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The Stress of Remote Working

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Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#21

Post by toomanybeersies »

Clubber wrote: post #2

IMO, still much better than the stress of driving in rush hour traffic 2x a day to go to an office where everyone is looking over your shoulder all the time and won't hesitate to interrupt you, or the guy right next to you, or anyone in the room, for a quick, disruptive chat that everyone can hear.

I've solved half that problem by living within walking distance from work. I do understand that it's not possible for a lot of people though.

I've never worked somewhere that I couldn't get to within 20 minutes by walking or cycling.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#22

Post by Clubber »

jackstraw14 wrote: post #19
Clubber wrote: post #2

IMO, still much better than the stress of driving in rush hour traffic 2x a day to go to an office where everyone is looking over your shoulder all the time and won't hesitate to interrupt you, or the guy right next to you, or anyone in the room, for a quick, disruptive chat that everyone can hear.

My work days and quality of life in general improved dramatically when I stopped driving and started taking the bus. Two hours total round-trip each day, plus walking about 2 miles to/from bus stops, but I can't imagine ever wanting to drive to work again. Let someone getting paid to drive handle the stress of the road, don't put that shit on yourself. Public transport can be stressful in its own ways, but at least y…

Oh I can't wait until self driving cars exist for real (zero interaction required, I think you have to keep a finger on the wheel now). The commute definitely aggravates me both to and from work, preventing a good day at work, and a good wind down after work.

As far as workspace, we have that new fangled open office (read: too cheap for even cubicles). Granted it's a startup and there are much better things to spend money on, plus rapid growth, etc. Everyone has to wear headphones and the biz always comes in to talk.

I'd still rather remote. It solves all problems, and I can walk and socialize on my own time. Let's be honest, most work chit chat is either about work, or petty and shallow.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#23

Post by Clubber »

spdionis wrote: post #10
sheeshkebab wrote: post #8

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Ah, gotta have the requirements to get things done - right, I’m with you on that one. Where would all software dev be if we didn’t have requirements? ideally printed out and distributed in neatly packed binders. Seriously, do you really think that something that cannot be worked out over slack/confluence/phone call can be worked out in person sitting in the busy office with all kinds of distractions and stress caused…

Yes. Get a meeting a room and do a proper meeting. The thought of having a 1 hour long meeting makes me sick. The thought of having a 1.5-2 hours long phone call (adjusted for inefficiency of the phone call) makes me want to kill myself. I will not get anything done ever after that.

The person writing the spec should actually be able to think it through a few times before needing a developer in the room. If the spec writer can't think through a spec by themselves for at least 95% of it, they aren't qualified to be submitting tickets, IMO.

The most efficient way to communicate specs is through a document, so I have something to reference. I'm not going to remember everything said in a meeting unless I immediately start working on it. The spec document should be exhaustive, clear and easy to follow with no dangling questions unanswered.

If you can get a spec writer that can do that, you're golden.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#24

Post by albertgoeswoof »

basseq wrote: post #14

I worked remote for 4-6 months in 2010, and really hated it. My team of 3—I was the most junior—were all local and met at the office once every couple weeks. I felt a pressure to always respond to pings and phone calls instantly, lest it be thought that I was slacking off. I felt guilty about going to the bathroom, let alone eating lunch or—god forbid—getting coffee from the Starbucks right outside my apartment build…

Sounds like you were quite junior and working in an environment that didn't support remote working well, which obviously wouldn't end well. Great that you are able to take that experience and use it to help others and your organization grow remotely though, I can see why you are a people leader.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#25

Post by jackstraw14 »

Clubber wrote: post #22
jackstraw14 wrote: post #19

Earlier quoted context omitted.

My work days and quality of life in general improved dramatically when I stopped driving and started taking the bus. Two hours total round-trip each day, plus walking about 2 miles to/from bus stops, but I can't imagine ever wanting to drive to work again. Let someone getting paid to drive handle the stress of the road, don't put that shit on yourself. Public transport can be stressful in its own ways, but at least y…

Oh I can't wait until self driving cars exist for real (zero interaction required, I think you have to keep a finger on the wheel now). The commute definitely aggravates me both to and from work, preventing a good day at work, and a good wind down after work. As far as workspace, we have that new fangled open office (read: too cheap for even cubicles). Granted it's a startup and there are much better things to spend…

If your workspace is inflexible then I would say making some changes to your commute asap might be important for your well-being.

Chit chat at work wasn't always annoying and disruputive. Well maybe to some it always was, but the workplace is usually an intersection of some interesting parts of your personal community, ie the mutual suffering everyone else goes through for whatever reason, to be here in this office 8+ hours a day. Sitting around all these people existing in chairs, who in their digital worlds totally forget about the noises they're making in the real world.

Your work chit chat is what you make it, is what I'm trying to say I guess. If your office is totally extroverted and won't give anyone any peace, look around for other people who aren't into the prescribed "work culture" and work together to make one of your own. At least your work days might be better.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#26

Post by albertgoeswoof »

woliveirajr wrote: post #20

In the end, the stress of remote working or working inside a cubicle is caused by the same group: everybody around you. You might or might not have co-workers that are cooperative or not, who interrupt you a lot or not, who make everybody's life easier or not. You might have or not a good family, a good chair and desk, a good headphone, a good coffee break, a good lunch. And everybody that is on the other page will t…

> In the end, the stress of remote working or working inside a cubicle is caused by the same group: everybody around you.

let me rephrase that for you

> In the end, the stress of remote working or working inside a cubicle is caused by the same group: you

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#27

Post by spdionis »

Clubber wrote: post #23
spdionis wrote: post #10

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes. Get a meeting a room and do a proper meeting. The thought of having a 1 hour long meeting makes me sick. The thought of having a 1.5-2 hours long phone call (adjusted for inefficiency of the phone call) makes me want to kill myself. I will not get anything done ever after that.

The person writing the spec should actually be able to think it through a few times before needing a developer in the room. If the spec writer can't think through a spec by themselves for at least 95% of it, they aren't qualified to be submitting tickets, IMO. The most efficient way to communicate specs is through a document, so I have something to reference. I'm not going to remember everything said in a meeting unl…

You have never written a spec have you?

Not only is the 5% important, as every "only 5% left" tends to be, you are completely ignoring possible developer questions.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#28

Post by Aaargh20318 »

starbuxman wrote: post #11

I work remotely, and it can definitely get lonely. To combat this, I do martial arts. I get my 'social fix' and am good for the day. I don't need constant conversation throughout the day with people I may or may not like ;-) What is most difficult for me, is getting inspiration. I work remotely for myself which is different than those work work remotely for others, and have a boss to report to. So...I'm struggling wi…

> I work remotely, and it can definitely get lonely.

I used to work remotely most of the time, unfortunately in my current job this isn't very practical. I really miss the solitude though. Having to sit in an office surround by humans is the worst part of having a job in general. It wears on you and after a day at the office I am completely exhausted to the point where I feel like a zombie most evenings.

As for the loneliness thing, that's something I've never understood. I don't even know what it feels to be lonely. There have been times in my life where I've been alone for months and I never felt anything that I would classify as 'lonely'. If anything I would call my current condition the exact opposite of loneliness: I have way more social interaction than I can deal with and that's with me actively trying to reduce it to the absolute minimum possible.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#29

Post by 49531 »

I've worked 100% remote for nearly 4 years now and I can definitely say that I'll never go back to working in an office if I can help it.

Yea there are different challenges. You have to over communicate and be available, but availability doesn't mean 24/7. It really only applies to working hours and the occasional on-call shift. If your boss wants to get ahold of your on a Saturday night, that sounds like a company culture issue, not a remote work issue.

Re: The Stress of Remote Working

#30

Post by zerebubuth »

jclardy wrote: post #9

I've worked remotely for a company in another state for the past 5 years, I can relate to many of these issues. On socialization, I can understand the feeling there, but for me the solution was to find social circles beyond work. For me I have my church community and also meetup groups with other developers in a similar field. If you don't have those already you will definitely be feeling the loneliness. Other things…

> for me the solution was to find social circles beyond work. For me I have my church community and also meetup groups with other developers in a similar field.

I think you are exactly right. Additionally, I think having a variety of social circles beyond work can help broaden one's support network, which can reduce the disruption of changing jobs or being let go. And it's fun to have a wider variety of friends with common interests.

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