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Why are some people better at working from home than others?

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Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#161

Post by unsignedint »

I'm definitely in the group that works better in the office:

1) My productivity seems to be polarizing. In some day I feel I have accomplished a lot more, but in other days not great. Generally, many things seem to take longer to attain.

2) My working environment simply sucks. I only have cluttered desk with my personal equipment. I improvised the TV to use as my secondary monitor, but is definitely not optimal from ergonomic standpoint, so mostly ended up working on the tiny laptop screen. I upgrade to better chair, and that at least helped me a lot.

3) I don't have air conditioning, and if the WFH prolongs, this will be problematic.

4) My workout level certainly has dropped for a while after the lockdown WFH started. I have gradually improved this, by establishing daily walking, and remote work out sessions.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#162

Post by richardjennings »

Some people have ideal conditions to work in at home. Some people will struggle with increased costs and induced domestic stresses. Some people can communicate and socialise remotely. Some people will struggle to find reason to leave the house. Some people will repurpose commute times and flexibility to their advantage. Some people will stop looking after themselves.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#163

Post by godelski »

katbyte wrote: post #135
godelski wrote: post #130

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Take the rock climbing example As a climber who currently does finger pull ups on my door frame, there is so much I can't do. A lot of climbing is body position and control of your center of mass. You can't practice proper technique for climbing without a wall. There's just also things you can't do without the height. As an avid sport climber, I would usually end my days climbing doing lead laps. This helps make cl…

I’d not worry about it too much, I’ve gone maybe 9 months without climbing or doing anything but snowboarding and 2nd day out of the season done a 17 pitch 700m trad 5.9 multi. it comes back real fast, and the technique sticks long after the strength is gone. Can’t wait to get back on rock Thursday out official “opening” date. planning on doing a 5.8 5 pitch multi right off the bat after 8 months off

It isn't me being worried about doing projects, it is the lack of a workout schedule. Many people choose sports, like climbing, because it is easier to convince themselves to workout. Having a good workout routine is a big part to mental and physical health.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#165

Post by lawn »

laumars wrote: post #153
lawn wrote: post #149

Earlier quoted context omitted.

If he's talking about Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, then there's very little you can do on your own unfortunately. It all depends on having access to a training partner.

I just had a quick Google and found a bunch of training videos on YouTube for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, so it does seem possible. Having done a number of martial arts myself I do understand that having a partner does make a massive difference but I've never come across a martial art that doesn't have solo training exercises to enable individuals to practice when alone. Even the martial arts that you wouldn't expect could…

Yes there are things you can do, but they're not very effective, especially if you've been training a while.

Focusing on general strength training, flexibility and improving your endurance is much better use of your time than doing these solo drills.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#166

Post by jdpigeon »

chrisseaton wrote: post #22
Ductapemaster wrote: post #20

One really positive thing I have found for myself in the WFH life is that I am taking MUCH better care of myself. So far I have lost weight, started a bodyweight workout routine, which I do in between meetings/calls/other work, and have gained back 2 hours of my day by not taking transit into the city. That's 2 more hours every day that I get to relax, work on a personal project, hang out with my SO, or even crush ou…

> One really positive thing I have found for myself in the WFH life is that I am taking MUCH better care of myself. I think people are going to come out of this one of two ways - half will come out fitter, mentally and physically, more positive, with new interests and skills and stronger relationships, and the other half are going to come out a mess (understandably.)

I think it's context dependent. I did two months of quarantine isolated in a 500sqft apartment and experienced slowly deteriorating mental health culminating in a mental breakdown. Now, I'm in a 1200sqft apartment with two close friends, a patio, and a dog. I am happy as ever and crushing work from home now that I was able to find a sustaining environment.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#167

Post by Ductapemaster »

xyse53 wrote: post #61
Xcelerate wrote: post #57

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> I've started taking so much junk snacks (which wasn't available at Office) What I've found helps is to not buy snacks. I eat junk if it's available, but if nothing is nearby, then I can't be bothered to go out and purchase it, so I'll eat a grapefruit instead. Another thing that I have found helps is to order a community supported agriculture (CSA) produce box. A lot of farmers that supply restaurants are losing a…

One of my mottos: Good eating starts in the supermarket, not in the kitchen. I can easily not buy potato chips. I don't even pretend like I'll control myself and not eat a whole bag in one night if it's in the house.

Love that. I've learned two things about myself in the last 5 years or so:

- I have very little self control when impulses are right in front of me. This goes for most things: drinking (especially out), food/snacks, purchases, even exercise (eg. just keep hiking a little farther vs. stopping).

- I have enormous self control if I "distance" myself from impulse. This means not buying snacks in the first place, trying out alternative forms of exercise, not buying beer except on weekends, putting things from Amazon on a wishlist vs. clicking the Buy Now button.

I know my impulses well enough at this point, and maybe there is something to be said for these methods not actually controlling them (just avoiding them), but they are much healthier mentally for me since I can indulge when things are around that I want without feeling guilty for being constantly indulging.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#168

Post by Ductapemaster »

screye wrote: post #159
godelski wrote: post #129

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Is that WFH or lockdown related?

It is both. I used to like being able to confine work to work and fun to home. I don't like them both mixing with WFH. My leisure was climbing, soccer and hanging out with friends...all 3 of which have come to a complete halt. My room itself is in a terrible location, in that the windows don't face sunlight and face someone else's house. The common spaces are busy, since I live in a group house and don't have a separ…

I feel you on that. I was _just_ getting back into climbing after a multi-year hiatus, and I was _so_ excited. Found a climbing buddy, finally worked up the courage to get onto the walls again and "be bad" at it. I was also doing cardio classes multiple days a week. It's all gone now.

I told myself at the beginning of lockdown that if I wasn't going to be able to do that, I had to make another change to make up for it. I was already putting in all the effort, and I just needed to redirect it. For me that was doing intermittent fasting (I just don't buy breakfast foods these days), and investing in cooking, which I already loved but wasn't doing enough of.

Wish you the best buddy. I'm hoping as things open up outdoors (which is the steps we seem to be taking, at least in CA) you can get back outside for some activity.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#169

Post by danielscrubs »

ydb wrote: post #53

Some people are more motivated than others. Just like some people are more intelligent than others, or more athletic than others... some are more self-motivated and can work through their own initiative rather than relying on external input (such as managers). That's not a bad thing, either! We should encourage those self-motivated people to work however makes them the most productive members of our economy. That is…

When I was a manager I'd always just say to the people under me that they where driven, until they actually started to be motivated. It's a great little trick that made everyone happier, works on teaching programming too.

I don't think it's that easy as self-motivation as a scale, it's all about the environment and task that makes people the most productive.

I always want there to be someone with insane amounts of grit and ask how they do it. Insane amounts of grit would be: - Six pack and can run a marathon when old. - Recognised in their field. - Earned enough through work (not through the insane rise in housing prices) to be able to stay in their home for a decade without working.

Checking all these boxes, would be the master of grit.

Re: Why are some people better at working from home than others?

#170

Post by andybak »

3fe9a03ccd14ca5 wrote: post #85
andybak wrote: post #23

Earlier quoted context omitted.

So you dispute that "struggles in the office but thrives WFH" is a real category?

I actually wonder about such a person. Do they exist? I haven’t had enough time WFH to tell.

Yeah. It's me for a start.
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