Is anyone WFH but not very busy - dispiriting

[Lockdownlooks]

I’m part of a telephone service but one part is very quiet. the other busy, but has to be done immediately so I can’t move work around. I’m finding this dispiriting. (I don’t have others around a lot/DC to look after.)

I’m tied to phone and computer in case there is a call. Normally do wider range of things in the office or at least others to talk to.

Is anyone else finding this quite hard WFH (of course very grateful and lucky to have a job)

I've not minded WFH in general but I've not got much work in this week and definitely struggling! Like you I can't leave my desk but if I was in the office I could probably find odd bits to do. The annoying this is it's our busiest time of year (and related to NHS so extra busy right now) but I'm waiting on other people to be able to do all the work I have lined up so I know by next week/the week after I'll be bombarded and working crazy hours!

Me! I am a tutor for a private training company. I teach the bit of the course that struggles to engage people the most (maths and english) and unsurprisingly, no one is doing their work. I am constantly emailing people saying "Have you done X,y,z?"
If I get an answer, it is an excuse as to why they haven't. Rarely does someone send me work without me having to chase them 3+ times first. It is very detrimental to my motivation. I have just been using the lack of work to my advantage, working around the kids.

My work over lockdown has been very up and down, sometimes really busy, sometimes no emails or calls for hours. It's much harder to motivate myself when quieter, but like you feel tied to laptop so can't go off and do other things.

I was quite quiet at the start but then got redeployed to a covid role so it’s been pretty busy.

One thing I did appreciate, when I was quiet at the start, was my boss telling me not to feel like I had to artificially fill my time, and to step away from my laptop if things were really quiet. That sense of being ‘allowed’ to take a bit of space helped with the feelings of guilt, and the hours I’ve done since have more than made up for the quiet two or three days at the start!

@cwtchesandprosecco

I was quite quiet at the start but then got redeployed to a covid role so it’s been pretty busy.

One thing I did appreciate, when I was quiet at the start, was my boss telling me not to feel like I had to artificially fill my time, and to step away from my laptop if things were really quiet. That sense of being ‘allowed’ to take a bit of space helped with the feelings of guilt, and the hours I’ve done since have more than made up for the quiet two or three days at the start!

I wish my company were the same but we have to fill in a timesheet so every minute is accounted for, we are being encouraged by the MD to take more breaks but that 'break time' has to be accounted for as chargeable time so I would just have to work past 6pm to make up that time!

My work is genuinely good on needing screen breaks. We have an incredibly stupid system that logs you out of you don’t take a call after about 25 minutes, even if you’ve never been offered a call. Doesn’t give an alarm or anything so I’m having to set a timer to make sure I’m not logged out.

Mine is either v busy or quiet but need to stay logged on in case something urgent comes in

Yes same here, our work is pretty quiet.

I’m WFH and have periods where I’m not busy but need to be at my desk (kitchen table) to answer the phone.
I am doing a lot of crochet! 😁