Link died for me, HN crash the server?
Get the Google cache
How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
21–30 of 33 posts
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#22As someone who has worked from home for a year and half I can testify to the fact that wfh is not an easy thing to do. What I missed the most was whatever little interaction I had with colleagues. I used to get so frustrated at the end of the day that I just had to get out somwhere at the end of the day - be it to a coffee shop,just to see some people. Given a chance I wouldn't prefer to wfh again. I beleive the idea…
I think you are right. I was in the situation that I worked from home for 6 months and I found it very hard at the end because I got call only for problem to fix. So, the only interaction was from "negative" conversation. The mix of working home and to the office is the best IMO.
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#23The thing that always puzzles me about the working from home discussions is why programmers seem to be the only ones affected by it.
I hang out on a few boards for machinists, many of whom have one-man businesses, some run out of their garages. I have never heard any of them mention issues with working alone except for safety-related concerns: having a lathe attempt to rip your arm off when there's no help nearby can be a problem...
Similar for other fields I can think of where people primarily work alone. Farmers come to mind. In fact, most of my wife's work is done with no other people around (she trains horses) and it's perfectly normal for her to not see other people from the time I leave home in the morning to when our son comes home from school.
So what's different about software professionals?
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#24The thing that always puzzles me about the working from home discussions is why programmers seem to be the only ones affected by it. I hang out on a few boards for machinists, many of whom have one-man businesses, some run out of their garages. I have never heard any of them mention issues with working alone except for safety-related concerns: having a lathe attempt to rip your arm off when there's no help nearby can…
While farmers and mechanics work from home their actual work environment is outside of their normal living space. Its pretty easy to stay on task when you're out in the garage or barn. Meanwhile, we all know what its like to sit down in front of a computer and have a whole world of distractions at our finger tips.
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#25For me, the hardest part about working from home (been doing it since late 2006) is dealing with unproductive days. Some days, try as I might, I just can't seem to get anything done. I end up feeling guilty about this, far worse than I ever felt about wasted days while in an office. The fact that productive days will (hopefully!) outweigh the bad ones should be consolation—but in practice it's not much of one.
I don't think you should feel guilty. This is the nature of our work. There are days where you "feel" it and days where you don't. There are days when there is a lot to do and there are days when you're in a holding pattern to see what's happening with something. At least here in Pennsylvania, the state labor board actually recognizes this fact and has classified software development professionals as "salaried, exemp…
I don't think I should feel guilty either, yet I do anyway. I don't want to give the impression that I think the guilt is rational, though. Still, rational or not, the feeling is real, and I'm not the only person by any means to have it.
I often wonder what it's like for people who need to use their minds when they work yet are under inflexible schedules, such as teachers. They too must have good and bad days, but they don't have the luxury to say "you know what, I'm just not going to teach anybody anything today, so after second period is over, I'm leaving." On the other hand, now that I think about it, I vaguely remember some high school teachers ending lessons early. Maybe doing so was their version of calling it quits for the day early.
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#26As someone who has worked from home for a year and half I can testify to the fact that wfh is not an easy thing to do. What I missed the most was whatever little interaction I had with colleagues. I used to get so frustrated at the end of the day that I just had to get out somwhere at the end of the day - be it to a coffee shop,just to see some people. Given a chance I wouldn't prefer to wfh again. I beleive the idea…
As a full time telecommuter for almost 3 years now, my opinion is quite different. I can barely imagine going back to a commuter life.
The few times a month when I have to drive during rush hour remind me how much better life is when not spent in traffic. And without the daily distractions of office life I get much more accomplished in much less time.
So long as you have good self control, and can work independently and self-motivate, it can be a wonderful arrangement. If you are lacking in those areas, I imagine it can be very difficult.
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#27I've worked from home for four years now and can't imagine consistently getting anything done at an office. And that is even with three young children in the house because they know that when I'm at work, I'm not available and concentrating. Our development team's communications revolve around high bandwidth when necessary, but otherwise leaving each other delicately alone. But that would be different at the office:…
And that is even with three young children in the house because they know that when I'm at work, I'm not available and concentrating
Interesting. With one little girl in the house I find the occasional interruptions when she comes to visit downright welcome. A minute spent laughing with her always puts me in a good mood.
I do imagine that three at a time could be a little distracting, though.
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#28The only way I'm able to do this is because I live right in the middle of Manhattan, so I'm always able to go outside and see other people (even if it is just talking to the doorman), intersperse the day with meetings, occasionally rotate among nearby coffee shops, and plan nighttime activities. I can see how working at home might drive you crazy if you're in a less densely populated location with fewer people around…
Likewise for me, in Brooklyn. Of course, I only have one coffee shop around - but I know several of the baristas there (one is in a great local band, Pass Kontrol), and often see the bartenders from the bistro-bar down the block (whom I also know fairly well). Add to that the fact that the coffee shop has a "bottomless cup" option with cheap refills, and I find myself dividing my time like this:
When I need to do a lot of photoshop work (slicing, dicing, css, et cetera), I work from home where I have a large monitor. When I need to do a lot of code work, I take my laptop down to the coffee shop.
Wish I could stick my desk in the living room, but there really isn't any room! It is perpendicular to my south-east-facing window, though, so I get a lot of natural light which seems to help my mood quite a bit.
I couldn't imagine working from home if I lived in a suburb, though. The occasional ten minute breaks (when I'm out of home, instead of out of the coffee shop) to go down and get a cup (or just to have a smoke) are quite nice, because I see a lot of people that I know from the neighborhood. I wouldn't be able to get that, no how no way, out of a suburb.
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#29I've worked from home for four years now and can't imagine consistently getting anything done at an office. And that is even with three young children in the house because they know that when I'm at work, I'm not available and concentrating. Our development team's communications revolve around high bandwidth when necessary, but otherwise leaving each other delicately alone. But that would be different at the office:…
I'm interested on what whitenoise you are listening to? There are times it feels too silent in my home office but I'm also not in the mood to listen to music.
Re: How to Work from Home Without Going Crazy
#30I've worked from home for four years now and can't imagine consistently getting anything done at an office. And that is even with three young children in the house because they know that when I'm at work, I'm not available and concentrating. Our development team's communications revolve around high bandwidth when necessary, but otherwise leaving each other delicately alone. But that would be different at the office:…
I'm interested on what whitenoise you are listening to? There are times it feels too silent in my home office but I'm also not in the mood to listen to music.
I like the brown noise on http://www.simplynoise.com , personally. They have a thunderstorm soundscape on there too that is nice sometimes.