Btw, I've been using this app for my mac to implement the Pomodoro technique (didn't know it was called that though) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breaktime/id427475982?mt=12
How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
91–100 of 104 posts
Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#92I have been doing this for almost 3 years now and I surely agree that work from home is at the same time the best and worst in the world. Its very nice because, as you said, you control everything. However it is also very bad because you do not have enough contact with other humans. And I'm not saying this because there no one to chit-chat, but because there is no one to talk about work. As a developer, getting input…
Well stated. I tend to look at it in a similar way, but phrased differently: When you decide to work from home vs. in an office, neither is better or worse, you're simply trading one set of problems for another. For example, you brought up lack of human contact, and I sympathize. Team interaction was huge for me when I worked in an office, and I didn't realize how much I took it for granted until I started working fr…
Personally I find much more value in not being disturbed all the time and avoid the harassment that work in an office can bring to your life. On the other side, even if it´s harder to do tech work on my own I think I prefer this to having to waste time commuting and get caught in middle of unproductive conversations all the time.
Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#93Btw, I've been using this app for my mac to implement the Pomodoro technique (didn't know it was called that though) http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/breaktime/id427475982?mt=12
There's an open source Pomodoro app. It's on the (mac) app store for $1.99ish but if you search on the developer's website there's a github link where you can download the app if you want to compile it yourself.
You can use it for free at http://tomatoes.heroku.com and get its source code at http://github.com/potomak/tomatoes
Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#94It is interesting...I had never heard of the Pomodoro technique but independently developed a method in which each "work unit" is: 25 minutes. I wonder how many others have also concluded that 25 minutes is short enough not to be scary (if you have to force yourself to do it) but long enough to get something done.
For me 25 minutes are too short - you just get into something and it's time for the pause - especially for programming I think you need longer time periods. When doing the pomodoro technique I usually go for 45 minutes work units + 10 minutes break. That way you get longer focus and when you take a break it's a real break (so you can get out and walk for a bit for example).
Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#95Earlier quoted context omitted.
How do you implement it? Paper+Timer or electronic?
http://tomatoes.heroku.com/ is my preferred tool
Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#96Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#97Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#98Well I plan to spend a lifetime working from home....Here are my ideas. a) First and foremost....I will make it a point to go to places where I meet people....Some such places can be gym,yoga classes,bars/clubs if I am single. b) I will travel as much as possible....How I see it,there is actually some productivity to be gained from working on your friends couch in miami for a month. c) Be much much more efficient.The…
The one thing that I figured out and continue to figure out is that plans are a completely different beast when self-employed, compared to your school years or regular employment. The challenge to be not just responsible for turning meaningful interest into work, but also creating that meaning in the first place might not seem that significant, but it's an extremely tough thing. Saying that you plan on being much, much more efficient is all fine and well, but what if you don't actually now what to do with all that efficiency?
Also - not to be too patronizing on your personal choices, but you already have two counts of drug use in your plans plus traveling, clubs, etc.. That doesn't really sound like a plan for working, but one for not working (there is also much /distraction/ to be gained from slouching on somebodies couch in Miami for a month). That's fine and everything and it might help you keep your balance, but you really don't have much of a plan for the actual work part.
Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#99Earlier quoted context omitted.
I had the same problem with my girlfriend. We used to work together then I quit to work for myself. Whenever she had a day off she thought I was just playing on the computer too and just couldn't wrap her mind around the idea that despite the fact that I worked from home, I had to get x, y, and z done before I could go out to dinner or lunch or whatever. Its almost a year now and she left me which sucks but as a twen…
Pure projection. Useless people accomplish nothing on the computer and our first approximation of other people is ourselves.
Re: How to work from home without going insane (purple monkey dishwasher)
#100Well I plan to spend a lifetime working from home....Here are my ideas. a) First and foremost....I will make it a point to go to places where I meet people....Some such places can be gym,yoga classes,bars/clubs if I am single. b) I will travel as much as possible....How I see it,there is actually some productivity to be gained from working on your friends couch in miami for a month. c) Be much much more efficient.The…
Yes: It IS easier said than done. The one thing that I figured out and continue to figure out is that plans are a completely different beast when self-employed, compared to your school years or regular employment. The challenge to be not just responsible for turning meaningful interest into work, but also creating that meaning in the first place might not seem that significant, but it's an extremely tough thing. Sayi…