If you are a software developer and your aggressive manager is not a developer, don't work remotely. I worked for several months in this condition. The experience was very bad. The manager couldn't understand the difficulty and complexity of programming. He was just pushing and pushing to make sure I was working. I worked 10-12 hours per day, but he was still not satisfied. Finally, I worked on-site. The communication became much better and he could see I am working. And I did not need to work too long every day.
My first experience at working from home
41–50 of 87 posts
Re: My first experience at working from home
#42I worked full time remote for 12 years doing driver / kernel / firmware work for an IHV. What I missed most about working in an office (and what I liked most about going to work at an office again 2 years ago) is the sense of separation and decompression that a commute gives you. If you're not careful, you can easily wind up always working all the time since your "office" is right in your living space.
I've read about people who intentionally exercise before and after work to get the same effect. Essentially running on a treadmill for twenty minutes instead of sitting in a car.
Maybe something to consider? You could also physically drive to a gym if that would help. Or just have one office/computer for work that you don't touch when not "working."
Re: My first experience at working from home
#43Even though I haven't worked from home for longer than a week, I completely understand what the author means, My first 2 days were ok ok.. but then rest of the day were very bad... you don't realize or feel the break from work and off-work.
When you drive back home you feel the sensation of work is "finished" but at home you are always in the feeling of "work"
Re: My first experience at working from home
#44I've been working at home for about a year and can sympathize with the author. I've really been surprised at what an effect its had on me socially. I'm not the most outgoing person to begin with so the forced in-person interactions (both appreciated and unappreciated) that I got in my previous office settings were probably a lot more beneficial to me than I previously believed. I feel like I have the additional chall…
Get out while you still can.
Seriously.
I worked from home for 2.5 years and it has had a profoundly negative impact on my social life and even my personality. I'm good with people, but sitting alone all day for such a long-time has turned me into the kind of person who thinks of calling an old friend, then thinks 'eh, why bother. Let's see what's new on Reddit instead'.
Then there's the problem with setting a routine. I can wake up whenever I want to, sleep whenever I want to. And that's what I usually end up doing. Sure, it's fun for the first few weeks, but soon you realize why human beings need structure and organization.
It's corrosive. I moved to a co-working space and I've never been happier.
Working from home is seriously overrated.
Re: My first experience at working from home
#45Working from home for 3 years now, and I love it. I think what people in general tend to forget is that you can work from home but you don't have to . Renting a spot in a coworking space is very fun and helps with the loneliness.
Honest question: what is your home situation like? Are you married? Kids?
In my experience, older folks with kids and a spouse tend to love the work from home thing. Younger people tend to get bogged down by the lack of social interaction.
Re: My first experience at working from home
#46I worked full time remote for 12 years doing driver / kernel / firmware work for an IHV. What I missed most about working in an office (and what I liked most about going to work at an office again 2 years ago) is the sense of separation and decompression that a commute gives you. If you're not careful, you can easily wind up always working all the time since your "office" is right in your living space.
I wonder if there are any techniques that might work, like using a dedicated computer that you put away, taking a walk or a shower, etc.
Humans are creatures of habits and compartmentalization.
- Get a different computer (use a mac if you are a windows guy for extra separation). - Work in a different room (DO NOT work from the room you sleep or play in!). - Wear different clothes (business casual is great, and if you have to do a quick errant outside, you feel like a professional instead of a lazy guy working from home in his underpants). - Do not visit NSFW websites (you are working, and we both know that porn and/or reddit can eat up your time).
Re: My first experience at working from home
#47Personally, I think it's great to just have 1 or 2 remote days per week. Really helps with overall time spent commuting and breaks up the monotony of the daily routine.
Re: My first experience at working from home
#48After ~13 years of working mostly from a home office I decided to rent a small office "downtown" in the little village I live in a couple of years ago. It is nice sized room (19'x11') in a building right on a river with two windows looking out at the river and the hills beyond (seen in the top image here: http://zoopdoop.com/ ) I now love walking to work as much as I used to love working from home and I don't see mys…
Wow nice view, do you work with a team or alone?
Re: My first experience at working from home
#49I've been working from home for the last 4 mos. For the most part it has been very positive. I've enjoyed the looser schedule and have spent quite a bit less on food and gas. The biggest benefit has been that I have not had a single insomniac episode. I have slept very well. I'm reminded of this as I am transitioning back to working in the office. Over the last two weeks I have been setting up an office for two coworkers and myself. Yesterday was the first that I moved my PC in and worked at the office although still alone till the rest of the furniture arrives. Last night I slept maybe a total of 3 hours before my first full day at the office. Not sure why, I am only accountable to myself at this point for when I come and go yet here I am up and going on 3 hours sleep again...
Re: My first experience at working from home
#50How do you guys communicate while working remotely?
At my current job we have daily two daily meetings (in the morning and in the evening) where everyone tells what he's done or we discuss something with a whole team. These meetings lock us to particular schedule and make traveling hard. I'd like to suggest my boss to get rid of these daily meetings but I don't know with what to replace them.