Any one find working from home just so boring?

[Zipfer]

As a caveat, I know it's great that I have been able to work through the pandemic.

I'm finding my work right now just so very boring. It's a desk-based job, and every day sitting down at the desk for 8 hours every day has become mind-numbingly dull. The work itself is quite interesting, but I really struggle with the motivation, and I can end up wasting time on the internet (e.g. posting on MN). Anyone else?

I find it both good and bad and in an ideal world I'll continue doing what I do now....three days in the office and two at home.

I like being at home because I can crack on with writing reports etc with fewer distractions as it's a quieter environment. I also sat out in the garden on my lunch break in nice weather or can do some laundry as PP say and I can lie in later.

However I really like being back in the office as I find I'm more motivated when I'm in that environment.... I do my work and then leave my desk at 5pm and drive home and that's it. The line between home and work is clearer wheras when I'm at home I can be less motivated during the day and find myself working longer into the evening to make up.

I also feel better dressing more smartly for the office than just sitting at home in jogging bottoms and I like seeing other people.

I don't have much of a commute though and my office is a 15 minute drive where I can listen to the radio and have some time to myself. If I had a longer commute or had to deal with public transport I'd feel very differently about going back to the office.

Yes, I also start to overthink about the past etc and it’s making me really depressed.

I hate it too.
I've noticed in these threads its about 50:50 I think people are just one way on the other on this!

I can’t do it any longer.

@LadyCatStark

I can’t do it any longer.

What job do you do? Any chance of finding something new?

I sympathise. We are now getting to wfh two days a week max.
If my work place weren't doing that I'd have to look for something new or look for a career in a different sector.

I used to envy people who worked from home. A year working from home killed that stone dead. SO glad to be back at work. I’ll never complain about it again, honestly. I was turning in to an unmotivated, slatternly scruff bag slob . I actually feel like skipping for joy now and my commute in to work.

Yep yep yep and yep. I actually already worked from home before the pandemic (freelance) and had been complaining that it was doing my head in. Then - ta da - suddenly everyone was WFH lol. So at least I have people to commiserate with now.

Seriously though, I’m hoping this prompts more ideas for coworking solutions for people at home.

There’s a website where you can work in quiet companionship with someone for an hour slot, can’t remember what it’s called now!

@BashfulClam

Yes, I also start to overthink about the past etc and it’s making me really depressed.

Im doing that loads at the moment!!!

Yup - I’m naturally lazy so whilst in some ways I’m enjoying it, my motivation is slipping and I keep procrastinating and then feeling horribly guilty, it’s not good for my mental health.

I have the type of job where I have to ‘win work’ and the motivation to do so is lacking.

If I can’t go into the office 1 day a week soon
Im genuinely considering retraining to something less screen based

For me I think it’s a case of the grass is always greener. I’ve been so jealous of my friends being able to wfh, lie ins, comfy clothes, setting your own schedule, being able to Chuck a wash load on inbetween doing work, being able to sit in the garden and work, unloading the dishwasher between meetings, being at the right temperature, the ability to condense the work and clock off early… etc etc.
However, I feel grateful to have not had the opportunity to stay at home because a lot of my friends have actually struggled in different ways, not feeling like there’s a clear boundary between work and home, never feeling like they’re ‘away from the office, always in either work mode or housework mode, loneliness, clothes not fitting as they’ve been used to wearing slouchy clothes for 18 months, someone’s feet spread - she says she thinks it’s because she’s worn nothing but slippers! (No idea if this is the reason, possibly!), feeling anxious about going back into the real world…
Two sides to it I suppose.
I’m not a very motivated person, if I wasn’t at work (school) and in a job where I could wfh I’m not sure I would be very productive once the novelty wore off.
I’m still a bit jealous though

@Chihuahuacat

Yup - I’m naturally lazy so whilst in some ways I’m enjoying it, my motivation is slipping and I keep procrastinating and then feeling horribly guilty, it’s not good for my mental health.

I have the type of job where I have to ‘win work’ and the motivation to do so is lacking.

If I can’t go into the office 1 day a week soon
Im genuinely considering retraining to something less screen based

I’m feeling exactly the same as this at the moment. I’m also considering other options as I feel like I’m desicating here.

No, because I still talk to people on calls. And as others have noted, some of the household tasks can be done, such as laundry.

It’s better now than it was in lockdown as we can break it up with lunch with friends/coffee etc. Whereas before it was ‘going for a walk’ which drove me mad.

I love being able to do household stuff on my breaks - three loads of washing yesterday - and I like the little bit of extra time in bed, but I am missing chatting with colleagues, the separation between work and home (desk is in living room as no space elsewhere) and the general buzz of the office.

It's definitely grass-is-greener though - there was plenty that annoyed me in my old office. But I've started a new job during lockdown and I feel really isolated. Teams meetings are ok but it's not the same.

I am not enjoying wfh, I very rarely speak to my colleagues, missing getting dressed up and seeing people, popping to get something for lunch. If I can’t go back into the office soon I will have to find another job.

I miss (some of) my colleagues and miss being in London 3 times a week but I have loved working from home. I save 6 hours and £30 per week on commuting, and more on lunches and coffees. Every morning after school drop off I do a lap of our local park, and when it's a bit warmer I'm going to do the odd swim in our local lido. The house is cleaner, the laundry is done, dinner cooked and I still get all my work done. It is a bit dull but I've got really into podcasts. We're going back in to the office at some point on a reduced basis but not sure when.

You’ve paid the £90 off now so I’d write that off. However, I would tell him, if it were to happen again, then he needs to do extra chores to work it off, there needs to be some incentive for not breaking it? As an aside my ds 13 gets £15 per month. He only spends it on sweets and Xbox bits and bobs, so that’s all I’m prepared to be wasted on that tbh. Like you, if he went out (or wanted to buy something decent!), I’d pay more.

Oops wrong thread!