WFH is it all it’s cracked up to be?

[jinn2025]

Hi all,
Ive worked in a very fast paced job for 9 years, recently 2 kids later and a partner who works away 5 days a week. I’m staring to think, is it better to find a job working from home?
would I be lonely? I could do all the boring jobs like washing, cleaning and running the house on lunch and while I work? Gym on a lunch break?
there’s alot of pros but also some cons.
For anyone whose made the change please let me know, how you’ve found it?

I don't find it lonely as with young DC myself I get the interaction from school runs, plus my team are chatty on teams. I use my lunch break to have 30 minutes to watch TV with no interruptions or read in the garden. Then because I have no commute I try and fit cleaning and exercise in when I would normally be commuting.

I hated it but then I don’t generally get out much other than work so for me I found my work being at home mentally exhausting. I was able to get stuff done but unless you have a room or area away from everyday house sounds like the washing machine running, it can be hard to focus or remain professional.

It’s great as you can get all your chores and admin done when you should be working. Also save on commuting time and money.
It’s probably not so healthy for people who live alone unless they have very busy social lives outside work.
Also must be difficult for young people who need to learn the job remotely but fine for people already established in their career.

I hate WFH. It's lonely and I miss my team. It's hard to supervise, it's hard to mentor and useful quick catch ups at the coffee station don't happen.
I also prefer to keep work at work and not have it bleed into home.

Really I think there are 3 kinds of WFH:

1. Similar to most office jobs, clock in at 9, clock out at 5. You obviously have time for lunch/save time commuting but bar that there’s not magically loads of flexible time in the day.

2. Flexible jobs where there’s some give/take (this is mine) - I can disappear for school runs, go slower on days DS is sick, book a class or appointment during the day. The tradeoff is some nights I’m working til 11pm, or on US calls, and some weeks ramp up to 50/60h weeks. Both I and my employer are okay with this as it works for us both.

3. ‘unicorn’ jobs where you get the flexibility/lots of free time AND never work more than your contracted hours. I think lots of people assume this applies to all WFH jobs but my experience is they’re few and far between!

Overall I love it, it’s really great for childcare/emergencies (single parent) - I do miss office life sometimes but I get a bit of work travel which scratches the itch. I’m not lonely because I get out and about with DS anyway. But I do think it’s wise to target what sort of WFH you’re looking for, and not to get discouraged when you find the tradeoffs for the perks!

I work fully remotely - I like it. My role is well suited to it, and I can text or speak to my colleagues on Teams. I work hard all day (and probably harder than when I worked onsite). I love not having to commute every day.

I WFH 4 days a week - I could stay home all week if I wanted and just come in on the odd team day, but I do like the change of scene with the office given I am London based. I left the job I'd been in for years before COVID in 2022 because absolutely no one was coming back into office when I started coming in once a week and I found that a bit demotivating.

I'm not a big office chatter, and haven't tended to make work mates. I do like people but it's not something I've ever made happen really, though I do have former colleagues I see now and then socially. So if you're not the sort of person to have a 'work bestie' then you probably won't miss the office that much.

I find it immensely helpful to just keep on top of laundry and stuff, and to be able to go to the gym just after work and not have the tiring commute every day. My last two jobs I could have a short lunchtime gym sometimes because TBH I wasn't hugely overworked. This one I don't feel able to as I have more on, but I still take a lunch break. Does get a bit boring sometimes and I do feel a bit cabin-fever-y if illness or tube strikes mean I'm home all week.

I do establish start of day and end of day routine (reading a chapter of a book either side of working) and it helps establish boundaries. Not a problem I have on the whole as I actually find it really hard to do work in the evening so will only do it if I really have to.

As above, it’s great if you’re established in your role and career, but really it’s best as part of hybrid working. Being in the office means you can have the corridor conversations that are helpful etc but then WFH days you can get your head down with fewer interruptions.

I worked pretty much permanently wfh for 5 years, my job is fast paced so a slower pace is not a given in a wfh job! I moved to hybrid a year ago, as I felt my world was shrinking a bit, but my kids are much older and I didn’t have school/pta/driving kids around any more to get me out

Thankyou, I don’t think I’d be lonely as I do get out and about lot. It’s the whole commute then picking the kids ups from various places and stepping through the door after 6pm bath bed then feet don’t touch the floor til gone 9pm

May I ask what roles/jobs do you do?

IT Consultant

It saved my sanity, gave me the opportunity to do things in the evenings and I got more sleep. I hated being interrupted in the office, but that problem went away when people just messaged to,ask if I was free. I got to know colleagues much better through Teams chat than I had working in the office.

I will never go back to working in an office again.

I do have a few in-person meetings and events and month which gets me out and about but the rest of the time I am at home.

it’s great.

I am more productive in work and in home life since WFH. I like the flexibility of being able to go and work in a cafe if I want, and we have some great ones near me. I can hang a wash out in between work calls, or do a bit of meal prep as part of my break.

This is my experience too. I actually left a job because my then employer threatened to have staff outside of London work from home back in 2015. I knew I’d hate and so it proved come the pandemic.

I honestly don’t know how people get things done without WFH, I’m lucky that I started WFH before I had kids and continued after, couldn’t cope otherwise.

It’s just things like putting on a load of washing, hanging it out, emptying the dishwasher, receiving parcels. Just 5 minute jobs but makes everything much easier after work.

No commuting time, plus I don’t put on make up or get dressed up at home.

I go into the office one day per week (whole team go in) which I really like - think I would struggle if it was purely WFH.

Been WFH 2 years, work in logistics
I loved it at first, I’m now finding it really tedious and lonely, feels like I never get out the house
i I miss “dressing up” for work and seeing other people.
I honestly feel like it’s ruining the bubbly person I used to be.

NOT THIS AGAIN - you really can’t do household chores while “WFH” !!!! You are paid to work…

A mix is good - e.g. 3 days in the office, 2 days at home. Great for days when you are waiting for a plumber, etc.

I switched about 20 years ago. I don’t find it lonely. I get to focus on my work instead of feeling like I’m in a constant state of fight or flight. I never really relaxed in the office, even though I had a private office for nearly my entire career.

I work from home and enjoy it, we have young kids and it helps massively with school/nursery runs/sick days etc. My nearest office is around an hour and 15 mins drive away, I like having the option to go in and be sociable every now and again. I’m a project manager and my diary is full of meetings which means I’m speaking to people most of the day.

I couldn't have it any other way now. It does have its challenges esp as my partner is a home worker too, but the benefits vastly outweigh any downsides.

I’ve never enjoyed it either and am finally moving to a job with mandated office days next month. I totally understand why folk like it but it’s just not for me.

If you mean household chores like empty the dishwasher, put on washing machine for clothes, you can do that in a tea break.

I work from home fully and have lots of flexibility as my employer trusts I will get the job done. This suits me well as I’m a lone parent to an AuDHD teen who needs to be taken to and picked up from college which is a 75 minute round trip each time.
my days of commuting thankfully are over.