Working at home during school holidays

[theferry]

I posted this on chat, but it was probably not the best place to put it…...

Im an academic based in the Humanities. During the summer I work at home all the time, bar the odd meeting. At the moment I’m working on revisions to a book manuscript. I’m finding it hard going and need to focus. We’re in Scotland so schools have broken up today. DDs are 17 and 14. They are mostly very quiet and don’t need me for anything, but there’s something about knowing other people are in the house that is very distracting—especially when working on research. Is it just me being weird/easily distracted? Even just the noise of them moving around takes my attention away.

I could go onto campus and use my office there, but it adds an hour of commuting onto my day. I really resent spending time sat in my car when I don’t need to.

Completely understand. It affects me the same way.

@butterandcheese have you found a way around it?

Just to sound very picky, but I find working on campus during the summer quite isolating. Nobody works in their office so it’s just me rattling around.

Have you got a local cafe or library where you can work? Aren’t your offspring going out/ working? I find it very difficult to work in the library but I was a mature student with young children and managed to do an undergraduate degree and a Masters with children in the house. Have you tried noise cancelling headphones? As an academic myself, I was always working on research or marking with other people in the house.

@Rocknrollstar i used to work in cafes, but for whatever reason i now find it too noisy (even with noise cancelling headphones). It also costs £ and I’m trying to save money at the moment.

DDs usually sleep in for most of the morning and then are in/out during the day. Sometimes I can work during the morning while they’re asleep, but as soon as they start moving around I lose all focus. (Even though they are very quiet). It really shouldn’t be so difficult, but it is and it’s stressing me out.

Have you worked like this for many years? I do exactly this as it's otherwise a nearly 2 hour round commute for nothing. I do sometimes get a bit distracted - but I'm very used to it after so many years. Do you have a room/home office where you can close the door? (I don't close the door out of deference to the cat..) I can manage with dd downstairs - but if dh is at home - I really do get that weird feeling of someone else being around and hard to settle. I do not like both of us WFH.

@Acinonyx2 it’s always been like this (it was much easier when they were in holiday childcare!) I’m alright with DH at home, but not the DDs. I have my own study and close the door, but it’s not really about noise. It’s some weird psychological thing that I can’t switch to work mode when they’re in the house. I can work at home when doing teaching/admin. It’s the research that is difficult.

I wear noise cancelling ear buds, either with brown noise playing or a quiet podcast depending on the level of focus required for the particular task.

I work with my 9yo and 12 yo rocking about so I think you need to find a coping mechanism, especially as you say they are considerate.

What about loop ear plugs?

I like working in libraries. Do you have one nearby?

I frighten everyone in the house by shouting about my footnotes being more important than anyone else’s footnotes on n the history of the humanities over breakfast, which tends to mean they tiptoe around. I do also use noise cancelling headphones.

Unfortunately I think that at home you can’t expect the people who live there to go out or be silent if you work from home out of choice. You need to let them exist in their home and enjoy their summer holiday and either put up with it or go somewhere else. I get that it’s difficult when others are chilling out and you’re working however.

Same position here but just have to get used to it or go elsewhere. It's incredibly lucky to be around to see teens occasionally, too. I found it helpful to have focused work hours (early morning!) then chill a bit later on, or make a brunch. With so many unis moving to shared offices, the solitary writing life is tricky everywhere!

Yes - I get to glimpse my rarely spotted teen emerging to forage. :)