How efficient are you really when working from home?

[Doyoumind]

This has probably been done to death but at the peak of lockdown I wasn't working so wouldn't have read those threads.

I go through bursts of getting my head down and then find I start losing focus. Now, for instance, whilst I am on MN I am officially working.

I don't think I'm slacking off. I put the hours in. I get the work done. I suppose if I were in the office I would be having tea breaks and chatting at times.

But I feel so guilty for not working every minute of the day.

[QueenOllie]

Same as in work. Heavily monitored, inability to slope off if we wanted to, 8.5hrs at the computer

[pineapplepalmtree]

I work differently and do faff around on Internet/ walk the dog etc but the work gets done in the end so it doesn't really make a difference.

[Kazakaren]

I am, but I'm also reliant on loads of other people also working from home to get their job done so I can do mine. They don't do it. I don't think they're doing anything much. It's a nightmare.

[Squirrelblanket]

I am way more efficient and productive at home so I can deliver the same amount of work (or more) to the same standards in less time. I don't feel like I need to use the 'free' time for more work as I'm already out performing in my role. I work much better in the mornings so what I will often do is start early, work until I've done/had enough and then in the afternoons I have a couple of hours to do things around the house or watch TV, read etc.

As long as the work is getting done I don't see an issue with this.

[HairyToity]

Ish efficient. I sometimes take time off in the day, but then work in the evening.

[Shayisgreat]

It depends on the day for me. Some days I am lazy regardless of where I'm working. But if there's an emergency or tight deadline I can work well anywhere. I tend to do organising or admin tasks when feeling lazy rather than having to engage in critical thinking.

[ThereIsIron]

As effiecient as in the office. Work may get done at 6am or 11pm but as long as it's done no-one is concerned.

[Reddog1]

I’m more efficient. I miss my colleagues but I don’t miss the commute. It’s much less stressful and tiring. I get loads done.

[Greypurse]

Know exactly what you mean about feeling guilty for not working every minute of the day. I’m finding I can do my job, and loads of other things around the house. I am so productive at home! Not bold enough yet to leave the house incase I’m spotted which is a bit silly!

[Bonkersblond]

We work to deadlines, have metrics to meet, and what I do impacts other people. I work as hard if not harder at home than at work, I’m much more focused. Unfortunately my company don’t really like WFH so will be back in the office at some point next year, I won’t be able to put in the extra hours I do at home so my productivity will probably go down.

[Echobelly]

I've been more efficient, but mainly as I've had more to do - we've had someone furloughed, I've had to take on 1/3rd of the job of someone who left before lockdown and we had to move from print to digital publishing in the space of 3 months. I'll admit that before then it felt like I was filling time doing research, which was work, but didn't feel like I was doing that much with my time, and I was sometimes putting work off because it felt like if I did everything on one day there wouldn't be much left for the next, and I prefer to have a steady flow of work. But been no time for that since March!

[reluctantbrit]

I work usual office hours, we are a team of 5 and you need to be on your desk, not doing the washing or reading a book.

I worked from home occassionally before so it is a matter of organisation and I found it easier now that I have a fixed place instead of moving stuff around the dining table, less distracting as well.

I do log in earlier now that DD is back at school, we have a huge project to finish so the extra hour helps but in 2-3 weeks I am back to 9-5.

I do take breaks, at work I would go to the kitchen to make a drink so I do it here as well. Also, you need breaks from your screen, so getting up is actually encouraged by our HR.

[WonderMoon]

I am definitely more efficient and productive being in the actual office , I think it's the environment and atmosphere. I feel more professional and like that if I need to find something out, I can just walk over to the person/ team and get the info there and then. When I'm working from home, I feel more distracted and tend to have more little breaks. I get the work done but I feel it gets drawn out. Maybe in time I will get used to it and get into a better routine.

[FlamingJuly]

More efficient. Not tired from the commute, more comfortable (and my bra is mostly not even on!! 😂), not walking around to the coffee machine, to the loos on a different far away floor and being distracted by usually wuite dull chats about diets (yawn).

[StarlightLady]

I work longer than my regular hours when at home. It’s a case of just another 10 minutes will get this done.

My sister has started putting her lunch breaks in her calendar to prevent her going right through non stop.

In spite of on line meetings, l miss evenings out to the wine bar after work. I also remember when that dress would catch your eye in a window at lunchtime and become your new fave after you pop in the shop to try it on.

[AstiniMartini]

I do not like working from home- but i do not have a ridiculous commute anymore just 10 minutes.

I don't like that my home - my safe space- is now taken up by work. i hate my printer,m work phone cables etc being in my dining room.

I also find hours get extended at home.... so I usually start work when i would have done the school run- 7 am-ish. Then go through until the time I normally would return home- 6,.30. But I am less efficient as i do not have access to scanners and photocopiers etc. Which I need as i print out 1000 page documents routinely as part of my job. So it is all just more slow.

[Bwlch]

More efficient. I have my own office with no distractions.

[RedskyAtnight]

Less efficient than office. I don't work as part of a specific team so people forget to keep me in the loop about things I need to know. Collaborating online versus in person takes way longer. It takes me about 15% extra time to do the same job as it's just harder virtually.

[Kljnmw3459]

Better now when older dc are back at school. Still got the young one at home.

[SunshineOutdoors]

Im giving myself more slack now than I did at the start. If I went down to make a cup of tea and it took 10 mins I’d add that on to the time I had to work. Then realised I’d do this in the office as part of my work time. Am definitely getting just as much, if not more, done while wfh compared to the office, but days when you don’t feel motivated are really hard as there’s no one watching you.

[JumperTime]

I don't know how any of you do it! Ive been working from home for 3 days and I'm hating it. My usual job is on my feet and my body is sore all over from sitting at a computer as well as the actual work I'm doing being boring and repetitive, the complete opposite of my usual job.
Ironically I'm self isolating due to being exposed to covid at work and this is what I have to do if I want paid .

[SunshineOutdoors]

And yes a million times better now dc (9 and 7) are back at school. First few months from March were a guilty nightmare!

[Saz42]

I have fewer distractions, and I also find myself working far later into the evening. But my internet keeps playing up at home so that slows me down.

[nitgel]

Good weeks and bad weeks. I still have no work phone so cant make as many calls as I need to. Its mad.