wfh - how strict are you with routine?

[YellowDahlia]

I recently started a new job - I've moved from PT to FT and also there's a lot more working from home involved. I do enjoy some of the benefits of this (relaxed clothing, no rushing out in the mornings, better coffee 🙂 etc) but I'm also getting a bit hacked off with sitting for such a long time and staring into a laptop for such a large part of my day, which just doesn't happen in an office - there are interruptions from colleagues, you go in search of a file, meetings to walk to etc etc.

So, on an average or quieter working day, outwith meetings or deadlines, do you sit and work ALL DAY no matter what? Or do you sometimes spend a bit longer at lunch, or take care of some household chores or life admin, bearing in mind that if you were in the office the equivalent would be having a good old chat with colleagues, or nipping out for lunch or whatever ie time away from a screen even though it's a working day. And also taking into account there will be also be busier days when you probably will be flat out with meetings or deadlines or whatever. It's all a balance, right?

I feel a bit guilty when it takes me too long to hang the washing, or if my parents pop in to drop something off and we have a chat! If this was you would you a) take the time off your lunch hour or b) forget about it - you will likely end up working late some other day so it will all balance out

I'm just curious really about what other people's attitudes are - I need to make wfh work for me, and adjust to full time hours, but if it means being chained to my laptop for the next however many years then I think I'll be miserable...

I've WOTH for decades, and have always been the sort of person who empties / loads the dishwasher or clears the draining board or wipes down the surface in the kitchen at my workplaces, whilst waiting for the kettle to boil. I am doing the same at home but it benefits me.

I think some people are lumping together the people on this thread who are not working their expected hours with the folk who are working their expected hours, but might stretch them over a different amount of time, to make life more efficient - or just more pleasant - for themselves. A lot of my work is done alone, but if I do peel some veg or hang out some washing I still have my work phone with me, so am just as available as if I was in front of my laptop.

There is a lot of research isn't there, that indicates most people work better if they don't sit in the same position and do the same task for a solid 3 or 4 hour stretch. Isn't that part of what things like Apple watches do - tell you to get up and move if you have sat still for 50mins ? Just because people manage their time differently, doesn't mean people are doing fewer hours. I'd actually say it is much easier to carry on working, when you would otherwise have stopped if you are in your workspace at home and not noticing a dozen people around you getting up and clocking off for the night.

Not strict enough

I'm a trade union official. Work part time. On work days I'm usually logged in at least an hour before I'd have been in the office. Some days I bounce from one Teams meeting to another to another. Others I'm preparing for hearings or negotiations so can take short breaks to hang a wash or get the dinner on. I manage my own diary and time. Often I'm still working well after my contracted hours. So on a quieter day I'll take a walk or read a book for a bit. I never stay glued to my laptop unless I have to. Although work phone comes everywhere on work days. What matters is I get the work done not that I'm stuck at my dinner table for 7 hours a day.

Surely if it was about productivity we'd all be paid per piece and projects etc rather than by the hour. In my view if you're contracted to work 37.5 hours - you work them. As much as I don't want to haha!!

My hours take me much longer to do because I do stop and start by I do them. Saying 'oh I got loads done so just did 5 hours today' wouldn't cut it.

No, I hang out laundry, tidy toddler detritus, go for walks, today I went for a swim.

This sounds great😂 my cousin would often take the tube into Oxford Street and do some shopping. No clue how she ever managed that as she has an important job in the council on the planning the builds of houses. She always had her work phone on her so I guess they could reach her whenever🤷‍♀️

I’d feel absolutely terrified just leaving the house and going off places having fun while on work time! Don’t know how anyone does that and enjoys it. Unless you don’t really need your jobs or feel there’s no way you’d get fired?

I do my hours but will take regular breaks to get a cup of tea or wander round the garden for a minute. I feel this actually makes me more productive. If I sat for hours and hours in one position I’d be hugely grumpy and uncomfortable. I used to do the same when in the office. Think I actually get more work done from home as I can concentrate better! But do miss chats with my colleagues.

For me it's about getting the work done to a high standard not about the hours . But I guess it depends on different jobs. Never seen the point of being at my desk with nothing to do . I do the work and when it's quiet I do some gardening . If it's busy I don't leave my desk. Each day is different.

For some jobs, the role involves doing X, Y, Z and meetings.

Person A may need 30 hours to complete x-Z, with 7 hours of meetings over the week. Person B will still do the 7 hours of meetings, but they get the other tasks done in 25 hours. Person C does it in 20 hours.

Why sit and twiddle your thumbs at your desk for 5 hours a week because you are more efficient than Person A (who the company is equally as happy with)?

I WFH ft and I have 2 jobs with the same organisation. 2 days I am an advisor on a helpline so yes a bit tied to the desk as there are long periods sometimes waiting for a call and the calls themselves can be quite long/ take a lot of writing up. Then 3 days mngt role which is a bit more flexible but still need to be available for meetings and consults. So those days bit more flex could take a longer lunch but I prefer to finish by 5. I can hang out washing and do light life admin those days. I find that a helpful balance. I started on 5 days 2 different helplines that was intense!

@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I can see what you mean for some jobs, but in mine the work doesn’t ever run out, there is always more to do!

in your scenario it would be a bit surprising if there were really no other projects or colleagues people B and C could be assisting in their spare hours

[quote Stayingstrongish]@BernadetteRostankowskiWolowitz I can see what you mean for some jobs, but in mine the work doesn’t ever run out, there is always more to do!

in your scenario it would be a bit surprising if there were really no other projects or colleagues people B and C could be assisting in their spare hours[/quote]
This. I suppose if your role is very much about just receiving work that someone else gives you and nothing more then the A/B/C scenario might work, but if anyone in my team had 17.5 hours capacity each week they would be expected to help out in another team, or take on work from elsewhere in the organisation, or we’d be looking at whether all three roles were needed. My role involves generating/developing work for the team so I would certainly be able to
find something that would enable them to work the hours they’re paid for. I’m that people go shopping in core hours - how on earth do you take an unscheduled Teams call and share screens if you’re in M&S?

As a manager I know who is working at home and who isn’t. But it’s difficult to address. It will matter in the long run for opportunities, salary increases and promotions.
We’re all back 40% but through HR now have one member of my team back 100% as he did nothing at home and one in around 20% as she has relocated and she’s very productive wherever she works from.

I couldn’t boast of not working my hours or my daughter doing the same. It’s essentially fraud. And as someone who has worked all the way through raising my sons I have no regrets. I’ve been lucky to do some part time and had flexibility to work some hours in the evenings so I could be around when it mattered. But both sons now both have strong work ethics. And I’ve achieved a lot. And no I’m not a mega earner.

Re the not working full hours : I’ve had jobs where I’ve been able to finish the work in about 5 hours/day (not WFH) - and so created additional projects. The reason for this was more experience/efficient way of working vs my predecessor

I left that job for a better/higher paying one, but I think if someone experienced doesn’t really want to progress that might be a fair trade off …

My day is very chilled! Especially towards the end of each academic term. I often have time to get washes on, food prepped, sometimes do a gym class.
All my work and meetings are definitely prioritised and I don't slack on anything that needs doing.
But I have time left over, so much so that I'm taking on a Masters soon!
I get to go into the office once a week which is good as it's a change of tempo and makes me appreciate wfh more. But we will never return full time to the office

Switch on laptop at 8:30am and switch off at 5pm. All tasks get completed but I sort washing, ironing, prepare dinner for the family, Zumba via YouTube, a walk at lunchtime - but I’m always available. In an ideal world, I would completely get away from the laptop and phone to enjoy a more relaxed walk or leisure pursuit and just make up the time in the evenings if I had to (as a self employed person might do). But, hey ho, I know I’m lucky…

Reflecting a bit more on this and I think what I also find difficult is spending so much time sitting at a screen is sort of limiting how I spend my evenings too - There are two online courses I would love to get into but the last thing I want to do after work is spend longer in front of a computer! I put off life admin stuff too because I can't face opening the laptop again after teatime.

I suppose if I had more of a mix of time away from the screen I would feel differently, but I don't currently see a good way to achieve that. I may also be fretting slightly about my decision to take a well-paid and secure job with a good pension and forego any dreams of a fully flexible freelance and/or outdoor career. In my heart of hearts I probably know that structure and stability suits me much better, but I can't help feeling a bit like I've handcuffed myself to this job/computer screen for the rest of my working days I'm keeping my fingers crossed that a bit more variety will emerge the further away from the pandemic we manage to get...

I’m the same..I don’t want to do anything which involves sitting down or looking at a computer in the evenings! I walk most evenings, even though it’s just around the streets in the dark!

What helps is I have a very active, sociable job which I do at the weekends for six hours…

@YellowDahlia: I started a v long hours job WFH in lockdown one and got v sick of the long hours chained to a laptop- I’ve since moved job for one with much more reasonable hours. I felt v cooped up and chained to my desk all day, plus hard to switch off at night as company had a real long hours culture

Sounds like trying to break up the day would help you most mentally

What helped me:

• a v set routine with exercise in the morning (including walks outside some days, sometimes with company) so I’d feel like I had ‘me’ time before work
• a set afternoon break (about 30 mins) - mostly doing chores
• meals eaten away from desk
• when any opportunity being active (stepping in front of a screen was my most practical choice)

I occasionally work in another spot for 1-2 hours

The most helpful thing tbh though is meeting up with others locally for lunch/coffee. I usually meet an ex colleague who lives nearby for lunch once a week, a neighbour also hates WFH so we sometimes have lunch on a Friday

A lunchtime gym/yoga class or anything else that is social might help too

If you have no friends locally, maybe plan 1-2 days a week where you have a longer lunch break & go out somewhere- which breaks things up. Or do some calls outside etc

I now work somewhere with a much more reasonable work expectation and I’m a lot happier for it

Do you have any local friends or neighbours who’d be open to meeting up during the week? A lot of people find it hard and isolating so you’re not the only one!

I do a lot of things like empty the washer / dishwasher / hang out the washing. I do this mainly when on calls when I don’t need the video on. I also walk up and down the landing getting steps in as my back started hurting in lockdown 1 and I needed to get away from my chair. I do plenty of work over and above my targets as I manage a large team so being on calls is part of my job. When I do overtime which is processing work on Saturdays I barely get out of my chair and I realise how much harder that is. So I always encourage my staff to take regular breaks

People are going to the shops, having naps, going to the gym, doing Zumba online?????? Man what do you people do for a living? I work from home two days a week, and yes, I actually work, not toss it off. No wonder it's known as 'Shirking from Home'. Employers should read this thread and then get all you skivers back to the office full time

I get everything I need to done.

Sometimes I work a bit longer to have a bit more of a mince about the next day.

I'm targeted at sales so I hit my sales targets but I'm capped so once I hit my cap I do sit back because I can.

Swings and roundabouts as they say.

If it needs doing I will work longer/harder to get it done but it's one of those jobs it's not all go all the time.

@Pebble55

People are going to the shops, having naps, going to the gym, doing Zumba online?????? Man what do you people do for a living? I work from home two days a week, and yes, I actually work, not toss it off. No wonder it's known as 'Shirking from Home'. Employers should read this thread and then get all you skivers back to the office full time

I agree. Some of the posts on here are bizarre - what on earth were the people doing Zumba classes and going shopping doing with all that free time when they were in the office? Sticking on a washing while the kettle boils while you’re wfh at home is one thing - but what some of you are describing is just plain skiving.

Been wfh for 2 years now and I am at my desk working all day apart from getting up to get a drink, go to the loo or go for lunch.

I have to be available to answer the phone so cannot do anything else (not that I would anyway). I work for a charity and don't think much of employees who waste the company's time, especially if their wages are effectively 'donations' to the charity by the public.

Fortunately, most of us work super hard...

I will happily take a few short breaks during the day to deal with laundry/go for a walk depending on how busy I am. If I have to join a meeting where I don’t really have to contribute I will take my laptop down to the kitchen and prep dinner at the same time. But I also start earlier because no travel time and work later if I have to - so it’s more about being flexible than skiving! I will also do what a pp said and time walks with internal calls if I can.

[quote BeanStew22]@YellowDahlia: I started a v long hours job WFH in lockdown one and got v sick of the long hours chained to a laptop- I’ve since moved job for one with much more reasonable hours. I felt v cooped up and chained to my desk all day, plus hard to switch off at night as company had a real long hours culture

Sounds like trying to break up the day would help you most mentally

What helped me:

• a v set routine with exercise in the morning (including walks outside some days, sometimes with company) so I’d feel like I had ‘me’ time before work
• a set afternoon break (about 30 mins) - mostly doing chores
• meals eaten away from desk
• when any opportunity being active (stepping in front of a screen was my most practical choice)

I occasionally work in another spot for 1-2 hours

The most helpful thing tbh though is meeting up with others locally for lunch/coffee. I usually meet an ex colleague who lives nearby for lunch once a week, a neighbour also hates WFH so we sometimes have lunch on a Friday

A lunchtime gym/yoga class or anything else that is social might help too

If you have no friends locally, maybe plan 1-2 days a week where you have a longer lunch break & go out somewhere- which breaks things up. Or do some calls outside etc

I now work somewhere with a much more reasonable work expectation and I’m a lot happier for it

Do you have any local friends or neighbours who’d be open to meeting up during the week? A lot of people find it hard and isolating so you’re not the only one![/quote]
All helpful suggestions @BeanStew22 thank you!

I certainly feel a bit more positive about it all as a result of this thread - I don't feel I'm wasting time and I'm also glad I'm not 100% glued to the screen, but I think a bit of variation (outside, another room, standing desk etc) might help.

It would be nice to meet someone at lunchtime, I do sometimes meet a local friend for a walk and hopefully we can resume that soon.

I'm choosing to see the positives a lot more than I was a few days ago - mainly being close to my garden is the best thing, and I've spent some time this weekend sprucing up the outdoor seating areas so they're a bit more welcoming when I'm able to take breaks and go outside.

Appreciate all the constructive advice on here, thanks MN