Slashdot Mirror

← Back to Stories (view on slashdot.org)

Ask Slashdot: What Are Your Tips For Working From Home?

Posted by Soulskill on from the play-with-the-thermostat-as-much-as-you-want dept.

ichard writes "In a couple of months I'm going to start working from home full-time. I've been thinking about the obvious things like workspace ergonomics, but I'm sure there are more subtle considerations involved in a zero-minute commute. What are other Slashdot readers' experiences and recommendations for working from home? How do you stay focused and motivated?"

18 of 480 comments (clear)

  1. Get past the wanking stage by NonUniqueNickname · · Score: 5, Funny

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=co_DNpTMKXk

  2. Close the door. by GiorgioG · · Score: 5, Informative

    If you don't have an office in your home, get a different job. Close the door and make sure your spouse/family knows that between XX:XX and XX:XX hours, you're working, you're not home.

    It takes some getting used to...but they'll get it eventually. Just keep the door closed.

    1. Re:Close the door. by Maniacal · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Big +1 on this one. It's essential that your family/friends/etc recognize that when you're in there you're "at work" and need to be treated as such. That being said, be flexible if your company is. Sometimes when working from home I'll run and pickup my kid from school even though my wife usually does that. Just because he'll think it's cool that dad picked him up and it's a nice break in the day. My work is based on accomplishments, not hours so I have that flexibility and I use it.

      Couple of other things:

      1) Get ready for work! Don't just slump out of bed and jump in the chair. Eat breakfast, take a shower, get dressed. You'll be more productive, I guarantee it.
      2) Don't get caught in the trap of working too much. When your work is at home it can be hard to walk away from it. If you're done for the day, stay done.

      --
      MG
    2. Re:Close the door. by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Sign up at a gym or something that gets you out for a reason and then schedule it. It can be flexible but don't spend all your time at work.

    3. Re:Close the door. by AK+Marc · · Score: 5, Insightful

      Communicate 10 times more than you think necessary. Out of sight, out of mind. Everyone will forget you are there. So you'll be passed over for bonuses and promotions, and if there's any conflict with someone working in the office, they'll bad mouth you 1000 times and you'll never hear about it.

      I did it for a year, and it was great the first 6 months, but then my boss changed, and it was all downhill from there.

      --
      Learn to love Alaska
    4. Re:Close the door. by DJRumpy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      I see this type of post every time, and after a decade of telecommuting myself, I can tell you it's pretty much bunk with a few provisos. Unless you are easily distracted buy any sound, then you don't need a work cave to work in. Your first few weeks at home will seem like a holiday. Enjoy them while they last, because while every noise will initially be distracting, movies on TV, tunes on the radio, eventually reality sets in and your deadlines start looming and all of that will become background noise.

      If you are concerned initially you can invest in an office and then work your way out of it to a more comfortable setting. if you are typical worker, then you already face typical distractions at work and being at home is no different. Depending on your tolerance level you may need to abstain from things like a TV in the background. Test your limits.

      Communication is key. Is is very easy to become isolated at home. Avoid doing everything by email. Odd as it sounds, that becomes more attractive the longer you work from home.

      Take breaks. Although it's common to take breaks while in an office, it's much more difficult to do at home oddly enough. You tend to be 'on' for your full 8 hours, even when eating. Stop every so often, get out for lunch. Make yourself do so at least a time or two a week.

      Avoid scheduling service calls while working if possible, especially with dogs (of applicable). It tends to throw your day into havoc with dogs barking, door bells ringing, maine people in your home asking questions, all while trying to do 'business'.

      Ensure you have a phone with a mute button. You will be surprised how often it becomes necessary when a family member or a pet is making noise while on conference calls

      Get the necessary gear for an IP Phone. Your cell bill will thank you.

      Ensure you have local admin on your workstation. This isn't always necessary for an office user, it can be very necessary for a home user with a need to tweak a setting without driving into the office to get some desktop person to 'fix' something you could easily do yourself.

      Organize everything in your calendar for both home and work. It is unavoidable that you will start scheduling things during your work day. Make absolutely certain you give yourself plenty of warning when there are possible conflicts. Also ensure that your work-mates will know when you are avail or not. IM is ideal for for presence. Make sure you use it. Ensure people honor your availability. It becomes VERY easy for people to assume you are always available since you are at home. Be polite but firm.

      Last but not least, enjoy it a little. Work in your PJ's, or even naked often, but be prepared for a video call at a moments notice if so equipped.

      Lastly, Avoid touching yourself while on conference or video calls. That's just creepy.

    5. Re:Close the door. by DJRumpy · · Score: 5, Informative

      Just realized I forgot one tidbit. If you do get an IP Phone, get a decent office quality bluetooth headset. I use a Plantronics CS50-USB. Makes walking around easy while working. Has at least a good 75-100 foot range in my home. Also has a mute button on the headset which is a must-have feature for household noise from family, pets, etc.

    6. Re:Close the door. by Just+Some+Guy · · Score: 5, Insightful

      It takes some getting used to...but they'll get it eventually.

      You presume much. I love my wife dearly, but after nearly a decade of frequent telecommuting, she'd still think nothing of asking me to run some long-and-involved errand in the middle of the workday:

      Her: If you're going to be at home, would you run up to Home Depot and look at paints for the hallway? They might have some nice colors at Sherwin-Williams, too. See which one you like best.
      Me: You remember that I have to do that project today, right? The one that I was telling you about last night when you asked why I looked stressed?
      Her: But you're at home today.
      Me: [bangs head on desk]

      A lot of it probably came from her father, who I sincerely believe thought that I was literally unemployed. He went to work every weekday of his life, by God, and that's how business works and that's all there is to it.

      --
      Dewey, what part of this looks like authorities should be involved?
  3. Have a morning routine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Insightful

    For me, the most important thing was to still have a morning routine. I still showered, had breakfast, got dressed, etc. Casual business attire isn't necessary, but you need something more than pajamas to work in all day. When your morning routine is done, you know it's time to work. It still gives your brain a launching-point for the day.

    1. Re:Have a morning routine by aoteoroa · · Score: 5, Interesting

      Fully agree. I liked to get up have a shower, get dressed, then step out of the apartment walk up the street and grab a coffee, then walk home...and start work. The process of stepping out the door had a psychological effect of getting me ready for work.

    2. Re:Have a morning routine by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Interesting

      My brother-in-law works from home and has a very set routine. He gets up at the same time every day, showers, shaves, dresses, eats breakfast, and then he takes the kids to school. On the way back, he stops at the 7-11 and fills his commuter mug with coffee. He goes back home, comes in the other entrance, and walks straight to his home office. When the day is done, he reverses the process, picking up the kids, and coming home, with them, through the front door.

      He claims it's the transitions from home mode to work mode and back again that makes it doable.

  4. Get a dog by Captain+Kirk · · Score: 5, Insightful

    You need something to make you get out of the house and walk 20 minutes at least twice a day. Get a little dog. I've 2 Bichon Frieze and without them I would need surgery to get off my computer chair.

    --
    1000s Warcraft Gold while you sleep
  5. Don't by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    Your wife and/or kids will not be able to understand that working hours mean you are unavailable. You will have to be a jerk to try to enforce your working hours, leading to the dumbest fights you've ever been in. Like the classic - "Why didn't you fold some laundry when you were on the phone?" That you were trying to concentrate on your biggest client is not an acceptable excuse.

    Rent yourself a storage closet up the block, steal some wifi, and build yourself an office 3 minutes from home. AND DON'T TELL THEM WHERE YOU ARE.

  6. Get outside for a walk! by phallstrom · · Score: 5, Insightful

    (been working from home for 6 years...)

    You don't realize how much you walk during the day until your office is 20 feet from your bedroom. I find it helps immensely to take a quick walk in the morning, lunchtime, and after work to clear my head. Also... you don't realize how much "de briefing" you go through on your drive home. You still need to do that instead of jumping right into family/kid/dinner time. Maybe not as long, but something to detox...

    And lastly, if you've got wife/kids at home, it will be an adjustment for *everyone* and can take a long (6mo - 1yr) to get used to.

  7. Rule #1 by stevegee58 · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Don't have children.

    1. Re:Rule #1 by Grishnakh · · Score: 5, Insightful

      This and other things I've both seen and experienced really makes me wonder if the old-fashioned standard of the man working and the woman being a full-time housekeeper and nanny isn't really a much better system overall for society and for families. Having both spouses trying to pursue professional careers just seems to be too difficult if you throw kids into the mix, and it seems kids do a lot better with a parent at home full-time, at least until they're in high school. While the parents can swap roles and the husband be the stay-at-home dad, let's face it, typically men's jobs are higher earning (e.g., software engineers and plumbers make a lot more money than receptionists or retail jobs or HR, and women don't go into engineering jobs that often).

  8. Mod parent up by Shandalar · · Score: 5, Insightful

    Not only will there be endless distractions, but your significant other may resent you being present but not helping around the house. Even a very intelligent and rational significant other can fall into this resentment, and probably will. I don't recommend it.

  9. I work from home and make $$$$$$$$$$ by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 5, Funny

    First, I get up and fuck my wife.

    Then I drink a bottle of scotch.

    Then I program.

    Then
      I say Fuck you. I'm getting my work done.

    Kiss my ass.