WFH can be so B**** annoying - let's list the ways

[OhBling]

I run my own business. I am the main breadwinner. I work from home. Mostly, it is a good thing and WFH works for me. But ARGH, sometimes it makes me so annoyed. Today, yet again, I had to go all the way downstairs from the loft to let DS in because of course, he forgot to take his keys. It's a small thing but drives me mad - I'll be in the middle of a call or concentrating on something and I have to get up. Especially irritating when the whole reason I'm upstairs is becuase I have stuff to do and don't want to be disturbed.

The assumption broadly by anyone and everyone that I can just do things never ceases to annoy me. It's like I have a little "kitchen table" job for pin money or something.

My DH always talking to me. I talk all day for work. I like to go into the kitchen and eat lunch in peace. He hears me and comes down for a fucking chat.

I actually think this one, especially from older people, is because there's a slightly odd view that if your "boss can't see you" it's okay. So, they wouldn't dream of making a personal call at work when the boss is around, but think it's fine to do so if the boss isn't around. It's a very parental view of work where employees are like children trying to get away with things. I think it's a pretty old fashioned view but was quite common back in the day and perhaps some older people think like this too when they think their DC are working from home?

I love working from home! It's really made working so much more enjoyable.

However, I hate that dh feels he can comment on how I work or the perception I do less because of WFH. If anything I do more and have less distractions.
Yesterday DH commented I wasted too much time making coffee... it took 5 minutes and had zero impact on him!

I have built in a half-hour of downtime when I log off which is sacrosanct (unless I need to do something time critical like pick up a prescription before the pharmacy closes). I lie on the bed with the door shut, reading a chapter of my latest book or listening to some music with headphones on, or just thinking about something and nothing. Without it I'm constantly biting my tongue not to be snappy or irritable; with it I feel at least slightly relaxed and able to be decent company for the evening.

I cannot wait until DS starts secondary. Currently he's at a primary a 10 min drive away, so every morning is panicked trying to get him there before my start time and every evening I have to work half an hour longer to accommodate the half hour 'break' I take to go collect him and as soon as I finish I have to dash out to collect DD from her primary school.

Come September DS will be getting himself back on the bus, so will be home later and DD's going to stay in after school club, but I'll finish half an hour before I have to go collect her so I'll have this sacred 30 minutes...well, more like 25, but whatever, of decompression time to just....be, before the evening insanity kicks off. I can't wait. I'm so burnt out.

Wfh is very convenient, but given the choice I think I'd rather do it only 2 or 3 days a week. Would need to find the right job in a location 30 minutes or less from home though and that's unlikely

I love wfh.

But I miss coming home to a spotless house on cleaner day!

Before, she was a magic fairy woman who followed instructions left and I never had to speak to her.

Now I'm confronted with her awful personality when she arrives and chats (long story short - she's a hateful bitch who whines about lots of people, probably us too to others). Trapped in my room with cleaning noises for two hours. Arrives too early to shift myself out. Harder to get her to follow instructions.

Just holding out til we move house!

I can relate to so many of these comments. I've been permanent wfh since before the pandemic.

My Dh also says 'can you just...?' Water the plants/drop off my parcel/whatever

Neighbours think I'm a one stop shop for parcel collection, I've had to pull the amazon delivery guy up, he's now automatically dropping parcels for next door in my porch.

Doesn't help that next door neighbour is a dick, he likes to chainsaw bits of wood outside his front door. It's loud and annoying, so why would I want to be his bloody post office?

Also I eat too much junk. Its too easy to rummage through the cupboards and eat biscuits when I'm at home.

Fortunately the pluses outweigh the minuses, since my only office is 100 miles away.

Some of you just enable cheeky behaviour.
Son forgets his keys? Tough. He can find a cafe/go to a friend's/something else. Like he'd have to if you weren't home.
Friend sends up her kids? (WTF?!?!) Walk them back, say firmly 'I'm working' and leave.