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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

To dislike WFH. Am I the only one?

117 replies

PrincessBananaH · 06/02/2024 14:55

I appreciate how privileged I am to be able to WFH when some people can’t but, even though I can see the practical benefits (lower commute costs, easier to manage childcare drop off and puck up etc), I really hate WFH.
When I started wfh during the pandemic I thought it was lovely whereas now I find it incrediblh boring and i truly struggle to focus, to the point that on the days I am at home I am much less productive. Does this happen to any of you?
All my colleagues say they focus more when at home so I wonder if I am the only one or perhaps not all pf them are saying the truth.
I likw getting ready in the morning, wear some nice clothes, make up, sip a hot drink on the drain and meet real humans. Am I the only one?

OP posts:
idontlikealdi · 06/02/2024 14:56

I love it but everyone is different, I have been nearly fully WFH since long before covid though.

CreateHope · 06/02/2024 14:57

I hate it too OP - so lonely and boring. I’ve just come back from spending a few hours in the office and got so much done and met colleagues for those quick incidental conversations you never have at home.

thingscanonlygetworse · 06/02/2024 14:58

I hate it too.

Can't focus. Really bored. You are not the only one. I've spoken to plenty who say the same. No one goes to my office anymore so no point going in. And I've got so depressed I can't manage the motivation to get out either.

Original poster
PrincessBananaH · 06/02/2024 14:59

@idontlikealdi how do you stay focused? Any tips? Do you have your own office space at home? I work from my living room and I feel as if I spend my days in the same room from am to night time

OP posts:
toomuchfaff · 06/02/2024 14:59

so, go work in a non home environment..

WeWork or other office type space, coffee shop... separate your work/home life so you have distinctive differences. A room for your office, drive round the block, come to your workplace, when you've finished, lock the office, drive home. Sometimes it's the distinction.

OnlyFoolsnMothers · 06/02/2024 14:59

I love the balance- I don’t believe the more productive at home crap, especially from the parents- but let’s not change it.

Pottedpalm · 06/02/2024 15:00

I would not like full time working from home, one day a week might be ok. i think the trend is moving away from full time wfh.

KirriIrry · 06/02/2024 15:00

No, I hated it too. i was back in the office asap after lockdown, and most of my colleagues were too.
I can see advantages but I didn’t like it, and I was definitely less productive at home.

cryinglaughing · 06/02/2024 15:01

My dh hates it and I hate it for him.
He literally speaks to no one socially, it is all formal teams meetings.

Berlinlover · 06/02/2024 15:01

I would sink into a serious depression if I had to work from home.

Original poster
PrincessBananaH · 06/02/2024 15:01

@toomuchfaff for clarity, I only wfh 2-3 times per week and nothing is stopping me from going to the office, just the fact that I save tons on money on commute and it’s easier to manage DC drop off and pick up so I just atick with this pattern.
I don’t have a home office to lock up, wprk from my dining table

OP posts:
SkySecret · 06/02/2024 15:02

I was never a fan of wfh, but obviously covid meant it had to happen. I did still go to the office sometimes all throughout lockdown and loved it! Would arrange with one or two others to go in, we had the run of the place along with the odd other person.

Now we’re hybrid but allowed to come in as much as we want. My office is always a hive of activity so I really enjoy going in. My only blocker is opposite to your - I hate having to get ready in a morning 😂 but I’m fortunate to have a 10 minute drive and ample free on site parking. So I can’t complain.

KnowledgeableMomma · 06/02/2024 15:03

God I love it! Saves me so much money from the commute I used to do. I get all my work done in much less time so have more time for family. Am at home with my DD so much more. There is literally not a single thing I hate about it! But, everyone is different and if you would prefer to work in the office, find a way to do that.

idontlikealdi · 06/02/2024 15:03

PrincessBananaH · 06/02/2024 14:59

@idontlikealdi how do you stay focused? Any tips? Do you have your own office space at home? I work from my living room and I feel as if I spend my days in the same room from am to night time

I have my own office space, with a proper desk, dual screens etc. It's a better set up than in the office tbh. I leave my 'office' at the end of the day and don't see any work related stuff until the next morning.

A lot of my work is writing / editing and proofing, it's a lot easier for me to do that without distractions.

What I really dislike is Teams pinging at me all the time, that is a covid development. I turn off notifications when I am busy as I find it really distracting, particularly when colleagues send line by line messages instead of just one message!

Megifer · 06/02/2024 15:05

I can't bear it I voluntarily go in more days than I need to, a lot of us do tbh.

A pal freely admits she and her colleagues all lie through their teeth and tell work they are more productive at home 🤣

Tbf one thing I will say is if I've got a huge task to focus on its better wfh as less people coming up to me at my desk to talk work stuff, but for actually sharing quick bits of info or just earwigging on work chat and chipping in with ideas etc its way more advantageous for everyone being in the office.

We did do a survey recently and a lot of the new starters did feed back that they felt a bit lost with their teams not being around in person more for guidance etc. ☹️

DistinguishedSocialCommenator · 06/02/2024 15:06

When I worked before coid took early retirment years ago - WFH was a great prize if you could get it, but there were some that did not want this for various reasons

Alone at home and only contacts were work - heating costs, missing bater, or getting out of the house and away from kids

We are all different - our children all ork from home and two have it in their contracts min WFH is 3 out of 5 days but since covid thaty have been allowed 5 out of 5 and they aonly go in on parties, evnts or top people arriving from aborad etc and they save over a hundred quid each in fares and at least 2 hours total travelling daily and avoid the packed tubes/trains and and get up one and half hours later and able to multiask at home with appointments etc

Catza · 06/02/2024 16:04

I work from home full time and yes, sometimes, I think it would be lovely to go in but on a rare day when I have to, I am so exhausted by the end of it that I regret my decision.
I do have a separate office and I have 1:1 consultations with people so it is easy to remain focused when my diary is full of fairly full-on meetings. If I have a relatively empty day and need to catch up on paperwork, I do struggle to focus but this would be the same if I were in the office. The difference being that I can power through and finish earlier, whereas at the office I would've had to stay and basically watch the clock despite having nothing to do.

Hubblebubble · 06/02/2024 16:14

I love it. But I get my social interaction fix by working out before core hours or on my lunchbreak

ExpatForLife · 06/02/2024 16:14

Same here. So glad it's an option if needed but would never take a fully remote role. I am way less productive and I miss the human contact.

inabubble3 · 06/02/2024 16:16

You’re not. There was a post like this a couple of days ago as well.

i like wfh maybe 1 day a week (I can get some washing done) and granted it does help me concentrate. Or half days if I’ve been out and about in the morning, or on days when I just need an extra bit of time in bed. But I have to go to a gym class or soemthing at lunch time.

wfh more than that makes me feel so drained, lethargic. My heads not in it. I really miss human interraction. I also had the oddest most awkward Xmas do with my work colleagues (we’re hybrid- work 1 day a week in the office and the rest wherever which usually means we’re separate). I hands down think that’s because we just don’t know each other.

PBJsandwich123 · 06/02/2024 16:17

I hear you - it's made me feel really boxed in and out of touch with the world. Wish I could connect with my WFH'ers in my area, but I'm just so socially lazy at this point

Youcannotbeseriousreally · 06/02/2024 16:18

i work full time from home and I hate it. Yes it is convenient but it’s so boring and so lonely. If I was to go the office there is no one there and I’m not allowed to do meetings in shared spaces so. It’s just me.

I do have an office in the house which is a blessing but I also find it really hard to focus as there is always something that needs doing at home.

I use my commute and lunch time to clean and to sort stuff out whilst my husband goes to the pub and reads books and have peace and quiet.

it’s really isolating and dull.

sorrynotathome · 06/02/2024 16:20

Why do people insist that others must feel like them? Some people love it, some people hate it, some people aren't bothered. Just accept that we're all different, rather than trying to make out that all the people who love it actually secretly hate it. It's so tiring.

whereimfrom · 06/02/2024 16:21

I really like it.
I work from home 3 days out of 4 and my office day is a Wednesday so breaks up the week nicely.
So much easier for childcare and this really helps with my anxiety.
But everyone is different.

I also get a lot more done at home as I talk to everyone in the office and get distracted 😂😂

QOD · 06/02/2024 16:23

i dislike it