How does one work from home?

notarypublic

New Member
Bit of a silly question, but I moved from freelance design/dev to contract/consulting gigs a couple years ago. Most of that has been working on site with the client, because of the nature and length of the job.

I just landed a contract working 100% remote for the next 18 months, and I could use some advice about how to handle working from home without going stir-crazy.

I'm already shopping around for a good bike and a standing desk, to make sure I get ample sun/social interaction as well as stay more fit at home. Any other suggestions?

Thanks!
 

ronaldroe

Super Moderator
Staff member
You have the exercise part down, and that'd be my first suggestion. Another would be to have a laptop or other portable device so you can take your code on the road. Hit up a coffee shop or Panera or something for a change of scenery.

Of course, know this is largely coming completely out of the air, because web design is my side gig, and I don't have the "working from home" problem in the same way you will.
 

leroy30

New Member
Rent an office.

I started out with a home office but boy is it hard. Not just because of the motivational issues of working from home but also the fact that you are never physically leaving work takes its mental tol. Also once people cotton on they either stop round when you are working or take advantage knowing that you are home and can do something for them at any time.

Now that I have an external office even if I am still working long hours there is that clear definition between work and home. And it makes home a much more peaceful place to be.
 

chrishirst

Well-Known Member
Staff member
A spare room and a second phone line can also work, IF you set the phone on silent, lock the door, hang the key up, go have a shower. That's your mental cut-off point.

We are creatures of habit and it doesn't take very long for the action of locking the door to become the "drive home". A friend of mine used his back door for the "office entrance", so he would go out of the front door, walk round the house and "open his office" in a morning then do the reverse trip on his "way home".
 

Phreaddee

Super Moderator
Staff member
yes but also as "creatures of habit" it's very easy to just think, i'll just quickly check that, or hmmm that idea might fix that, etc etc, and with our work "medium" you don't need to go to the office to check, therefore you find you are taking work "home". When that habit sinks in, the ritual of "going home" becomes merely another break in a 24hr day.

throw in a family and the whole working from home thing can turn into a debacle. I found I got complained at for being in front of my computer all day, I got complained at because "I was home" therefore I should be doing domestics. I got complained at because I didn't feel like "relaxing" in front of the TV for the evening. I got complained at because I never came to bed. The stresses of keeping on top of your books, accounts and finances is also a big pain.

it's certainly doable but you need to be quite committed and passionate towards it. and you must must must give yourself separation from working and home life. otherwise it'll turn toxic. one way or another.
 

chrishirst

Well-Known Member
Staff member
yes but also as "creatures of habit" it's very easy to just think, i'll just quickly check that, or hmmm that idea might fix that, etc etc, and with our work "medium" you don't need to go to the office to check, therefore you find you are taking work "home". When that habit sinks in, the ritual of "going home" becomes merely another break in a 24hr day.
True, but by making a psychological and physical break between what is home and work environments that becomes easier to manage that. It doesn't have to be half a mile down the road, being "addicted to work" is simply another habit to break.

throw in a family and the whole working from home thing can turn into a debacle. I found I got complained at for being in front of my computer all day, I got complained at because "I was home" therefore I should be doing domestics. I got complained at because I didn't feel like "relaxing" in front of the TV for the evening. I got complained at because I never came to bed. The stresses of keeping on top of your books, accounts and finances is also a big pain.

it's certainly doable but you need to be quite committed and passionate towards it. and you must must must give yourself separation from working and home life. otherwise it'll turn toxic. one way or another.

The thing is, you simply need to be MORE committed to your family than you are to your clients, and relaxing in front of the T.V. is mind-numbing rather than actually relaxing. Reading a few pages of a really good book between the shower and the "relaxing" is a good way to switch off the day as you have 're-used' your short term memory.
 
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