Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home? • Hacker News Board

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#31

Post by skytreader » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:32 AM UTC

We have the same situation. The thing is I have some personal programming projects to unwind too, not to mention I watch Netflix from my browser, not my Smart TV. Switching devices help; I have a work-issued laptop that is strictly for work, and a personal laptop that is exactly for non work stuff (duh, couldn't get any plainer).

When WFH started, like most we were actually caught a bit flat-footed in some respects. So I only had my personal laptop to use for WFH too. Before they issued me a laptop, simple acts like logging off VPN, having a dedicated work profile in Firefox and closing _that_, works to compartmentalize my day too.

Finally, best 150 EUR I spent is on a second-hand trekking bike. Nothing like having a hobby that is so different from your work to enforce boundaries. I have other hobbies too but they are physically too similar to work; aside from hobby side projects I also draw and read, etc, stuff that are just as sedentary as programming. The bike let me explore parks and trails I wouldn't otherwise, and even gave me a quicker route to the gym than if I took the bus.

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#32

Post by quickthrower2 » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:33 AM UTC

spery wrote: post #30

nicoburns wrote: post #5

Earlier quoted context omitted.

> Simply switching devices helps. Getting off devices entirely is even better.

That's so true. It sucks a bit when you develop a lot of 'online' hobbies, like gaming, reading blogs, etc. But backpains will make even the most hardcore games into runners :)

And hardcore runners into yogis!

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#33

Post by ragebol » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:34 AM UTC

- Get dressed to go to work; get my keys, wallet, phone etc

- Have breakfast

- Have separate place for work (although mine is kinda-integrated in the living room nowadays with a nice view on the garden. I used to go up the stairs in our previous home.

- end of work: dinner time, somewhere between 17:00 and 18:00 roughly. No work after dinner, except very occasionally.

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#34

Post by boudin » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:37 AM UTC

If possible, I find that the best way is to have commitment with someone to do something at the end of the day. Having this at least once a week is good as it's mentally harder to scrap than something involving just yourself.

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#35

Post by dmje » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:37 AM UTC

Home worker for a decade here. Biggest and best piece of advice: take work email off your phone. Better: put your smart phone upstairs on silent after end of working day and leave it there. Best: don't have a smartphone.

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#36

Post by ferros » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:40 AM UTC

Get changed after work into different clothes. Even better, get changed for exercise.

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#37

Post by rwha » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:42 AM UTC

I've been working from home for a couple years, and I had this same issue at first. For me, it helped to make a sort-of ritual of ending the work day.

I run a 'timer' script when I start working and run again after 8-9 hours (a simple bash script: `timer start|stop work`). Then I disconnect the VPN, close all open apps, turn off the display, and go do a chore (dishes, laundry, go for a walk). I also use a separate browser profile for work.

It was still difficult at first, but with the routine it got easier. Looking at the history of running the timer script, I saw my working hours gradually get to normal over about 8-10 weeks.

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#38

Post by apapli » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:42 AM UTC

Put on an old James Bond movie from the 60s and let my mind slow down a bit once I’ve done all my family and household duties.

Or fire up flight simulator 2020, which has just been released and explore some amazing place from the air.

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#39

Post by speedRS » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:45 AM UTC

darrenf wrote: post #12

I don't so much switch off , as switch modes , by forcing some kind of "commute". Sometimes this involves going for a run, or even a walk around the block; other times it's half an hour in a VR headset (I have an Oculus Quest, which helped hugely during shielding and lockdown). But whatever it is, I just make it long enough and different enough from work that when I return to reality/the flat, I've got my not-work he…

Out of curiosity, what do you do in VR that helps break things up for you?

Re: Ask HN: How do you switch off from work, particularly when working from home?

#40

Post by brainless » Tue, Aug 18, 2020, 9:47 AM UTC

Hey! I have been a remote engineer for about 14 years and even started startups from small apartment multiple times. I have lived in 1BR, with work. My honest retrospection is that this is much harder than people think. I have been through burn outs and one of the reason is surely the lack of boundaries.

Please set boundaries, like time or space. Even a curtain helps. But your rules are only as good as your follow through. I have much better balance now, more like I work less than 8 hours and am constantly open to take breaks. But this happened due to the burn outs and health issues and my life in Germany. I started realizing that if I live better, longer, I have a better chance at whatever I plan to do.