To take more regular breaks when working from home?

[JustBecauseYouCanBarry]

Our office has now closed and I am working completely from home for the foreseeable, this has been since last week.

I've never worked from home before and have always thought of myself as quite a motivated hard worker but I am losing that now.

When I'm in work, we regularly talk amongst ourselves throughout the day (small office), meet with clients regularly face to face, at their homes, in the office, occasionally for coffee etc...

I'm struggling now being at home alone all day (DH is out at work). I know a lot of people will be struggling with the same thing.

In order to stay motivated with work I've realised that I've started taking more regular breaks. I've been doing a couple of 5 minute workouts on YouTube or scrolling through here for 5 - 10 minutes a few times a day, watching a bit of news on the TV, tidying up a bit etc... all things that I'd never have done during working hours before and feel like I probably shouldn't be doing.

I feel guilty but I just can't sit alone, in silence at a screen from morning to evening. I've been going to counselling recently for a number of mental health issues, anxiety and depression being the main ones and I can see this really causing a flare up if I don't do other bits throughout the day to keep my head occupied.

AIBU? Those of you who manage teams/businesses. What would you think of your employee admitting to the above?

Ps. I do get all my work done, I'm not getting behind or anything. I find that I'm more motivated in the shorter bursts of work I'm doing that I'm getting a lot of stuff done whereas if I just sat here all day I'd end up zoning out if that makes sense.

I’m finding working from home absolutely mind numbing. I’m just stuck in my bedroom, no one to speak to, I’m bored beyond belief. Can’t believe people do this everyday.
I’m having to take extra breaks but I don’t feel bad at all, it probably evens out from being at the office having a chit chat with colleagues and making brews etc. I’m not doing that now so I’m probs idle same amount of time. As long as the works getting done I don’t see the problem really. It’s not like any of us asked for this b

Thanks. I'm a fairly nervous person so I do worry a lot.

But like you, I'm so bloody bored. I get to the point where I just have to step away from the computer and do something else or I'll end up in tears. But then when I'm sat down watching the news for 10 mins or reading a chapter of a book, I feel bloody awful, like what would my manager think if she could see me!!

I think aslong as you're getting the work done to the highest standard as you can then it's fine. The children I look after are working from home and it's been a learning curve but we're realising what can or can't be done and how it's much easier to do 2 hours of work when you're with your friends

Thanks. I just feel a bit daft. I'm an adult, should I be able to sit and do work for the day without needing breaks all the time, or without getting bored to the point of tears?!

Don't be too hard on yourself - for some, like you, this is a massive adjustment.

Google some ways of getting structure into your working from home day. There's a lot online now given so many are finding themselves catapulted into something that could have been gradual before.

I work from home normally and wouldn't ever sit at the computer from morning to evening. It's recommended to take a 5 minute break every 30 minutes. I take a 10minute break every hour because I can't do with the interuptions every 30 minutes but an hour is workable. Some breaks are a little longer to get the dogs out.

I think you are advised to take more regular breaks when working from home. In an office you'll be getting up to get printing, files, make drinks, whatever and having intermittent social interactions, etc etc. Those breaks and walks and interactions help you sustain concentration and energy.

Whereas at home if you weren't careful you could stay seated in the same position without moving for hours, or communicating with anyone or allowing your brain to pause or rest, which isn't good for you.

It's not about being an adult or not but keeping yourself healthy and therefore able to work! Especially if you've had mental health struggles already. You're taking care of yourself, don't beat yourself up.

I wfh permanently, and splitting your day up is much more effective. Think of all the times in the office someone speaks to you not about work, or that you are walking to meetings etc - now you are filling all those bits of time with other things

Are you trying to work in silence at the moment?

It's not the same as actually being able to interact and join in a conversation, but I find having something like radio 4 on quietly in the background makes me feel a bit like I've got conversation going on around me, and feels a little less isolating and bleak.

FWIW I have WFH 50% of the time for the last four years (long commute) and usually I’m super efficient. Have to time record so I can see exactly what I’ve done and my output at home is double what it is in the office.

Recently however work has diminished and I’m just watching the kids whilst sat near a laptop.

Most of the UK will be the same. I know as an employer my DH is just grateful some work is being done by his staff to keep things ticking over, nobody reasonable is expecting full capacity!

I’ve worked at home for years and always had the radio on, silence makes my mind wander.

I don't think it's unreasonable because you are probably more productive when you are working.

Me...not so much! My house is cleaner than it's ever been though

AIBU? Those of you who manage teams/businesses. What would you think of your employee admitting to the above?

I manage a small team and I absolutely insist that everyone takes the breaks that they need. We're in uncharted territory here and everyone deals with it differently and has different needs.

You're amazing by virtue of the fact that you're keeping your industry going; so important for when we're through this.

Do what you need to do. Chin up. We'll be through this soon.

Take care

The point of working from home is that it allows you the flexibility to manage your own schedule.

If i worked a 9 til 5, 30 minute lunch, and a 30 minute commute for example. I might work from 8 til 11, with a little tea break in between. Then take a 2 hour break, play a bit of video games, go to the gym, get food etc. Then back til work til 5:30. I've done the same time of work, but had chance to do something fun during the day. And I'm still done at the same time

This is my second day of it and I am so bored.

Can't stop drinking tea.

Miss having 2 computer screens and just have a shitty laptop.

Fuck let this end soon

As others have said, it’s about finding the balance that’s right for you - and as long as you’re getting the work done that’s the important thing. I am also working from home at the moment, I’ve got in the habit of logging on about 8am and powering through emails and queries until Frasier is on C4 at 9.10am, then I have a break to watch it with tea and toast - keeping my laptop open nearby so I can keep an eye on anything urgent coming in. After that I work solidly for a couple of hours and then stop for lunch.

Everyone works differently and it’s about finding your ideal environment and routine. Some people need silence, some people have the radio on etc - some will sit at a desk whereas others may perch in an armchair or on the sofa. Whatever works!

Thanks. Glad it's not just me!

I just worry that my managers are going to be monitoring people more closely and be wondering why I'm idle for X amount of times throughout the day or whatever.

I think managers (decent ones anyway) understand that this is a strange time. They also know a lot of staff are balancing things like childcare etc, so I don’t think they should be too on your back about how you’re filling each hour - good managers and directors trust their teams to get on with their work and take the breaks they need.

I've worked from home for most of my career and make a perfectly good living doing so.

I've always taken breaks. I might read Mumsnet. Read the news. Go and row on my machine. Chat to my dog (really). Clean something in the house. Go for a walk.

I also watch fairly mindless TV sometimes while I work, if I'm doing something fairly brainless. The distraction relieves any boredom.

I log the hours I work. 30 hours a week is about average. 40 is exhausting. I did 25 last week amidst changes like school not being open, DH working from home, etc, and I still achieved a ton.

I'd also suggest applying the pomodoro technique (25 minutes of working, then a 5 minute break). You can get phone apps that buzz when your work times start and stop. Use the 5 minute break to get up and have a stretch, or make a cup of tea, or bung a load of washing on.

It's extremely difficult to focus continuously for hours at a time, and you're not failing or being negligent in finding WFH difficult.

Thanks, I'll try that technique tomorrow 25 mins on 5 off!

So I always work from home and can tell you that, realistically you don’t work as many hours in an office as you’d think. I’ve found that if working a “normal” 9-5 realistically you do about 5hrs of it.

Additionally - it’s incredibly easy to feel distracted right now and I’m not getting normal amounts of work done at all.

Take the breaks you need - as long as you do they work it’s fine, and you’re more productive than you think

Finding this thread immensely reassuring.Back in time I did a PhD (arts) and the combination of solitude and pressure sent me round the bend (not a figure of speech). Been wfh since last week and I HATE it. Miss my colleagues, my commute (by bike), and the buzz of working together. Feel really frazzled and demotivated, then bad about myself on top of that.

My job doesn't really lend itself to working from home - too much paper involved so I'm reliant on someone to be in the office to print and collate enclosures etc.

It's only day one but I found sticking to my usual work routine really helped (although I did go out for a smoke which I don't normally do). Was also in touch with colleagues. I expect to get more done as I'm not being distracted by my brilliant office-mate who I already miss very much.

I expect by Friday I'll have my feet up having chats with my mates on House party!

As a teacher in Melbourne, I've just begun WFH. We have four pupil-free days to prepare online work. The PM expects schools to re-open after the holidays. Yeah, right.

What I'm anticipating is the difficulty of sitting in front of a screen for so long, when the business of actually teaching is very physically active. I'm mostly on my feet in lessons, not to mention walking between buildings, yard duty, the trek to the toilet/photocopier, etc. so I'm going to factor all of this into breaks in the day.

I'm scheduling chat teams /emails with students to the sessions I would actually be teaching them, a window to post queries then time for me to respond.

I'll miss my students. I was touched that my last class yesterday thanked me for coming, teaching them, and marking their books so they could go home all tooled up.

Just as much I'll miss my colleagues, especially as I live alone.