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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To ask how focussed you WFH people are today?

158 replies

holymolyguacamoles · 03/12/2021 12:44

Fellow WFH'er here.

Usually quite disciplined with completing tasks and rewarding with mini break but today:

No focus
Lack of concentration
Easily distracted
Loads to do but no motivation to do it

If you're WFH today how focussed are you today? And in general on other days?

OP posts:
vickyp0llard · 03/12/2021 19:50

I try to focus on my work, but all I can think about is how awful it is to be around other people.

Really? You don't enjoy other people's company whatsoever? Not a single colleague you like talking to? That's quite sad. I met my husband and now best friend in the office, as well as many other good friends I'm still in touch with.

KirstenBlest · 03/12/2021 19:52

I miss the company, and I miss being in a city

KirstenBlest · 03/12/2021 19:53

I don't miss the commute

ThinWomansBrain · 03/12/2021 20:03

I've given up on WFH
I've rented hot desking space in amazing offices that's subsidised by the local council. Well designed comfortable serviced offices.
Fab, loads of space, 5 minute walk from home, lots of community stuff going on, nice to have people around to chat to or just say "Hi" when you want to. No te,ptatio to boredom snack every ten minutes.
Really busy this week - couple of nights I lugged my laptop home and did sod all, but generally I love the break between home and work, breath of fresh air before I sit down to work (yes, I know if I was home I could go for a walk before I sit down to work, but it never happened, ever).
In some ways it's better than the office - you can have a chat and not have to worry about office politics.
It's £120 a month, but money well spent - lots of people probably spend more than that on travel.
Planning to continue indefinitely, just a couple of days in the office when things get back to 'normal'.

DriftingBlue · 03/12/2021 20:11

@vickyp0llard

I try to focus on my work, but all I can think about is how awful it is to be around other people.

Really? You don't enjoy other people's company whatsoever? Not a single colleague you like talking to? That's quite sad. I met my husband and now best friend in the office, as well as many other good friends I'm still in touch with.

I have ASD and social anxiety. I am basically in fight or flight mode when I am in the office. I am able to relax a bit when I can close an office door, but I know keeping it closed all the time is seen as anti-social so I try to avoid that.

I definitely like some of my colleagues, I just like to know when I am going to talk to them, not have them walk up randomly.

KirstenBlest · 03/12/2021 20:21

You get a lot more done if you switch off devices other than work ones

julieca · 03/12/2021 20:24

@KirstenBlest surely most people do?

TurquoiseDragon · 03/12/2021 20:25

We had intermittent IT issues so I worked hard when access was available, and just did the little I could when access was an issue.

KirstenBlest · 03/12/2021 20:35

No. We're on here or reading personal mail and things

One place I worked - you could only access work and work-related sites.
I was a lot more productive. You weren't allowed to work late.

It was strange but much easier to have a work-life balance

violetbunny · 03/12/2021 21:27

But surely the people who are flat out busy are less likely to be on Mumsnet to answer the question Smile

Lovelydovey · 03/12/2021 21:28

Massively focused today as loads and loads to do before Monday and don’t want to work the weekend! 12 hour day without any real breaks….

Sparklesocks · 03/12/2021 21:32

Quite focused while WFH. I’m coming into the office 1-2 days a week at the moment and I’m mainly in meetings then, or people come to my desk to ask me things, or I’m chatting to people in the kitchen while making a coffee etc. I actually get more done at home because there are less of those distractions. I generally use office days for meetings/collaborating/catching up with colleagues - and then home days I can concentrate on emails/writing up reports/research etc. The balance works well for me.

Georgy12 · 03/12/2021 21:34

Don't worry OP, you can't do 100% effort 100% of the time, it's ok to coast sometimes. It makes up for the times you put the extra effort in. I've had a tough week, I worked from bed and knocked off early 👍😉

BoredZelda · 03/12/2021 22:03

When I work I am 100% productive, otherwise I wouldn't be able to do my job. It's as simple as that.

For hours at a time? Not buying it.

BoredZelda · 03/12/2021 22:04

Don't worry OP, you can't do 100% effort 100% of the time, it's ok to coast sometimes.

It’s more than OK, it is necessary. Otherwise you’ll burn out.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 03/12/2021 22:13

For hours at a time? Not buying it.

I'm not selling you anything.

Horridcreature · 03/12/2021 22:18

I wasn’t focussed on my two days wfh this week though generally am. Struggled with a client and the lack of support of being in the office. Luckily I’m on my own, it was worse being upset when I was living with DParents in lockdown 1 who could tell I was upset but it’s confidential and I could not offload on them.

Pre Covid I was all office based and all the way through I’ve tried to keep that vibe, I dress like I do for the office and it feels so good changing at the end of the day, almost a replacement commute.

MrsJBaptiste · 03/12/2021 22:25

I have no choice but to be focused, I have meetings at least every other hour so any time in between meetings is non-stop 😨

I'd love to think sod it, and toss it off for half an hour but I honestly do not have the time. I'm already working more hours than I should be so if I can't ever be arsed, it will only come back to bite me... on the arse... 😯

Jouleigh · 03/12/2021 23:13

I do sometimes have days like that. Not today though, started at 8am and have just finished.
I think some days are more productive than others, it depends on the situation and what happens.
Overall I am more productive working from home than in the office!

KatherineJaneway · 04/12/2021 07:11

Those that have no motivation - dont people realise you are not doing any work?

I was working, just not the most productive I could have been. I sent emails, did accomplish tasks, just not my usual level of productivity. Also some tasks require thought and mulling over before any action.

rainbowscalling · 04/12/2021 07:54

Yesterday was the only day of the week I had no meetings vs being back to back the rest of the week. I also have a busy week next week plus Christmas party which will sidetrack the best part of a day.

That should mean I was extra productive with a free day to actually get tasks done. However I find without a meeting to go to or a looming deadline I feel burnt out at the moment and end up procrastinating. I know I will regret that Monday and that the office will be pretty empty so think I'll go work there instead of WFH

BoredZelda · 04/12/2021 08:20

I'm not selling you anything.

Yeah, which makes me realise why you need to pretend to be 100% all the time.

Those that have no motivation - dont people realise you are not doing any work?

Nope. Never missed a deadline I was in control of. That’s actually one of my biggest motivations.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 04/12/2021 09:32

Yeah, which makes me realise why you need to pretend to be 100% all the time.

I have to be, it's the nature of my job.

But you seem to have an issue with me and you also seem to struggle with the concept of someone having good work ethics and a demanding job.

BoredZelda · 04/12/2021 16:53

I have to be, it's the nature of my job.

Unlikely.

But you seem to have an issue with me and you also seem to struggle with the concept of someone having good work ethics and a demanding job.

I have both a good work ethic and a demanding job. I still don’t need to be 100% productive 100% of the time. Anyone who pretends they do, just because they are self employed are only really fooling themselves.

ChardonnaysPetDragon · 04/12/2021 17:06

I sense you have some issues there, but I'm afraid I cannot help you there.

I wish you well.