To those of you still WFH and miserable about it

[Ethelfleda]

I will start by saying that I know I am lucky. DS has been back to nursery since June so I have childcare- I am working in a spare room and have decent equipment but...

I am really struggling. I feel so unbelievably low all the time. Same daily grind, same routine, no end date in sight. Employer originally kept stating that they were following government guidelines on WFH but since they announced the changes on 1st August - our company has communicated precisely nothing.

I know many people have it worse than me. But that doesn’t stop me feeling so desperately miserable.

Have any of you found routines that work to get you through the day? Or little things you might do to make it all more bearable? Im barely able to drag myself out of bed. Eating pure crap for lunch because I just have absolutely no drive to look after myself. I just feel like crying all the time.

Sorry that was so self indulgent...

My work found that 50% wanted to WFH full time and the other half wanted to go back to similar to before with 1-3 days in office.

@Youngatheart00

What I’m curious to know is - are we in the minority?

My work did a survey and ‘apparently’ 2/3 of people said they love wfh and they are now using that as an excuse to make permanent changes. That survey was done at the end of May through and I do wonder whether all those people feel the same now.

I would like a mix. Perhaps 2/3 days WFH and 3/2 in the office.

I could survive permanent WFH (unlikely to happen) but that is because I am used to WFH and established career wise.

A mix would be fine with me too. The only thing is I can see meetings being really awkward if some are in the office in a meeting room and others on zoom. Then I just think ‘I may as well be at home’

Really mourning the loss of the ‘old world’

I hate it

I realised my mental health was taking a battering over the last month, there were points where I didn’t leave the house for 6 days, I was struggling to get up just to go downstairs and work in the dining room with people walking in and out, it was horrible

I’ve implemented some rules over the last 2 weeks and I’m feeling a bit better

I have my own desk etc set up in the window so I’m not distracted by anything or anyone in the house

I go out on my bike when I get up

I shower and wear decent “work” clothes every day

I go out at lunch, when if it’s just to sit in my garden with my book

I log off on time and then take the dog out

It’s helping a bit

I used to work from home in a previous job (have been doing 2 days a week still but in school for the rest so not the same), and hated it- having it thrust upon you with no choice is even worse.

I did find some things made it a tad easier, such as setting an alarm with time to actually get up, showered, dressed and 'ready' as I would if I was heading into the office, it felt like a waste of time at first but honestly made so much of a difference; I had to make more effort to meet/chat with friends outside of work hours, harder at the moment but the lack of interaction at work forced me to make more of an effort; I made sure to take a lunch break fully away from my laptop and work area, usually went for a walk, and was strict with finish time just so that boundaries were clearer between work and home.

for anyone struggling, hopefully you can be back in the office soon .

@Youngatheart00

What I’m curious to know is - are we in the minority?

My work did a survey and ‘apparently’ 2/3 of people said they love wfh and they are now using that as an excuse to make permanent changes. That survey was done at the end of May through and I do wonder whether all those people feel the same now.

I think for two thirds of people a mix of the two (3 and 2 for example of days in office and at home) would be ideal. Then there's the third who either can't stand working from home or can't stand being in the office, so would rather do one or the other full time.

Working from home has been a great novelty for a few months for many, to a large extent because commuting in the UK is a nightmare for a lot of people. Packed out trains/tube/motorways/buses etc, for an economy largely geared around one bloody city, leading to stupidly long commutes and often nightmare journeys with certain rail franchises.

But working from home full time will lose its novelty over time as people will miss interaction with colleagues, getting out the house etc. A mix of the two and people's commute won't be as bad when they do go in because rush hour trains and traffic will be considerably eased.

I hate WFH. It's lonely and soul destroying. It was a novelty at first, however, over 5 months in I destest it.

I have been with my firm for 11 years and I have never made as many errors/mistakes in all those years as I have in the last two months, really simple and basic errors too.

It always get dressed for work and try not to log in too early, but it's so easy to continue to sit in front of my work pc on breaks and lunch.

I am middle aged and this is the first time ever I have been on a diet.

I may be going back about Easter.

Wfh is like living at work.

Fucking hate it.

Thank you for all your replies. I was worried I would get told I should feel lucky and stop complaining! Some really good points on here RE: not talking to people outside of your immediate team. Makes a big difference.

I managed to go for a walk first thing thing this morning but it was tough. I’m finding that I don’t care about looking after myself - like I don’t matter or something!

Anyway - I have one colleague who I am meeting for a coffee next week on our lunch hour (really looking forward to that) and I found out today that there is a better process for potentially getting myself back in the office one day a week. Involves putting a request in to the building supervisor (nice guy) so I am going to speak to him tomorrow and see where the land lies.

It’s really great to know that I am not the only one struggling

Sounds like positive steps OP

I called our HR Manager today about it and she said an email is going out by the end of the week with instructions on back to work for all the admin staff in Sept. The sales staff will work remotely which they often do anyway. Not sure it will go down well with some but I’m delighted.

The thing about going back in for your mental health is that most people are still wfh. I go into my office once a week to do essential tasks, and there's no one else there. It's eerie.

Yes, lots of the good things about workplaces are not there at the moment.

You know, I'm an introvert and I am loving my new set up, working from home. I am in my element. All my team have noticed how much happier and productive I have been.

I do sympathise with all the people struggling, but can I just point out that for introverts like me, the office environment has the same effect on us. I spent years struggling with commuting to an office and working in an open plan environment. Nobody gave a crap, as that was just normal. My issues were always brushed off. I was drained every day, and my mood was always low.

I would love it if we could get to a point of striking a balance, where people like me could continue working from home without penalty, and the people that really thrive in an office environment, get to have that.

It’s been a life changer for me. The advice on the government website still says 6. Work from home if you can

www.gov.uk/government/publications/staying-safe-outside-your-home/staying-safe-outside-your-home

You sound depressed. I think this is about a lot more than whether you’re working from home or not.

I'm working from home and was so glad to find this post... I thought I was alone in finding it difficult. I can relate to everyone's comments...

We've been told it's now wfh with the future ability to book a hot desk in a random building being set up. So for all those saying just tell them.. some of us have no voice or choice in the matter and that's difficult to deal with too.

I've noticed an improve since gyms have opened, I now go on my lunch hour but I'm still finding I'm not getting that incidental exercise I was my step count is shocking, even a pace around the house isn't enough. And I'm sick of walking around the block where I live.. it's not exactly a lovely leafy area shall we say.

I feel we are all a bit forgotten, no one seems to care that some people are stooped over a laptop at a dining room table on an uncomfortable chair, or that through circumstance is living in an overcrowded house which was manageable til this happened cause everyone went out to work, or for the person trying to creep around a shift worker or juggle small children's needs, or that person who lives alone and work is their family.

I worry the risks from to missing those untold signs you pick up on in a office when somethings not quite right with someone and they need a chat or bit of support, how I train up new staff that I can't actually see in complicated processes, and Iwholehearted agree with missing those little chats in the kitchen making a brew to find out what is happening or just have a little work rant with.

I feel like I'm still ok doing my job, in my own little bubble but now I have no idea of a wider picture of work which we pick up on just from being in the office together. It's a sorry state I think... I do wonder the long term damage to where I work where teams and people get fragmented and isolated.

And don't get me started on the fact I'm now paying for the electricity, heating and broadband for my business... my bills have gone up and as i walk to work I'm not making the commuting savings that's some might be seeing... and was unhelpful pointed out when I raised it.

I worry winter is going to be hard for a lot of peoples mental health with lot of shock bills and less ability to get out the house for a walk / run etc.

I loved it at first, then really struggled with it and now I’m resigned to life being this way probably for me for the next 12 months.

Stuff I do:

Enjoy a longer lie in but get up with enough time to have a shower and do my make up. I always make sure my nails are done, it just really cheers me up and makes me feel more professional.

Wear a slightly smarter top and yoga pants

Have regular breaks away from my desk a pomodoro app helped me with this

Got my kit from work and set up dual screen and a comfy chair

Tried to enjoy some habits I can’t do in the office - Got spotify to play between calls, started talking a sunshine break in the garden (important for the vitamin D and all that) bought a nice candle to burn in my home office.

Organised 30 min virtual tea breaks with people I would usually chat with in the office - I try to book these fir mid afternoon when I know I start to flag.

The best one was booking in a “walking lunch break” with a couple of people I lunch with in the office. I walk, they walk and we chat on the phone.

Solidarity everyone it is such a hard slog

I agree with you @WaverleyOwl I am so much calmer knowing I don't have to deal with the office environment which used to stress me out so much.

It was always so noisy and bright and cold that I found it really difficult to concentrate. I'm much more productive at home.

I really do sympathise with those who are struggling though. Mental health shouldn't be taken lightly and this is clearly having a big impact on many.

I really hope we can reach a stage where most office workers can choose the balance which is right for them.

@Faithtrusts I could have written that post myself. So well said. Nothing to add 😔 xx

WFH(did partially before covid) and currently in stage 4 lockdown over in Oz. Im an early riser-when its not raining nip over to the beach with a coffee (as still able to spend an hour outside home in a mask) but more often jump on the treadmill then grab a protein shake in the shower back into fresh PJs/trackie and log on for day. I can get what i need done by 2pm most days and started learning French and Spanish online for something to do in the afternoon-feels like im doing something productive for me.Usually make time to go down to the garden late arvo if weathers ok. I have teen DCs learning from home but fortunately also have plenty of room and a decent amount of outdoor space they can use..Not sure id want to do this indefinitely as missing the face2face interaction/being able to actually get up and leave house..Happy to go in 2 days as pre-covid.

Yep, I hate it too. I did think this afternoon that I was having a breakdown. I have been with my current employer for under a year, in fact I was still buddying with a colleague desk training, when lockdown occurred. I have now been WFH for longer than I was working in the office. Still struggling to understand the business as well as getting used to my customers with very little training and support. Although I can screen share with senior colleagues when I'm really stuck, I am now starting to feel I'm becomming a burden. It doesn't help that the system we use is so archaic and has 10 different ways to do one task. We have a virtual teams meeting every morning with our supervisor but our department manager hasn't had the courtesy to check on us once.
I have been advised we can hot desk in the office 1 or 2 days a week but with the rest of the team not keen, I feel I would be as isolated there as I am at home.
I look at the same four walls all day and then the same four walls in the evening just in a different seat. My upper limbs are also starting to feel the toll.

I feel like I’ve been kicked down the stairs most days! It’s awful!
I am hoping I can get some good news about being able to go back in. I know it won’t be the same - I don’t think anyone is even on my entire floor - but I am at home all day on my own anyway. At least in the office, I have a commute to get in to work mode and a reason to get a bit dressed up... And it is a change of scenery!

I too hope most companies will just allow the individual to choose what is right for them. I would like to WFH half the week and in the office the other half.

I too am an introvert but I am still finding it difficult. My productivity has started to fall through the floor!

Glad to have found my people, most of my friends are now back at work and are telling me their jealous i'm working from home most likely until early next year (not in the UK still under restrictions here). I hate it, like many started off so well getting up and ready each day, long walk after work, reading or yoga during lunch but slowly i've moved to not getting up and dressed until I have to, straight from work to watching mindless TV until DP comes home. I miss people, I live abroad with no family nearby, limited friends as I moved here just before this all happened. Often work was my only social interaction of the week outside DP.
I had a bit of a breakdown a few weeks ago and we have been trying to do more/socialise each weekend so theirs at least a distinct working week and weekend which is helping a bit.

Yes the ideal is that people will be able to choose the balance that’s right for them.

Arranged to be able to go back in the office from next week! It was all a bit strange - the process hasn’t been communicated to any of us properly etc but at least I can start to go back now! Apparently there aren’t any people on my floor but I don’t mind that - I need the change of location! Yes, the social side is good but just getting up and getting ready to go in and physically driving to an office will make all the difference!