Working From Home – Tips and Tricks

[AngerDanger]

I've been working from home for nearly a year now, but given the big bad thing, I figured other people might find this worth discussing.

I'm mainly wondering how people manage to spend so many hours at a desk without their necks aching. I realize this discussion applies to desk jobs that aren't at home, but I figured some recommendations might differ given that you have an entire room or more to yourself while working remotely.

Any posture or stretches you can recommend for those who spend their days staring at a screen? Or just tips in general?

 

[ct2k7]

I take regular breaks away from the desk, go for walks and keep the same rhythm I have as if I weren’t working from home.

 

[dk001]

Been doing it for a few years now.
Couple of things I found that really help.

• Set up a home office that is separate as much as possible. Separate work and home.
  • Make sure your family understands this.
• I set my Apple Watch to remind me hourly to stand and walk.
• Get a comfortable chair.
• If possible (needed) adjust your work hours to better fit your needs.
• Set hard time lines for the day. Avoid overtime.
• Keep work hardware and personal hardware separate.

Hope this helps. If I think of any more I'll share.

 

[44267547]

I do both, I work from home and some office mobile work in my vehicle, but I migrated primarily towards the home workspace due to the pandemic.

Anyways, another member said something in another thread that I thought was really well put, And that there has to be a ‘mental switch’ how to turn work off, Being you’re essentially in your own living quarters all the time.

To keep it simple, there’s nothing better than ‘walking‘. And I mean by walking, take 15 minutes of your day outside->fresh air->clears your mind= Restart. I find that totally rejuvenates me, but I’m also into fitness (Which, Now I’m forced to do that at home as well, being gyms are closed.)

I just think there has to be a separation and a mental switch to keep both personal/work not compounding on top of each other. Everybody has to find their own ‘balance‘, but I do enjoy working from home, but I also like to mix it up with some mobile traveling.

Oh, and there’s lots of great tutorials on YouTube for yoga techniques, which can be challenging and provides some stretching exercises.

 

[D.T.]

As an alternative to the post above ...

• Plop your home office space right in the middle of the action, close to the kitchen, with a beer fridge within reach, run TV shows, podcasts, music from your desk and any other media source within 50 feet.
• Sit for hours at a time, but occasionally go outside and run a chainsaw, do something super physical for hours, work will be waiting on your when you get back.
• Oh yeah, comfy chair, agree with this one, I also love having a fully convertible desk (goes from sitting to standing)
• Work all the time, or none of the time, or at 3am if you wake up, just be a scatter shot of productivity
• Anytime is good for work, Mon - Sun, base your schedule on Netflix releases, surf reports, random Zoom happy hours
• Just use the same machines for everything, iPad for debugging an app, watching Better Call Saul, weather reports, or Microsoft Teams (it's especially great for a "business meeting" on the deck with a cocktail)

 

[Erehy Dobon]

DO NOT SPEND EIGHT HOURS A DAY IN FRONT OF A NOTEBOOK COMPUTER.

Everything about notebook computers is ergonomically wrong.

Wrong neck angle. Wrong shoulder position, wrong elbow angle, wrong wrist angle. Lack of wrist support, location of notebook computer trackpad. Piss poor keyboard design.

Tiny screen (owning a 16" MacBook Pro isn't much better than a 13-14" notebook).

Their mobility is convenient as hell, but from an ergonomic standpoint, they are horrifically bad.

Also, get a good task chair. It doesn't have to be a $1200 Herman Miller Aeron or a Steelcase Leap but your dining room table's chair is not designed for you to sit in it for eight hours a day.

Get one specifically for you (good task chairs come in various sizes, S-M-L) and don't let anyone else adjust the settings.

 

[AngerDanger]

• Just use the same machines for everything, iPad for debugging an app, watching Better Call Saul, weather reports, or Microsoft Teams (it's especially great for a "business meeting" on the deck with a cocktail)

Aw, man, I love BCS! How'd you rate it compared to Breaking Bad?

 

[Gutwrench]

I find it difficult to believe people working from home suddenly don’t leave their desk and need reminded to take them. If anything, those just starting to work from home likely need to develop work habits to stay focused.

 

[zhenya]

I find it difficult to believe people working from home suddenly don’t leave their desk and need reminded to take them. If anything, those just starting to work from home likely need to develop work habits to stay focused.

Well, it’s happening to me. I have a sit/stand work station, so I do move around a bit, but prior to this, I would never have believed I could work effectively at home. Despite a wife and kids at home that I also have to tend to, I’m working more than usual, and more effectively at home. I find there are times I go 3-4 hours barely moving.

 

[Gutwrench]

Well, it’s happening to me. I have a sit/stand work station, so I do move around a bit, but prior to this, I would never have believed I could work effectively at home. Despite a wife and kids at home that I also have to tend to, I’m working more than usual, and more effectively at home. I find there are times I go 3-4 hours barely moving.

Great to hear.

I think it would be very difficult having to contend with the kids and/or finding that delicate balance with a spouse who likely must work too.

I just don’t think those just starting to work from home are overworking.

 

[zhenya]

Great to hear.

I think it would be very difficult having to contend with the kids and/or finding that delicate balance with a spouse who likely must work too.

I just don’t think those just starting to work from home are overworking.

I’m sure that many are not, and it is no doubt a challenge with the distractions of family. Everyone is settling in to a semblance of a routine by now though.

Let’s also not pretend that the typical office environment is free of distractions either though! From meetings to co-worker chit-chat to birthday lunches, etc. etc!

 

[Gutwrench]

Let’s also not pretend that the typical office environment is free of distractions either though! From meetings to co-worker chit-chat to birthday lunches, etc. etc!

Agreed, but physical visible is more of a deterrence than an on-line status slipping to “away” after being idle. There’s working from home and then there’s “working” from home. Meetings are a part of work no matter one’s physical venue.

 

[Bluetoot-]

I’m not working from home now but I did for a certain technology company at one time. Mind your posture, keep hydrated, take breaks away from the screen even if it means looking away for a few minutes. Having a room with some nice, pleasant sunlight is also a plus.
Also, I find that keeping my work area separate from things I do everyday helps to create a good separation of work from home.

 

[Scepticalscribe]

I've been working from home for nearly a year now, but given the big bad thing, I figured other people might find this worth discussing.

I'm mainly wondering how people manage to spend so many hours at a desk without their necks aching. I realize this discussion applies to desk jobs that aren't at home, but I figured some recommendations might differ given that you have an entire room or more to yourself while working remotely.

Any posture or stretches you can recommend for those who spend their days staring at a screen? Or just tips in general?

Firstly, ensure that you have a space, a designated space, that is your space, for work purposes; this is where you want and need a "room of your own" that is not some form of "hot desking" at the kitchen table, or somewhere else, where other family members are trailing in and out, because a kitchen is "common space", public/family space, a place that is assumed to be open to all, not a private, space.

Fortunately, when I was a student, my bedroom doubled up as a study - desk, chair, bookshelves, etc - so, I am long used to having my own, personal, private space, for work purposes, and, when I started teaching, my mother's office became my study, and work space, a purpose it still serves.

Secondly: Invest in the best ergonomic chair you can afford.

Your back and neck will thank you.

Once I realised that - between deployments, on account of my mother's conditions (advanced Alzheimers) and the health issues, I would be spending a lot of time at home - I spent some time researching good chairs, and ordered an excellent chair (which was made to order) by the superb German company Klober.

Thirdly: Take breaks: As you would in a classroom (classes - or meetings, or presentations, or public talks - are 45-50 minutes for a reason - intense concentration doesn't usually last much longer than that), or office. In other words, around once an hour take 10-15 minutes off - make a coffee, or tea, or stroll around.

 

[hallux]

As someone who was literally thrown into a WFH situation, here's what I've done.

I repurposed an existing computer desk as my work desk. I wasn't using it much anymore anyway, and it was already in my second bedroom (yup, live alone). I already had a 24" LCD on that desk so the only thing I brought home was the laptop (actually both laptops, I have a PC and a Mac from work) and Skype headset.

As noted - that desk is in a segregated room. I leave the TV on from 7-8 AM, which is a slight change from being at work, but at 8 AM it goes off (oops, time to do that now).

I shifted my wake-up time by 45 minutes since I don't need to make my 30 minute morning commute. My morning routine is otherwise the same (see below)

Someone gave me a tip many years ago, should I ever be in a situation to WFH - shower and get dressed as if you are working at the office. I put on the same clothes I would wear as if I was going in, khakis most days, all the way down to wearing shoes even. I could literally grab my keys and wallet and be on the way into the office within a couple minutes.

I get up periodically and stretch, sometimes going outside and down to the parking area.

I didn't change my lunch routine. I normally bring a salad to work 4 of the 5 days, I still have salad 4 of the 5 days and get take-out from a local restaurant on the 5th day, just as I was doing down at the office (though from different places).

The one beneficial part of this whole deal is that I can be done with work at 4, and by 4:05 be ready to head out for a walk.

 

[D.T.]

DO NOT SPEND EIGHT HOURS A DAY IN FRONT OF A NOTEBOOK COMPUTER.

This was a great post,, thought I'd add:

If you are using a notebook, I'd highly recommend sourcing an external KB, mouse or TP, and a decent display in the 25-27" range. If your work doesn't / won't supply them, it's worth considering buying them yourself, you don't have to spend a ton, and there's a lot of used options available (Ebay, the marketplace here, Amazon Warehouse).

 

[circatee]

Prior to that Covid-19 thing, I would work from home time to time.
I use the same routine as if I was going into the office. Up at the same time everyday, shower, dress, etcetera. I even have lunch at the same time. And, during lunch I am away from my office space, with no checking of email or text messages while at lunch (I work in IT).

To add, I do have an Ergotron desk. As a matter of fact, I am standing now, typing this post. The Apple Watch does remind me to stand. After all, from time to time, one gets engrossed in something and totally forgets to stand, or even go to the toilet.

Lastly, I use my Calendar heavily. Even more breaks (set those items as private in my Calendar).

For me personally, I had to get into a routine quickly. The first time I worked from home, I thought, I can't bloody do this.

 

[JamesMike]

When I work from home, I give my fingers a break by using voice commands as much as possible. I write most of my Microsoft Word documents by voice, emails, and text messages.

 

[mk313]

DO NOT SPEND EIGHT HOURS A DAY IN FRONT OF A NOTEBOOK COMPUTER.

Everything about notebook computers is ergonomically wrong.

Wrong neck angle. Wrong shoulder position, wrong elbow angle, wrong wrist angle. Lack of wrist support, location of notebook computer trackpad. Piss poor keyboard design.

Tiny screen (owning a 16" MacBook Pro isn't much better than a 13-14" notebook).

Their mobility is convenient as hell, but from an ergonomic standpoint, they are horrifically bad.

Also, get a good task chair. It doesn't have to be a $1200 Herman Miller Aeron or a Steelcase Leap but your dining room table's chair is not designed for you to sit in it for eight hours a day.

Get one specifically for you (good task chairs come in various sizes, S-M-L) and don't let anyone else adjust the settings.

Completely agree with his. I bought a ghost stand for my laptop that raises it to approx the same level as my external monitor and then use an external keyboard and mouse. I only raises the screen a couple of inches, bu u makes a world of difference in comfort.

 

[dk001]

I’m sure that many are not, and it is no doubt a challenge with the distractions of family. Everyone is settling in to a semblance of a routine by now though.

Let’s also not pretend that the typical office environment is free of distractions either though! From meetings to co-worker chit-chat to birthday lunches, etc. etc!

Still have to remind occasionally that "honey do" lists will not get done during "work hours". 🤩
Still, they keep popping up.

 

[D.T.]

Still have to remind occasionally that "honey do" lists will not get done during "work hours". 🤩
Still, they keep popping up.

I love breaking up the day with non-work related chores, the other day I was spinning my tires, bailed on code, when and used my new chain pole saw for like 2 hours, almost fell off a ladder a couple of times, it was pretty fun

I've been working from home for like 20 years, so this is nothing new for me

 

[dk001]

I love breaking up the day with non-work related chores, the other day I was spinning my tires, bailed on code, when and used my new chain pole saw for like 2 hours, almost fell off a ladder a couple of times, it was pretty fun

I've been working from home for like 20 years, so this is nothing new for me

If your work can support that it is a very good thing.
Breaks are a much needed but frequently ignored item.

In the beginning mine were more of a "well since you are home ...".

 

[Gregg2]

I've been working from home, for the first time ever, for the last month. I keep work and home separate, except for lunch, for which I break and eat with my wife rather than in front of the computer "playing around" on the internet, as I did at the workplace. We get one additional break at work, so at home, I take it standing up, which I didn't do previously.

Some of the suggestions about flexibility of work hours, taking breaks, etc. are fine if you're salaried. I still have a virtual time clock, and my time is billed to whatever project I'm working on. I do not have the flexibility from my employer to work whenever I feel like it, except on the weekend.

So, I keep a routine pretty strictly. The only difference besides location, is the time it would take to get to work and get home at the end of the workday. I do have some flexibility there, I suppose.

Communication with co-workers is through Microsoft Teams, and by telephone, of course; e-mail too, but that is used less these days. I have to be available during set hours Monday through Friday.

I have my employer's computer and monitors in a spare bedroom, which is quite spacious, even with the bedroom furniture where it's always been. I'm actually using TV trays (with legs) for the monitors, keyboard, and one as an armrest. On the other side, a night table (which is at the foot of the bed - larger piece is next to the bed, so no swapping took place) for the mouse pad. It works.

I end my day by going downstairs and announcing, "I'm home!" My wife gives me a hug and a kiss, just like when I was actually arriving from a remote location. (Great term reversal there!)

I don't miss the radio station favored by others at work. I get to listen to the TV or stereo when my wife uses them, as our second floor is open to the living/dining room downstairs. I have fewer distractions, because she respects my home "office" when I'm busily at work. I love the new arrangement, and hope it's permanent (until I retire).

 

[millerj123]

I'd switched to standing desks both at work and at home years ago. My laptop is at the correct height and is my primary display, and I have a bigger monitor right next to it. I have a full sized keyboard and trackball at my correct typing height. I miss office noise more than I expected, so I turn on the radio except while I'm on conference calls.

The big thing for me was to keep my routine up, it just means I have an extra hour each morning to get fresh air before I start work.

 

[Apple fanboy]

Couldn’t agree more with the comments about laptops. I hate the things. Whenever I use my work one it is always with a 27” monitor, keyboard and mouse. The laptop on an mStand.
This is more important than your chair or desk.
But set them to the correct height. Eyes just slightly lower than the top of the screen.
Regular breaks are also important.