WFH/ Remote only people how are you getting on?

[xxcatcatcatxx]

Just curious really now WFH/ remote positions are a bit more established

Do you ever miss the office?
What’s your routines like?
Can you distinguish now between home and work life?

Do you see many other people in a work day?
Can you really see yourself doing this forever?
Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc

I started a new role which is fully work from home (I go to the office about once a month but it is in London so not commutable for me to ‘pop in’)

I love the new role, but I think I would prefer the option to go in once a week or so. I miss office chit chat and seeing people that aren’t my immediate friends / family. I also have to try a lot more to be productive at home - it happens naturally in the office.

But there are huge benefits for me - I exercise every morning, go on big walks at lunch and finish at 5 to do chores / go for a walk.I also don’t have any commute costs which is a significant saving.

im very strict in logging off on time as much as possible, and once I’m logged off I don’t check emails etc. I also go for a walk after work to mentally check out.

I would like to stay in this role for the foreseeable future (particularly as we’re TTC and it would make drop offs / pick ups super easy) but long long term I can see myself wanting to be back in an office at some point. Absolutely not every day though!

Do you ever miss the office? No

What’s your routines like? Very good but I've worked hybrid previously for a long time so full WFH is fine.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life? Yes

Do you see many other people in a work day? Yes, I do the school drop off and pick up and have meetings on Teams. Mostly wish I could see less people!

Can you really see yourself doing this forever? Yes

Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc. Yes. My home is my happy place.

Do you ever miss the office?
No

What’s your routines like?
Walk in the morning with the dog feore work, home for breakfast and log in. I usually just grab a quick lunch but sometimes walk to the shop for any essentials. I try to log off on time.
work day involves lots of Teams calls with colleagues.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life?
Yes, when I leave my home office I don’t ho back in until the next morning, and when I’m in there the rest of the family respect my working space and time.

Do you see many other people in a work day?
I see DH as we both grab lunch and sometimes DC if they’re around.

Can you really see yourself doing this forever?
Absolutely, as an introvert it suits me perfectly, but it helps that my employer is fully set up to support this way of woekong practically and culturally. I’ve just turned down another job offer as it’s mostly office based.

Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc
Yes!

Hello.

I've been WFH full time for about 2 years now. I mostly enjoy it. I have a nice house with with office space and I love the flexibility. I can be my own boss in a sense. I suffer from insomnia and WFH has helped me sleep as I have less pressure to get up to be in the office.

However, I live alone and my partner and friends are in a different city and it can be farking lonely at times. I've never felt so isolated in my life. Ive developed a really serious and worrying form of OCD (TMI to explain) and being alone with my stupid, awful brain is not a good thing for me. So it's really ups and downs.

i get up, hoover downstairs, clear up afternoon breakfast, put a load of washing on and do school run, come home and log on.

I much prefer wfh without a doubt.

it can be very lonely, I can easily go a couple of weeks and not see anyone other than kids and dp…

i always log on early and often log off late which would never happen if I was in the office

I miss the banter a little but we have informal groups on Slack that are for chat and jokes.

I've developed a new routine. I run early in the morning now I don't have to commute, and I go to a regular meetup with other wfh people, on Thursday lunchtimes.

The cut off for me between work and home is easy. I switch browser, switch email, turn off teams. I love wfh, it takes away all the stress of single mumhood/school run/ school holidays etc. Some days I put supper in the slow cooker at lunchtime, and that gains me another hour in the evening. Life is so much easier. I will happily work like this now until I retire.

I love it so much, I've never been happier, more balanced, calmer, better rested. We have blended working, so I go in 2 days a week and am home for 3. The switch off at the end of the day always took time, but I'm boundaried about not checking my laptop and work phoneand I put work things away on weekends and holidays so that my room isn't always a work office.

I love working from home - I am mentally much happier than in the office . It's calm and quiet.

I miss the office once every few months when I feel the need to speak in person about something / to bash some ideas around - that can be arranged so it's not a real problem

My routine is pretty standard - often a short walk before the office , work , wander back downstairs when day is finished

Dh is usually around being a househusband / retired although he spends sometime out in volunteer work , and I see people a few evenings

Also if I am struggling for whatever reason I can go for a run at lunchtime easily

Do you ever miss the office? No
What’s your routines like? Much the same as in the office, but without the commute
Can you distinguish now between home and work life? Yes

Do you see many other people in a work day? Similar to the office, I am constantly on zoom calls which are much better than in an open plan office where it is noisy and there is no privacy to speak freely. My relationships with my colleagues who I collaborate the most and are all remote has developed significantly in the past 2 years. My team is geographically spread and we are closer as a team now as it is much easier to connect.
Can you really see yourself doing this forever? Yes
Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc Yes, due to feeling closer connected.

I've worked from home for nearly 10 years now

Do you ever miss the office? - never
What’s your routines like? - up and dressed by 8, walk the dog for half an hour then make a cuppa and at my desk by 8.45 ish
Can you distinguish now between home and work life? - yes, a dedicated workspace is a must, once I finish work the door gets closed on the office and I don't go back in
Do you see many other people in a work day? - I'm on teams video calls at least 3 times a day, so yes, sort of
Can you really see yourself doing this forever? - yes, would hate to go back into the office even for 2 days a week
Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc - it's helped my mental health. I can keep on-top of my chores, take up yoga on my lunch break, walk the dog, be at home when my dd comes in from school and have a much better work/life balance

What about you Op?

Do you ever miss the office? No
What’s your routines like?
Start and finish earlier than when in office as no commute. Short break for lunch.
Can you distinguish now between home and work life?

Yes I work when I'm working, strict about logging off and then don't think about it again until morning. (Well a little thinking but that would happen if in office)
Do you see many other people in a work day?
Family mostly that's fine with me
Can you really see yourself doing this forever?
I hope so and would probably look for another job if they tried to drag us back to the office.
Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc
Yes I have better mental health being at home in my own calm environment and not on edge being in the office with lots of people and noise and distractions.

I'd like to know

Thanks for the comments guys, you all seem to be getting along quite well for the most part. I’m on maternity at the mo but due to go back in Nov. We do a 2 days in week but deciding whether I want to go in everyday or not.

I feel like I’ve been at home enough over maternity but I’m sure once I’m in the office for a few days that’ll wear off xxx

I had a similar thing after the pandemic! I was a bit fed up of working from home, so then went back in for a couple of days a week. We were soon expected to be back in the office full time and it just wasn't for me anymore. I was much more stressed going in every day, so much so, that I've actually left and found another job where I'm working (almost exclusively) at home.

I love it so far. I don't really have a routine other than my working hours are 9-5ish. I'm very disciplined about getting the work done so I can log off at 5ish, and then not worry about it until the next day.

I like the flexibility of being able to take each day as it comes. I can go for a walk before work if I fancy it, I can deadhead the roses, do a workout or prep dinner at lunch time. I'm then much less stressed when my husband gets in because I'm not getting to a stage where I feel like things are piling up at home while I'm out for 10hrs a day.

We're also TTC so this is part of the plan both for pregnancy and return from mat leave (assuming it all actually happens!).

So in a nutshell, no I don't miss the office, but I do go in every fortnight or so to check in.

I do have boundaries by having a proper work station and am disciplined about walking away.

I see enough people each day, both on Teams for work, and friends/family. In fact, find I have more emotional energy to spend with the people that matter in my life, rather than on colleagues!

I'm not sure I could do it forever, but it definitely suits me best for the foreseeable future. I cannot see myself wanting to go back to an office full time.

Mentally, I feel great. I'm not as tired or as stressed. I can just get on with my work, look after myself and keep on top of the house better. Feels like a win win at the moment!

Been wfh since covid started. Suits me and my family perfectly! I can walk the dog before work, do the school runs in between work, put a wash on & hoover etc. My work is flexi time so I can work the hours that suit me as long as I work 37 hrs per wk. My colleagues without children log in really early (7.30/8am) and log off a lot earlier than they would be able to in the office(3.30/4pm). I am alot less stressed as housework fits around work. Also alot less tired as not constantly rushing around juggling work, home errands, children & housework! We have just been told that we are expected to go into the office 1 day a month which I am delighted about!

I love it but the only issue is finding space. We both wfh and spend a big chunk of the day on the phone so can't really work in the same room. It's been great so far as we have a room each but all things going to plan we will have a second child early next year so need to claim one of the rooms back. One of us working downstairs like we did in our old house was just not comfy for an 8 hour day and you can't just leave all your work stuff set up and shut the door on it at the end of the day which does have an effect mentally.

Do you ever miss the office? No. It's noisy and I can't control the temperature & lighting.

What’s your routines like? Normal - get up, log in, work, finish. Have breaks, lunch etc.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life? Much better. I switch off easier at home, not remote to 'just finish this'

Do you see many other people in a work day? We have Teams meetings but I don't miss being with other people. I love it.
Can you really see yourself doing this forever? I certainly hope so

Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc. Much, much better in fact.

Do you ever miss the office?
No - I was bullied and discriminated against in my last job which caused me to have a breakdown and go on long term sick. Last time in an office was 2019.

What’s your routines like?

I work 9-5 as most of my Teams calls are within that time but sometimes if its a quiet day, I'll be more flexible - I might take a break to go to the shops, do some housework, then catch up with my emails etc later on that night.As long as the work is done, its all fine. I have a lot of external clients from all kinds of organisations and all of them seem to WFH too. I have the radio on in the background playing MY choice of music. I get so much more done. I work at my own pace. I can take breaks. I can avoid office politics. If I don't like someone, then I don't actually have to SEE them every day. I find its better for work relationships that I am not actually seeing people. I save money and time on commuting and rail/petrol/parking costs. I can sleep in a bit longer.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life?

I don't leave the house as much but other than that I know how to switch off.

Do you see many other people in a work day?

My husband, my daughter, my neighours, my parents might pop by after work. And I see people on screen! Very occassionally, like once or twice a year, I still have travel for work meetings so sometimes I do see colleagues or clients.

Can you really see yourself doing this forever?

I wouldn't want to go back to an office job or even hybrid. It pisses me off to see 'remote' jobs that are really hybrid. That's not the same thing!

Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc

Mentally - so much better. Physically - so much fatter!

Do you ever miss the office? No (am supposed to go in twice a month as part time buts it's more like once a month for a half day)

What’s your routines like?
Get up and dressed, get children ready and dressed and drop off at Breakfast Club/Nursery. Come home, may put on the washing machine, make coffee and sit at desk.
During my lunch break I spend half of it sitting in the garden eating and the rest making the evenings dinner/putting away clothes/tidying.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life?

Yes, although my desk is in the living room I cover the screen with a giant photo frame and put the laptop etc in a box.

Do you see many other people in a work day? DH usually works from home so I see him.

Can you really see yourself doing this forever?
Yes

Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc. Absolutely, I like being able to concentrate on my work without the chit chat and disruption of an office. I have friends or colleagues I can speak to over WhatsApp during the day if I want to. Having small children I very much enjoy the peace and quiet and no one needing me. It's also nice being able to go to the loo on my own!

I have WFH permanently since just before the pandemic.

Do you ever miss the office?
No, not at all. WFH suits me very well and I’m saving a fortune on commuting costs.

What’s your routines like?
Set alarm for 8, listen to news on radio, shower, make tea, start work 830, lunch at 1, go for a walk or to the supermarket, finish by 5.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life?
Yes, very easily. I work in my spare room only and close the door when I turn off my laptop.

Do you see many other people in a work day?
Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc
I’m on my own at home which is great. It’s introvert heaven. I sometimes chat to colleagues on Teams and use it for one or two meetings per day.

Can you really see yourself doing this forever?
Not forever, but until I can afford to retire : Yes please! 🙂

Awesome. I’ve been wfh exclusively since 2009 and did it half-time prior to that. I love it and would only go back to an office if I was absolutely desperate.

separation is easy. I sit down at my desk and work until the day is done.

I love it. I'll never go back to an office if I can help it.

I talk to other people at work more than I did when I was in the office. I used to talk to people in the surrounding desks 99% of the time, but now I have Teams chats on the go with a wider range of people, even in other countries.

On the rare occasion I go into the office, I look forward to seeing people but once I'm there I quickly get annoyed with the poor IT, the uncomfortable chairs, and people coming up to me and expecting an instant answer. I usually leave early.

I have a dedicated office area so it's easy to switch between work and home mode.

I actually get annoyed thinking about how many hours of my life I wasted in pointless commuting before COVID.

Actually answering the questions.

Do you ever miss the office? No. Offices were designed by people who have absolutely no consideration for people like me.

What’s your routines like? I get up, drop dd at school, work, pick up dc from school.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life?
easily. I have a dedicated workspace and have to be signed into a secure vpn. I can’t do any work on personal devices so there is no bleed over.

Do you see many other people in a work day?
I occasionally see my DH because he also wfh, but we are both so busy that it’s rare we talk for more than a few seconds.

Can you really see yourself doing this forever? Yes. I’ve gotten promotions and raises and excellent performance reviews as a remote employee. I do extremely well wfh.

Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc. my mental health in an office was awful. They are torturous for people with ASD. I even had a private office. I still hated every single second. I could never relax. At home, I am able to focus and think. I am not in fight or flight mode for the whole day.

Do you ever miss the office?
No, not really. Although I was in recently and it did make me realise how fast the servers are when I'm in the same building compared to remotely!

What’s your routines like?
Drop child off at nursery, start work 8.30/8.45, work until about 12.30 ish for lunch, then either work until 4.30 ish before picking child up from nursery or pick child up after lunch depending if it's one of my half days or whole days. (DH does some nursery runs too but that's the broad picture)

I fit the washing loads in whilst I'm walking round the house to make a cuppa etc. and pop into a shop on the way to/from nursery if needed. Sometimes I'm able to prep stuff for dinner whilst making lunch, which is a bonus.

Can you distinguish now between home and work life?
Yes, I have a separate office that I can close the door on at the end of the day. Although I do have a bad habit of taking my phone with me and checking it even on my afternoons off!

Do you see many other people in a work day?
Depends on the day. Some days I have a few Teams calls and they're 50/50 whether they're camera on or not. 90% of the time DH works from home too so we have lunch together too.

Can you really see yourself doing this forever?
I'd love to but work are pushing for hybrid working. I've managed to limit it to the odd half day in the office every few weeks. They want 3 in the office. I'm hoping to limit it to once a week.

Do you feel mentally ok with being home all day etc
Most of the time, yes. Occasionally if I've been working on a particular project where I just have to get my head down and I don't have any meetings, I do notice it after a few days and catch myself chatting more whenever I do get anyone on the phone! Mostly though I'm an introvert and on balance the odd lonely day is far better than how often I used to come home feeling "over inputted" - especially now I have a lively 3 yr old at home!

I've worked from home for over 5 years so before covid made it more common.
Never miss the office would never go back to working in one. I also like if I'm feeling bit so great or having a bad day I don't have to worry about putting on a front or talking to people. Also don't have office politics and the like. It was my dream role when I got it and years on I still love it.