Home Workers/Teleworkers

imataloss

Just wondered how many people we have on here that work from home.
I am a full time employee who has been working from home for over 6 years.
I enjoy my job but find it difficult some days to keep motivated. I haven`t been feeling too well recently and that and a lack of sunshine has left me feeling low.
My questions are:
How do you manage to keep motivated?
Do you ever feel lonely?
It`s a struggle to keep my mind on work somedays. Just feel like turning on the TV and having a duvet day.

squeaky

Hiya

We have a board specifically set up for members who, among them, have quite a number of home workers - so they'll be the best people to ask. I'll move the post across there for you.

Good luck

imataloss

squeaky wrote: »

Hiya

We have a board specifically set up for members who, among them, have quite a number of home workers - so they'll be the best people to ask. I'll move the post across there for you.

Good luck

Thank you squeaky - I did have a quick search but couldn`t find anything.
Think I have the Monday morning blues today. Never mind it`s nearly afternoon

billywhizz

I've worked from home for 15 years now, go into an office about two or three times a year. Initially this was in sales and it was extremely hard to get motivated (Plus I was young, single and living on my own then) so I had a number of techniques to stop myself sitting in front of the Playstation all day (not all of which were successful).

I converted my shed into an office and had a phone and desk in it to make me get out of the house, also, much to the amusement of friends who found out, I would put on a suit just to sit working at the laptop in the dining room all day. Even now I find I get much more done when I am in business wear than loafing about in jeans.

It does get lonely, I was on first name terms with the guy in the shop at the bottom of the road as he was the only human interaction I would have during the day, and I still miss talking about the TV last night with colleagues.

I'm married with two young kids now, which brings it's own challenges, mainly chaos, noise, screaming kids when I'm on a business call, Conference calls with kids knocking on the door, and sticky fingers on my laptop (and missing keys, at one point I had a Laptop with 8 keys off the keyboard they had pulled off).

On balance though I have the freedom to nip in and out if I need to, I am usually in for deliveries which is great for when I get bored and do some internet shopping. Don;t have trouble with dental appointments, tradesmen visiting etc. Make sure you schedule a break during the day to leave work for an hour and watch telly, or go for a walk and get out the house and turn your brain off for a bit.

Also if you do have an afternoon doing nothing you can always make it up in the evening when your enthusiasm picks up. On balance I enjoy the freedom of working from home, it can be lonely but I'd still arther this than dragging myself into an office and being locked behind a desk all day.

imataloss

billywhizz wrote: »

I've worked from home for 15 years now, go into an office about two or three times a year. Initially this was in sales and it was extremely hard to get motivated (Plus I was young, single and living on my own then) so I had a number of techniques to stop myself sitting in front of the Playstation all day (not all of which were successful).

I converted my shed into an office and had a phone and desk in it to make me get out of the house, also, much to the amusement of friends who found out, I would put on a suit just to sit working at the laptop in the dining room all day. Even now I find I get much more done when I am in business wear than loafing about in jeans.

It does get lonely, I was on first name terms with the guy in the shop at the bottom of the road as he was the only human interaction I would have during the day, and I still miss talking about the TV last night with colleagues.

I'm married with two young kids now, which brings it's own challenges, mainly chaos, noise, screaming kids when I'm on a business call, Conference calls with kids knocking on the door, and sticky fingers on my laptop (and missing keys, at one point I had a Laptop with 8 keys off the keyboard they had pulled off).

On balance though I have the freedom to nip in and out if I need to, I am usually in for deliveries which is great for when I get bored and do some internet shopping. Don;t have trouble with dental appointments, tradesmen visiting etc. Make sure you schedule a break during the day to leave work for an hour and watch telly, or go for a walk and get out the house and turn your brain off for a bit.

Also if you do have an afternoon doing nothing you can always make it up in the evening when your enthusiasm picks up. On balance I enjoy the freedom of working from home, it can be lonely but I'd still arther this than dragging myself into an office and being locked behind a desk all day.

Thanks for your reply. You have reminded me why I like working from home.
I can imagine what you must have looked like wearing a suit sitting at the dining table :rotfl:
I too find I get much more done if I`m wearing smarter clothes.

The corner shop is a lifeline isn`t it when you just have to get out of the house. In fact the owner of my corner shop is now one of my best friends. We go to the gym together before work two days a week.

I have not been having a proper break in the day recently due to various circumstances and think that is what I need to do. Used to enjoy going for a walk or just popping to see my Mom or my sister who both live about 5 minutes walk away.
I really miss meeting up with friends/colleagues at lunchtime for a chat about TV or just a gossip.

I know what you mean about having young children about the house. I have a 2 year old grandson who thinks it`s great fun to turn my computer off. He`s facinated by the blue light for some reason. Also he has been known to try to unscrew my desk using his Handy Manny screwdriver It`s great trying to explain to someone at the other end of the phone who is causing chaos.

Yes, taking all that into account it is definately much better working from home than traveling into an office every day. Did it for 28 years and don`t know how now. I too visit my office about 3 times a year (it`s a 280 mile round trip) so don`t relish doing it more frequently.

So the plan is to have a break everyday and get away from my desk.

Enjoy your day.:)

Ghost_2005

I work from home - not entirely by choice, as there's very little work available in the area I live. I was mixing the home working with temping work in the 'real world', which was a nice balance, but the temp work has dried up since last summer.

What I love about home working is the flexibility and the lack of commuting. If the weather is good then I can go out during the morning or afternoon and enjoy it - make up the hours in the evening. (Or even take a whole day off)

I find Monday's the hardest and then I end up working over the weekend to make up hours. Motivation can certainly be a problem, especially if I'm not feeling 100%.

I still keep in touch with people I used to work with and we try to meet up for a few drinks every month or so. Otherwise I have a fair few 'cyber' friends, but that's not quite the same as real people, is it?

Sixer

I work from home, except for 1-2 mornings a week, when I go to visit clients/customers. I really enjoy it and rather than lacking motivation, need a smack upside the head to stop working - else I'd be at it 24/7. I try to balance the isolation of it with a half decent social life and some community volunteering that gets me out and about and meeting people I otherwise wouldn't.

imataloss

Ghost_2005 wrote: »

I work from home - not entirely by choice, as there's very little work available in the area I live. I was mixing the home working with temping work in the 'real world', which was a nice balance, but the temp work has dried up since last summer.

What I love about home working is the flexibility and the lack of commuting. If the weather is good then I can go out during the morning or afternoon and enjoy it - make up the hours in the evening. (Or even take a whole day off)

I find Monday's the hardest and then I end up working over the weekend to make up hours. Motivation can certainly be a problem, especially if I'm not feeling 100%.

I still keep in touch with people I used to work with and we try to meet up for a few drinks every month or so. Otherwise I have a fair few 'cyber' friends, but that's not quite the same as real people, is it?

Thanks for your reply.
I love the flexibility too and don`t miss travelling to the office everyday.
Think my problem recently has been that I`ve not been feeling 100% and am severe need of a few days off work. Last day off was spent at a funeral and then feeling ill. It seemed such a waste of a precious days holiday.

Don`t see many of the people I used to work with now. A lot of them now have new jobs or have moved away.
Really must make the effort to arrange to go out with some of the people I am still in touch with. We have had a very difficult time over the past few years due to family illness, berevement and my social life had to take a back seat during this time.
I have `cyber friends` too but really need to see some real friends more often.

imataloss

Sixer wrote: »

I work from home, except for 1-2 mornings a week, when I go to visit clients/customers. I really enjoy it and rather than lacking motivation, need a smack upside the head to stop working - else I'd be at it 24/7. I try to balance the isolation of it with a half decent social life and some community volunteering that gets me out and about and meeting people I otherwise wouldn't.

Thanks for your reply. I think my problem is that due to circumstances I have spent a lot of my days recently sitting in front of my computer. This coupled with the fact that I have not felt 100% has made me feel a bit low.
Just missing the interaction/social side of life in an office.

I really need to make an effort to get out of the house more during the week. Even a short walk at lunchtime or meeting friends after work would help. I have a gym membership that I am not making full use of so must go there more.

I know what you mean about working 24/7, when I first started I worked all hours. In fact my husband still sometimes has to tell me it`s time to stop working.

realshannon

I would love to know what you all do? just curious and just in case my job goes bang soon!

Lordan

I am also curious as to what you all do as I would love to work from home as I am a new mum and would happily work from home.