you do in the office? I feel that when I work from home, between conference calls, Skype, WebEx, instant messaging, etc., there is no shortage of ability or opportunity to communicate with others. At home, I don’t have to listen to mindless blather of my coworkers; however, when in the office, not so easy to avoid.

I agree. I am way more productive working from home and like you I end up starting earlier and working later but love the flexibility. I have been working remotely from Montana for my company based out of NYC for 2 years now and absolutely love it. I go back to the office every couple of months for a week and love going back to NYC but dread the office.

[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