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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To find WFH draining?

29 replies

kettlebellchips · 15/05/2023 12:51

I’ve been working from home since the pandemic and by the end of the day, I’d feel zonked out. I decided to sign up for wework-type place nearby and tried it for the first time last week. At the end of the day I felt a lot fresher. Not sure how to describe it but the mini-interruptions of people walking by, background chat made the day go easier.

At home I have my own work set up, a desk in a dedicated study but there’s something stifling about being at home.

AIBU?

OP posts:
lillie23 · 15/05/2023 13:11

I can relate to this as I WFH too. I miss talking to people in the office. I find that I can't move from my desk for long incase I get a phone call and I don't answer straight away. Whereas if I was in the office I wouldn't be worried if I was away from my desk for a period of time. It does have pros but also cons to WFH.

Christmascracker0 · 15/05/2023 13:16

I’m the same, too long working from home and I’m miserable and unproductive. I think a lot of it is having the separation between work life and home life. Plus just getting up, dressed and out of the house in the morning and having some human interaction!

TheSnowyOwl · 15/05/2023 13:17

I can see how this works for some people.

I always do the school run before racing home to my office. As a result, it feels as stressful as the old work commute sometimes but also means I feel I leave the house in the morning before starting work.

MaggieBsBoat · 15/05/2023 13:20

I’ve been at this WFH, with a 2 year break before covid, since 2016, and I agree it’s problematic. I didn’t realise the difference until reverting to HO during Covid and it was miserable.
I need to make more effort to break up the day and go for walks etc.

Original poster
kettlebellchips · 15/05/2023 13:20

Christmascracker0 · 15/05/2023 13:16

I’m the same, too long working from home and I’m miserable and unproductive. I think a lot of it is having the separation between work life and home life. Plus just getting up, dressed and out of the house in the morning and having some human interaction!

I find this. I cycled 10 minutes to the wework, and cycled home in the sun, and it just helps a little

OP posts:
lillie23 · 15/05/2023 13:22

TheSnowyOwl · 15/05/2023 13:17

I can see how this works for some people.

I always do the school run before racing home to my office. As a result, it feels as stressful as the old work commute sometimes but also means I feel I leave the house in the morning before starting work.

I'm always racing back from the school run stressed. I do get more done at home then I would in the office. I would say the one thing I am glad about not being in the office is the office gossip and toxic environment. I am glad I ain't a part of all that

greennotepad · 15/05/2023 13:22

I WFH but make sure I get up every day and go for a walk or a cycle before I start work- it gives me the same feeling of breaking up the day as a commute, and helps me get my thoughts in order about my day.

You are not BU to not like it though, just as people who like WFH are no BU. It's personal preference, there is no right or wrong answer.

InSpainTheRain · 15/05/2023 13:40

YANBU for how you feel. But personally I love WFH. I can start early to work with teams in the east, take a bigger break in the middle of the day and work a bit later with teams in the west. But if being outside of the home helps then continue I'd say.

PollyPeptide · 15/05/2023 13:46

I had a nervous breakdown working from home. I think it was because there was no separation between home and work so I never felt I left work behind.
I also found that I needed human contact during the day. Being an introvert, I never realised that was important to me but it turns out, it was.
And I can find myself getting easily distracted and working in an office kept me more focused and I felt I achieved more particularly as I git older.
I feel like working from home will work for some people but it will increase mental health problems for many.

Original poster
kettlebellchips · 15/05/2023 13:48

PollyPeptide · 15/05/2023 13:46

I had a nervous breakdown working from home. I think it was because there was no separation between home and work so I never felt I left work behind.
I also found that I needed human contact during the day. Being an introvert, I never realised that was important to me but it turns out, it was.
And I can find myself getting easily distracted and working in an office kept me more focused and I felt I achieved more particularly as I git older.
I feel like working from home will work for some people but it will increase mental health problems for many.

I’m also introverted and didn’t think I needed the human contact, but indeed I think I do

OP posts:
Christmascracker0 · 15/05/2023 13:49

Me three! Haha.

xogossipgirlxo · 15/05/2023 13:54

I hate working from home, so understand you 100%. WFH is very isolating for me and my cats are driving me crazy. Time drags unbelievably.

FredaFox · 15/05/2023 15:36

I struggle wfh mentally, I work longer hours, struggle to switch off and am already tired

Switch that to the office, I'll get less done but mentally I feel so much more positive

I do wonder if the people who want permanent wfh work as hard, i certainly don't feel that some of my colleagues do

Shanksponyorbust · 15/05/2023 15:40

I love WFH, it’s just much better for me, better work/life balance, better for my company as I can be flexible with my hours to suit their needs.

We’re all different and I’m glad you’re feeling better working in an office OP but I’d be miserable if that were me.

DandelionPockets · 15/05/2023 15:42

I can feel like this WFH so I have to go on a couple of walks to feel less bleuergh. Eating a healthier lunch for me also helped!

Newgolddream70 · 15/05/2023 16:32

I've wfh since the start of the pandemic and now only do one day in the office per week. I work 6 hours a day without a break so pretty much indoors all day apart from the school run.

I have zonked as well and just recently had a load of blood tests down and turns out I am vitamin D deficient! GP has prescribed some strong tablets which I started today so hope to feel better soon.

Newgolddream70 · 15/05/2023 16:34

Should have proof-read that post 🙈 sorry. Hope it made sense!

UsingChangeofName · 15/05/2023 16:56

I don't think YABU in finding that you find wfh draining - we are all different, aren't we?

But things like the 10mins commute in the sunshine are things you can still do when you wfh. You can schedule in a break to walk round the block or whatever.

Same as scheduling in other little breaks during the day, which, when I wfh, I find I can go and do jobs that are actually useful to me and save me time then in the evening. Classic example is I must have emptied the dishwasher in office kitchens and staffrooms hundreds of times in my lifetime whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. When wfh, that dishwasher emptying is one job I then don't have to do when I get home. I have a colleague who actually gets up and does 5 mins of exercise most hours in quite a disciplined way.

tourdefrance · 16/05/2023 07:24

I try to avoid wfh two days in a row. Luckily my work expect me in 60% of the time so that's not difficult. If we had gone wfh full time, I would have looked for another job.
It wasn't too bad when I still had the school run, but both dc are now at secondary so I no longer HAVE to go out. Yes, I can do so and mostly do, but there's only so many variations you can do and if you start the day feeling a bit low, it's easy to postpone it until later.

gannett · 16/05/2023 07:30

Not sure how to describe it but the mini-interruptions of people walking by, background chat made the day go easier.

Gosh we're all different aren't we. These things are exactly what I can't stand about being in an office and made me absolutely miserable when I did. They also prevent me doing my best work.

Agree with PP that it's important to get out for a walk or a run if the weather's nice. WFH helps with this though because there's more time to do it.

gannett · 16/05/2023 07:31

And while I'm an introvert I definitely need and enjoy social contact. But - this is very important! - not when I'm trying to work. Work is work and I'm trying to concentrate. When it's done, then I socialise and have a grand time with friends, not colleagues, and not thinking about work at all.

MovinGroovinBarbie · 16/05/2023 07:34

I think a lot of it is having the separation between work life and home life.

I agree.

It's nice the night before when you know you haven't got to go in. Can get up and check emails in your dressing gown with a coffee. But when the day finishes and you turn off the laptop it's a bit of a depressing prospect spending the evening sat in the room you worked in all day.

PinkPlantCase · 16/05/2023 07:41

YABU only because there are so many different working options these days. If you don’t like it change it.

Full wfh doesn’t work for everyone.

ErnestCelendine · 16/05/2023 07:42

I love wfh but also feel mentally better when I've had a rare day in the office. I'm planning on looking for a new job next year and will try and find a more local one with a 50-50 split.

I currently only go in once every 3 months, and the office is a couple of hours away. It's always been that way - I didn't move away during lockdown!

reluctantbrit · 16/05/2023 07:42

It really depends on the person.

I am now working hybrid and that works for me. I do see a difference in the days I commute, I am more tired in the evenings thanks to the noise in the office and on the train and especially since I need to change trains now. The upside is that I am out of the house, speak to people and see something else than just my house.

When WFH, I shut down the laptop at the same time as my colleagues in the office and I just do what I want. Often I sit down with a book and relax before I make dinner.

It helps that we have a 9-5 mentality, regardless where you work. I am also not required to check emails or anything after work, my workphone is tugged away with my laptop.

I am lucky, my desk is in the spare bedroom, when I am finished I am done, no visual reminder.