Working from home forever

[Ehupflower]

AIBU to be honest about how hard it is to be motivated working from home! I've had to work from home since the middle of March last year, (like lots of other people) and we got told today that this is probably going to be permanent! I love my job but I'm so fed up of working from home full time I'm finding it harder and harder to keep motivated and not be distracted......

I'm a lecturer and have been working from home teaching live since the week before lockdown. I really hate it. I had no commute previously as I walked to and from work, so it's costing me in terms of energy bills, and I'm sat at the kitchen table all day which hurts my back!

My work were always really inflexible in terms of everyone sitting in offices when we weren't actually teaching, so it would be great to be able to do eg marking at home going forward. While social distancing is a thing I can't see us being back on campus full time for a while as there just isn't capacity.

I am so much more productive working from home. This is because I work when I feel like it and get it done in peace and quiet. In the office I am forced to sit at my desk in a noisy office until 5pm regardless of whether I am in the mood or not.

This is interesting. At my work we're WFH but have to clock in and out and do the normal 9-5.
I find that very draining. Sitting at my home desk all day except a lunch break.
At work the day is broken up more naturally.
The only thing keeping me going is knowing I'll be allowed back in the office soon, at least part of the time.

Thinking about it I would actually hate to work in a big open plan noisy office.

I just resent the assumption that if you don’t have children you will automatically cover that work (what else could we possibly be doing!!)

Yes that is annoying, my work have been pretty good with letting us do the main priority stuff & if we have time to do the extra then great. It's give & take in our team, so my colleague without dc has been great in Jan but I could help more in Dec (school holidays) when she had Covid.

I often describe myself as a shy extrovert.

Shyness is not a defining quality of being an introvert. Plenty of extroverts are shy.

I thought introvert meant shy?

I spend 9 - 5 sitting at my desk, then all evening sitting on my sofa.
Living in the same 2 rooms. Its enough to make me weep.
I don't mind saying for me WFH is boring nd shit, I'm less productive and I hate it.
I'm not sad for preferring my life how it was.
Don't understand the need to make yet another issue an 'us and them' competition though. A little understanding on both sides is all that's needed.

@Figarill

I thought introvert meant shy?

Not necessarily. An extrovert gets energised from being around people. But might not actually want to speak up, be the centre of attention etc.

I thought introvert meant shy?

It doesn't at all. It means you get your energy sapped from being around other people too long and you recharge by being on your own.

I'm a massive introvert and not remotely shy.

I am shy, but the longer I'm on my own the more depressing and sad I feel. I need to be around people, so I'm an extrovert.

This loud/quiet person thing is a common misconception.

This loud/quiet person thing is a common misconception.

Yes, and quite an annoying one!!!

@Chollok

This loud/quiet person thing is a common misconception.

Yes, and quite an annoying one!!!

Yup!

Plus I don't think many people are at extreme ends of the scale.
I am happy to curl up in a quiet house with a good book etc. I don't need other people around to amuse me or constant interaction.
But this current isolation is too much alone time. A weekend alone is nice. 10 months not so much!

www.google.co.uk/amp/s/dictionary.cambridge.org/amp/english/introvert

I just googled it so at some point I presume I had been told that.

The dictionary definitions are well out of date. Part of the problem really. It is why as a child I was forced to social events to make me get over my shyness, as I think it was assumed if I could only do that I would obviously enjoy them. Nope, not shy. Just introverted.

I wouldn't assume extroverts are loud though, I thought it meant they enjoy being around others.

I think I'm pretty 50/50, love to be alone & in my thoughts, love to be amongst others observing & participating so lucky I do a hybrid work pattern!

@roastpotatoesss. Some companies are already making soundings about changes in pay over time.

Office politics will simply move online

The dictionary definitions are well out of date. Part of the problem really

Id say quite a big part! 😆

I think a fair few people would be more willing willing you'd think to accept loss of things like London weighting in exchange for working from home.

@Chollok

I think a fair few people would be more willing willing you'd think to accept loss of things like London weighting in exchange for working from home.

I think that's probably true.

It means you get your energy sapped from being around other people too long and you recharge by being on your own.

I definitely feel like if I've been around others for too long I need a break & to be alone & calm the noise. How do you know what you are? I've never thought much about it before.

I guess if you didn't live in London or could move out the lack of weighting wouldn't necessarily be an issue but for some who still needed to pay the higher costs it might be hard.

I definitely feel like if I've been around others for too long I need a break & to be alone & calm the noise. How do you know what you are? I've never thought much about it before.

It's all on a spectrum- some are only very slightly one or the other.

@Chollok

I think a fair few people would be more willing willing you'd think to accept loss of things like London weighting in exchange for working from home.

I'm sure, but I wonder if the salaries would remain the same for those still in the office if they could argue that you can leave London and WFH. If companies could recruit remotely and not have to pay London weighting from the off I'm sure they'd much rather do that.

I have no idea if that would happen just something I've thought about!

I want to get back to the office too. I started a new role at work three months ago and I honestly think I'd have felt more settled and picked up my new tasks more easily if I'd been sitting with my new colleagues and could just ask them to quickly check what I'm doing instead of having to ask questions over Teams all the time. I live alone and miss people in general, to the point where I just start crying for no good reason sometimes.

The day we get back to the office can't come quick enough.

@WildOrchids67 solidarity with you, I also started a new job during lockdown and it is a very specific kind of tough. 😔