working from home?

Well as much time as I spend at MacRumors, I could be working from home.

 

If it's something that you're interested in reading about, there was also this thread which I started over a year ago...

As it turned out there were pros and cons. I'm lucky enough to be able to work from home when I more or less want, if I need to focus on one specific project without the hubbub of the office. Although when I do work at home, I tend to spend more hours on something than I would in the office.

 

I missed that last thread, so allow me as home-office worker for the last 15 years to add a few of my thoughts on the subject.

Much of how you adjust to home office work depends on your situation and your attitude. As far as situation is concerned, if you can make a reasonable living from home office working, then you will obviously be happier with it then if you struggle. This much may seem obvious but in fact when I look back over my years working at home, I realize that my periods of greatest dissatisfaction came when the work got a bit thin, as it will from time-to-time, which leads to a subtle kind of anxiety that you can't always recognize as money worries.

Attitude has a direct connection to your personal priorities. For some people, the social experience of working in an office is an essential part of their life experience. I expect everyone who moves from office to home work is going to miss the interpersonal connections at least a little; others may feel totally isolated and perhaps even become depressed not having people around all the time. Know yourself, is my advice.

I'm fortunate in that my wife is also my business partner, so loneliness is not a factor, and we get to spend much more time together than most couples do. This is not an arrangement that will work for everyone, obviously, but it does for us.

One cure for social isolation is to join a service club or to be otherwise involved with community groups or projects as a volunteer. I can't recommend this too highly, whether you work at home or in an office, but especially if you work at home. As a person who lives and works in the same community, you will be highly prized by these groups -- trust me!

The stress level of working from home is far less, as far as I am concerned. Commuting to my job always seemed to take more out of me than the work itself. Some people actually enjoy commuting. I hated it, I hated the expense and resented the amount of time it subtracted from my life. The commute down the hallway, I really like.

Discipline was mentioned already, but this actually works both ways. Having your office in your home can turn you into a workaholic. With your work right in front of you every day, weekends can turn into work days and evenings into work hours. If this becomes an issue, close the door to your home office over the weekend and resolve not to go in. If you have a separate business phone line (and you should), don't answer it.

Home office working is becoming viewed in a progressively more favorable light. When I first began working at home, a certain stigma was attached. I told almost nobody that our office was in our home because it seemed that some people would take our business less seriously if we didn't have a commercial address. I still don't advertise the fact, but now I'm finding that many envy our situation. It turns out I'm not the only one who hates commuting.

Bottom line, home office work may not be for everyone, but for the right person, it's a major lifestyle improvement. I for one hope I never have to work a 9-5 in an office again.

 

First off. CONGRATS on the kid!!!! I have a two year old here.

I work from home. I'm also in IT. I'm a outsoruced IT manager for small medical groups that are just big enough to need someone to manage there network, but too small to need someone full time.

I was actually laid off from my last job just before my daughter was born. After talking it over with my wife, we figured it was best if I stayed home to raise our daughter while she continued to work. (She's a librarian in a High School) So, After being laid off, I started thinking of what I can do from home... As it turned out, my first client was the med office that delivered my baby girl.

So, now I'm here, raising my daughter and managing 9 medical offices (an average of 45 workstations in each office).

My productivity has changed over the last two years.

The first 12 weeks is pointless to try and work. The baby needs too much attention, and you will not be sleeping.

Months 3~6 aren't bad. The baby isn't very interactive yet and likes to just lay and play with things.

Months 6~12 are fun. The crawling starts and they love to play more. Requires more attention, but good baby-proofing means you can still get about 40 minutes of work in each hour.

Months 12~20 are more interactive. The walking makes things harder in some since, but easier in other. They like to color and read now. They are also better at playing alone.

Months 20~24 are crazy. The climbing is hard to deal with. The baby-proofing is a full time job. Disney Channel and PBS are your best friends now

This WILL BE HARD on you. Don't think for a minute that it's going to be a cake walk. I'm 33 and I sill find myself locked in the bathroom in a nice hot shower thinking "WTF did I do this for!?!?"

But at the same time, it's the greatest feeling in the world. Seeing your baby grow every day. Not missing a single moment. It's incredible.

One more thing. Be ready for some serious depression from the wife. The combo of postpartum depression and feeling like she is missing out on all of the little things will be very hard on her. My secret.... lie... When she sees the baby do something new... IT'S THE FIRST TIME!!! The baby hasn't done that before! That time this morning just after mom went to work... it didn't happen! Trust me on this...



Good luck!
If you want more info, PM me and we can chat.

 

do you work from home? what do you do? is it distracting or more productive working in a quieter and less stressful environment? what is your setup/work environment. got pics?

- yes i work from home from time to time.
- i'm a civil engineer
- it's less distracting if my boyfriend isn't home. i'm not too tempted by things like television when i have more important things to do.
- i use my kitchen table... lots of workspace. no pics.

 

A bunch of people sitting at their desks wearing bathrobes?

I shall spare you.

 

Thank you Cybix for starting the thread. It is a really interesting topic and looking forward to see more replies. I am still on a 8-4 job and my productivity is nowhere near my expectations. May be in couple of years I might as well consider doing some sort of a home business.