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Ways to Beat the Telecommuting Blues?
hungryfrog writes "After a few years in a typical office environment, I began working from home full-time as an independent contractor (web programmer) a couple months ago. My former employer is throwing me enough jobs that finding work is not an issue. Many people would consider this a dream work situation, but I'm starting to have my doubts. I like the relative freedom it gives me, but I'm finding myself rather starved for human interaction. Being in the same apartment to sleep, eat, AND work every day definitely leads to cabin fever. Have other people experienced this? What have you done to deal with the situation? Does dividing working/living spaces help (my apartment's small, anyway...)? I know of a few folks who have actually rented office space just to get out of the house. Is the cost worth it?"
step 1: get laptop.
step 2: leave appartment
step 3: find interesting place
step 4: work
I am in the exact same situation. I left my consulting job almost 2 years ago and my former employer has thrown work my way and I have picked up a lot on my own. Sometimes I get out, some weeks I don't. When I don't, I make it a point to go somewhere and talk to people. If that means going to the mall and talking to the chicks at stores or going to have a drink at the tavern, it has to be done. Cabin fever from this kinda living will lead to a lot of strange behaviour, so just go do something. Separating the areas does no good. I use my spare bedroom as an office. Just outside the door is where I will be when I am not working - it's not enough. The only solution is to get out. Good luck.
Not really helpful, but before I started working from home, someone told me this:
The best part of working from home is that you're always at home when you're at work. The worst part of working from home is that you're always at work when you're at home.
"The obvious mathematical breakthrough would be . . . an easy way to factor large prime numbers"
Bill Gates, 1995
I rented a small office for that exact reason when I started out. Rent was $300/month, but it was nice for the following:
- work was work, and I could leave and go home. It forced me to actually work when I was in the office.
- human interaction is needed for my personality. Moreover, the office was downtown, which was good for human networking.
- the occasional customer would actually want to come and "see the operation". It didn't matter that the office was small, just that it existed.
davejenkins.com |
I'm in the same boat as a freelancer who works from home. Working away from the desk would be counterproductive, as I'm addicted to a two-monitor setup.
I started taking a French class about a year ago at a local college, and it's been a great experience. It requires working and studying with other people, and offers me a chance to dress nicely in the morning and go out among the living, instead of going to full frump mode at the crack of noon.
Plus, I get to learn a language, which is nicely removed from technical work and provides a chance to stretch other parts of me noggin.
I have a job which allows me to telecommute 85% of the time, if not more.
When I lived in an appartment (and was married) I used to go into the office two or three times a week, only stay home if there was a lot of Phone Work, because if I'm going to be on the phone for 8 hours I'd rather be able to walk around, get a drink, play with the cats, etc.
When I moved into a house (almost 2 years ago), I set up an office in the basement. I barely go into the 'real' office now. I think I've only been in 20 times this year, and that was mostly to drop off expense reports (they need originals, yes I could mail them but what the hell).
Also, because of 'reorganizations', my work schedule became way more busy and erratic - quite often I have two hours in the morning and two in after-hours, so I may as well just stay home.
I get my human interaction because I have a dog, and I take her on a nice 2+ hour run every day. We go to the same park every day (scorching heat or sub-freezing). You get to meet quite a few people that way who for the most part have some common interests. I've made some good friends.
So, here's my advice.
If you _can_ seperate worksapce and living space, do it.
Go out for lunch, or for coffee, or something. Take breaks.
You probably have a laptop. You can head down to a coffeeshop or a Barnes and Noble or something and do some work there, in a different environment. Change the scenery.
I like to have music going when I work (at home). Maybe that'll help you too.
Get some outside activities! Go hang out at B&N. Have movie nights with friends. Get a dog (:
Good Luck!
In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is kinky.
Maybe an idea to share the office space with other home workers? That way you can share costs, gossip, and share info if you're on the same field.
The good bits of a company, but without the bad (boss) bits.
I notice this:
A large percentage of office cube workers find a happy medium of slackness and relaxed attitude to work, even in an opressive office where the bosses are tyrants.
Home workers, especially self employed geeks, artists and small business owners tend to have a very hard persoanal work ethic (especially in the US and UK) and actually drive themselves too hard.
Basically being in office unburdens you of a psychological resposibility and you can grab slack by just putting in the hours, but being your own boss can be a problem when you work yourself too hard.
Try to get the best productivity from your workers give them (you) a break frequently. There is more to life than work ( so I hear )
I work from home and the best bit is that it let me get a life. I can highly recommend it.
My daughter is 20 months old today. I saw her first steps, her first word was "Dadadadadadada", when she gets excited about something I can be there to see what it is, when she falls over and bangs her knee I can sit with her till she's happy again.
I don't commute so that's an extra hour or so each day that I can do other things with. What could you do with that extra time?
I also work closely with several other people who also work from home. We stay in touch with instant messaging (we all touch type) and that really does help. Did I mention my wife is here as well and that is a great help (no, you can't have her. Get your own).
I wouldn't go back to the office (I'm resisting at all costs) but I do know what you mean about missing the contact. But I find when I do go in for meetings or whatever, it's so noisy and unproductive being there that I have to come home to get some work done.
Having said all that, it's not for everyone and I know at least one colleague who tried it, hated it and now happily goes to work each day. He wanted the separation of work and home lives and now he's got that.
I am a leaf on the wind
I did work from home for the last two years:
Ciao, Valerio
Exactly... I have worked for about decade from home (independent contractor). The way to beat the "blues" is TO interact with the world...
Here is what I do:
1) Slashdot, I kid you not, it is interaction
2) Member of a Linux User Group
3) Ice Hockey Ref
4) Excercise daily (jog, bike, skate, etc)
5) Do something with the wife
6) Do something with the dog
7) Take courses (painting, etc)
You do those sorts of things and you will have plenty of things to do and I asure you that you will not be bored. The key is to interact with society that are not directly related to work.
"You can't make a race horse of a pig"
"No," said Samuel, "but you can make very fast pig"