i wfh every day and hate it

[Anonymous]

I work from home every day, and hate it. I used to work from home occasionally (from 1-4 days/week, depending on the week) which I really liked...it was the best of both worlds--getting out of the house and seeing people a few days, doing laundry and picking up around the house and prepping dinner on other days. I also used to be able to have a more flexible schedule which I also really liked as I could run errands during low-traffic times. Neither are the case anymore--I am home all day, every day. I have to be at my PC from 9-5 (I can take time for lunch and occassional breaks, but people notice who has been away from their desk/inactive for too long, as Outlook Messenger tells on you).

So, I work from home every day now. And I have grown into a serious case of hatred for working from home. I can tell that being in my house all day and not around people is not good for my psyche. It has made me disgusting. It is almost 230pm and I am not wearing pants or a bra, for instance. I'm fairly certain I haven't showered since the weekend and know for sure that I haven't brushed my teeth today (I recall doing so yesterday though). My lunch today was lemonade, pretzels and ranch dressing (because clearly you can't go out for lunch without putting on a bra and pants).

I can't be the only one in this position, can I?

[Anonymous]

I know what you mean. I totally lack discipline when I work from home. I find myself surfing the web all the time and being really lonely.

[Anonymous]

Why can't you work from a coffee shop or something?

[Anonymous]

Well, I work from home everyday and have for the past 10 years. I just treat it like a regular job. I go to the gym in the morning and then come home and shower. Then I take the kids to school and go home and start working.

For lunch I usually eat last nights dinner leftovers--same as I would if I was in an office.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Why can't you work from a coffee shop or something?

I used to, but then I got into my current no-pants phase.

[Anonymous]

My colleague works from home. She is a very disciplined woman and has all my admiration.

[Anonymous]

You have to establish a routine OP, and stick to it. Make lunch plans out of the house so you are forced to dress. Make appointments during your lunch break. Work at panera. Work downtown at the library of congress in a study. Mix it up.

[Anonymous]

i wfh everyday. I shower, change, put a bit of makeup on. I try to make it like I'm going to the office, plus if I spontaneously want to go out to run an errand, I'm all set.

[Anonymous]

I WFH and am very thankful. I used to go in to the office roughly 2 days a week, but when my office closed, I was offered the WFH option and I took the option rather than commuting to DC everyday.

I can begin as early as I want, which is sometimes 5:30. I help get the kids ready for school, I walk the dog, can throw in a load of laundry, and the best is not commuting!!! I've always hated commuting, to the point where I'd drive halfway in and turn around to work from home (I'm based out of NJ - had no co-workers at my office). Having young children, and being able to pick them up from school is the important to me, as they come home, do their homework, and then we go to their activities. I do get lonely, but just thinking about commuting to DC snaps me right out of my negativity. I also asked for additional work to keep me really crazy busy, so I don't have time to think about the isolation.

I'm part-time and WFH; I have the best gig!

[Anonymous]

I get it, OP. I'm the same way, and it's why I can't work at home.

Do you have any friends at the job who'd agree to meet once a week to work outside the house? Habits like these are a lot easier to break when you have someone to hold you accountable.

[Anonymous]

i picture a tyrannical supervisor watching that outlook thing and smirking.

[Anonymous]

You need to get up and shower or at least get ready in the am.

I don't always shower if I am clean, but put on fresh yoga pants, brush your hair, a little make-up, and come downstairs for coffee/breakfast and to get the kids off.

I'd make a routine. Actually write it down.

Something like:

Monday - Shower/dress, go to coffee shop and work from 8-12. Grab lunch on the way home. Work from home desk 12:30-4:30.

Tuesday - Freshen up and put on comfy workout clothes and work from home desk 8:30-12:30. Go on a walk for 30 minutes, eat lunch (leftovers) back at home desk. Finish working 1:15 - 5:15.

Wednesday - Same as Monday

Thursday - Same a Tuesday

Friday - Work from home in PJs 8-12. Shower 12:30 and go to coffee shop. Finish work day from 1:15 - 5:15. Meeting family or friend for dinner.

Try to find a similar group of WAH parents who want to meet for a lunchtime walk or monthly meeting. Maybe even join a morning bootcamp.

Obviously a lot of this depends what your family/kids' schedule is and if you have flexibility with your hours. But you can switch things up.

[Anonymous]

I find the thought of you sitting at some desk in your underwear, some tattered t shirt, covered in pretzel salt and crumbs with ranch dressing stains oddly sexy. This is both interesting and disconcerting to me.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the thought of you sitting at some desk in your underwear, some tattered t shirt, covered in pretzel salt and crumbs with ranch dressing stains oddly sexy. This is both interesting and disconcerting to me.

im not turned but am totally jealous and think OP is living the dream.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I find the thought of you sitting at some desk in your underwear, some tattered t shirt, covered in pretzel salt and crumbs with ranch dressing stains oddly sexy. This is both interesting and disconcerting to me.

Umm...thanks? Sorta? Im actually working from the sofa in the living room today. Only one conf call and not much due this week re: deliverables, so I enjoyed multitasking Law & Order SVU and working and DCUMing.