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.

I'm more efficient than in the office, but work differently.

In the office I feel like I have bouts of boredom and get less done during those. If that happens at home, I do something home-related and then make up the time later on. I am working way more hours per week than I was when I was office based. I'm also enjoying my work more. Wouldn't mind seeing people a bit more though.

I was much the same when I wfh. I got more "core" work done but someone in the office had to do the physical paperwork. So it was swings and roundabouts.

But because I was at my desk all day and wasn't stopping to chat or wandering off to the printer etc, I actually made myself take actual tea breaks which doesn't happen in the office.

Fortunately I didn't have any small people around that I had to entertain or educate. Hats off to all of you who got through that

I'm working way, way more hours at home. TBH my job is ridiculously busy all the time but at least in the office I get a break walking from meeting to meeting

I'm now working through my usual commute time, barely have time for any lunch or a coffee and have worked many hours unpaid over my contracted ones since lockdown.

I'm finding the pressure is being caused by all the many extra Teams meetings as I have a large team to manage. Can't wait to be back in the office at least some of the week to be honest!

Let’s see.
08.50: Roll out of bed for a Teams call at 09.00-09.30.
09:30-10: Work/surf the internet/ look for a new job
10-11.00: Tea break
11:00-12.30: Work/MN/TikTok/Sleep:
12:30-14.30: Lunch.
14.30-15.00: might squeeze in some work.
15:00- Finish/Have a shower/Shag DH

In case you haven’t guessed already it’s public sector.

Productivity is up at my work place. I worked really well for mon maths but not so much now. Less to do with the actual WFH and more a side effect of anxiety, depression and stress.

About the same but the work life balance is better. I have quite a bit of downtime at the office and it is easily wasted, at home I can run errands, put the washing on, cook a decent meal from scratch and do the school run in between work. I can leave my hair to dry naturally and paint my nails.
My work is still done but less wasted time. Im more flexible, I will do a bit of work at the weekend or after "home time". My boss doesn't mind as long as all work is completed promptly.

I am less productive at home - starting slowly, faffing around, not very focussed, dealing with personal stuff etc. But my boundaries are terrible and I often work a couple of extra hours in the evening to make up for it.

I think people all have natural work patterns.

I work permanently from home, I usually work 7 days a week, but I am at my most efficient by working in 2-3 hours bursts at a time.
THen a long break or change of activity, a walk, a trip to the supermarket, a yoga session etc. So I usually work 2 to three really intense periods a day, and over the week around 35-40 hours.

A 8 hour shift of moderate activity is not for everyone. Unavoidabe for some jobs I know, but if people are able to choose hours I doubt many would work a straight 8 hours.
I have worked in various working environments- they typical 9 to 5, and a lot of the time people are dawdling.

A little bit different for me as I'm projecting because I've been on maternity leave this whole time and start back on Monday.

Previously working from home for the odd day has meant leaving a proper setup and just taking the laptop home. No second screen, keyboard or mouse, and it was not very efficient for me. Proper lockdown WFH means a full home setup with headset, second monitor and all that. Plus no office distractions, not chatting co workers and no long walks for a wee and a drink. I imagine I am going to get waaaay more done at home than I would in the office.

Also I think procrastination is perfectly normal. I don't think it's possible or expected for people to be 100% present or 100% efficient. And instead of my procrastination being walking to get a drink from half a mile away, I'll actually be able to do little things that help me out in my home life like pop a load of laundry in or something. I'm so looking forward to it.

Also I think procrastination is perfectly normal. I don't think it's possible or expected for people to be 100% present or 100% efficient.

Not for an 8 hour stretch, I agree. It is possible for a 2-3 hours stretch though, this is perfect for me, lots of 2-3 hours add up to full time work.

And I totally agree with @speakout. I am an early bird and I work most intensely in the early morning and then again in the early afternoon. Mid morning and late afternoon I lack natural motivation and would benefit from being able to switch off for a while. I wonder if widespread WFH would enable this more in the future

X posted @speakout :)

I have far fewer interruptions at home, and get more work done in less time.

FAR more efficient.
I wfh anyway in between appts., and I get the rage if I ever have to work in the office about how much chatter there is and how many interruptions.
Since the whole team have been wfh, everyone has been encouraged to work as suits them best, so this is even better - I now start a bit later than I used to, and work into the evening. It suits my natural rhythm, so I'm getting even more done.

As pp has said though, it is easy to 'just finish this', and find you have worked two extra hours though.

More productive than I thought I'd ever be.
Actually, more busy and stressed than I ever thought I'd be.

I'm working 7-7 (rather than 9-5) there's no chatty coffee breaks, I'm taking a quick 20 mins for lunch with no walking to other offices to get away from the computer for 5 mins. It's been the hardest 6 months of my 25 years working.

I work for a University - bloody COVID and all the shit that goes with it!

@firesong

I'm more efficient than in the office, but work differently.

In the office I feel like I have bouts of boredom and get less done during those. If that happens at home, I do something home-related and then make up the time later on. I am working way more hours per week than I was when I was office based. I'm also enjoying my work more. Wouldn't mind seeing people a bit more though.

I'd say this too. I get more done. I also have far fewer meetings which did waste a lot of time.

Much less efficient. Laptop instead of double monitors. Kitchen table and chair instead of decent workstation. Distracted by dh and dcs. End up doing dishes and laundry and looking after parent. Often dont even get dressed. Hate it

I wfh the odd day we take it in turns so best of both .
Pros wfh no commute just get up don't even need to shower and work . I start earlier finish later but may put a wash on empty dishwasher for example .
I can make myself a toasted sandwich at lunch time .
Negatives - miss my colleagues , it's nice to get ready choose outfit during lockdown I realised I missed that .
You actually work longer don't have a proper break .
For me more distraction on occasion as dc Home from school by 4pm and my eldest home on occasion and my dh home on occasion as works shifts .

Very efficient but I only work 4 hours per day so it's easy for me to make full use of my time without getting distracted. I get up and stretch every hour and make coffee/tea, but nothing else.

@EmbarrassedUser

Let’s see. 08.50: Roll out of bed for a Teams call at 09.00-09.30. 09:30-10: Work/surf the internet/ look for a new job 10-11.00: Tea break 11:00-12.30: Work/MN/TikTok/Sleep: 12:30-14.30: Lunch. 14.30-15.00: might squeeze in some work. 15:00- Finish/Have a shower/Shag DH

In case you haven’t guessed already it’s public sector.

My partner works in the public sector but works for an arms length org. He starts at 8 works through till 7 with a very short lunch break. So please remember not all people in the public sector have such a sweet deal.

I've found some office and coffee shop ambience videos on you tube that have really helped me concentrate. I find my mind wanders in the quiet, and radio or music too distracting.
Also pomodoro technique for focussing.
In general I prefer being in the office environment.

CloudyVanilla

Absolutely- and working flexible hours at home dovetails wonderfully with household tasks and family duties.
I too like to start work very early in the morning.
A typical working day for me would be
6am shower then yoga
7am load dishwasher and washing machine
7.15- 10.15am work
10.15- 10.30 hang laundry and unload dishwasher
10.30-12.00 noon supermarket, post offis and a walk by the river
12.00 -12.30 lunch and stick something in the slow cooker
12.30- 3pm work.
3pm -5pm finish dinner prep, hoover, put away laundry
6pm eat dinner
6.30pm-8pm work
8pm -10pm relax and bed.

So a six hour working day- weekends I do a bit less work as family are around and I like to spend time with them.
No two of my days are te same though- I can have a day with no work if I like, and some days if I am busy and have no one to feed then I may work 10 hours- but with lots of breaks!

Far more efficient

Extremely.

I'm self employed though, so I have to be.

I’m more efficient, due to fewer distractions and fewer pointless time-wasting meetings. I’m also 10 hours of free time week better off due to no commute.