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Ask HN: Keeping sane while working remotely

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Ask HN: Keeping sane while working remotely

#1

Post by not_a_test_user »

I started working remotely a couple of weeks and it's great. I'm happier, less stressed and I'm learning a lot. I can wake up, shower and start working right away. I have to keep office hours but the lack of commute is wonderful.

However, after a couple of weeks of this, I have realized that I can perfectly spend an entire week without leaving my apartment or talking to someone in person. I usually go out with friends on fridays but that's the only thing I have going on besides work.

I'm thinking about joining a gym and going in the mornings before logging in to work, what else should I do?

Re: Ask HN: Keeping sane while working remotely

#3

Post by a3voices »

MichaelCrawford wrote: post #2

take weekends off. Dress for work, as if you're going into the office - that is, don't work in your bathrobe. When the remote office is closed, don't hang out online, not even HN.

This. I'm not good at making comments on HN but I really agree with this

Re: Ask HN: Keeping sane while working remotely

#5

Post by phantom_oracle »

Nobody has suggested this yet, but a co-working space is a great option.

If your company doesn't already have servers you can work from (ie. a VPN), then just buy yourself a $5 dollar server and run OpenVPN on it (and then work from the co-working space).

Also, never work alone and rather sit amongst the other workers. Talk and chat like you would in an office.

On the days when you need quiet and focus, you work from home.

Good luck.

Re: Ask HN: Keeping sane while working remotely

#6

Post by not_a_test_user »

phantom_oracle wrote: post #5

Nobody has suggested this yet, but a co-working space is a great option. If your company doesn't already have servers you can work from (ie. a VPN), then just buy yourself a $5 dollar server and run OpenVPN on it (and then work from the co-working space). Also, never work alone and rather sit amongst the other workers. Talk and chat like you would in an office. On the days when you need quiet and focus, you work from…

I'll take that into account, but right now I'm more interested in improving my free time. Working from home is perfect right now. :)

Re: Ask HN: Keeping sane while working remotely

#8

Post by awicklander »

Check out yoga studios nearby. Because it's class based, it's more directed and time sensitive than working out, and a lot of them also foster community, so it might be easier for you to strike up a few conversations than at a gym.

Give a few of them a try to find the one that's right for you.

Re: Ask HN: Keeping sane while working remotely

#9

Post by rayalez »

The first thing I would do is get a dog =)

Besides that - download some audio books and go for a walk if weather is nice. Or just walk around and think, that's awesome.

Join some clubs related to your hobbies. Try Toastmasters or Improv or Stand Up, or play Go.

Gym, running, exercise. Biking.

Go outside and pick up girls. Write a book or blog in your free time.

Or if you are in a big city - find a hackerspace nearby.

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