Brain dead from working at home

[AuntieMeemz]

I am very lucky that I have been able to keep my job since early on in the pandemic, however, sitting at my dining room table 8 hours every days for years is the pits! I log on thinking 'how do I get through another 8 hours'. it's audio work so I can't really listen to anything and can't really learn a language as I have to keep stopping and starting. I also have to concentrate intently,so am very tired at the end of the day.
I remember years ago when i was expecting our youngest, I was on a group 'due in April 05', and daily was reduced to tears of laughter! I often had to leave the room (IT company, and I was in a room with around 100 guys!), and go and laugh until I cried in the loo!).
I get up frequently but to be honest, doing the washing up etc, is only marginally less boring that my job.
Is anyone else in the same boat? how do you deal with this?

Sounds awful!!!!! I hate WFH.
I would join lunchtime clubs like tennis or running or gym. And maybe work in a coffee shop or coworking space.

A lot of my friends say similar, they hate working from home but when they go into the office it's pointless as the rest of the team are all at home. Many have left for lower paid roles but that are out of the house or for companies who allow hybrid working but clearly stipulate the requirement to be in the office for x days. Not sure of the solution beyond that though sadly.

Yes!

Luckily my work is quite flexible, so I've got into the routine of dropping the kids off, going to a cafe and working there for an hour, then heading home working until lunch, then go to a gym class, then home again for more work, then back out to pick the kids up.

But honestly I'd rather just be working in an office with other people.

I also find being at home means all the clothes washing, dishes, pick ups, drop offs, and dinners fall on me. Because I'm there, whereas DHs commute means he's out the house 7.30-6.30 so 'can't help'

I love WFH as I hated the daily commute & I prefer the comfort of my own surroundings to fluorescent lights & large open plan offices. What works for some doesn't work for others though!

I'm not sure what you mean by the "due in April 05" group. Was that with work colleagues?

It sounds like maybe part of the issue is the job itself as you describe that as "boring" - would it be more interesting if you did it in an office?

I agree with the suggestions of finding a lunchtime club & a change of scenery.

I'd also suggest making a dedicated work space if you can, or at least getting an office chair, as working 8 hours in a dining chair was not at all comfortable!

Yeah I can wfh and really don’t enjoy it. But the extra time with the kids without a commute is great. When I do go in there’s nobody else there!

I love working from home. You can shape your day to be more for you. I do the school run and drive the kids to after school activities. I got more time to make dinner.

Volunteer in the local community, at your kids' school. Join local running, walking or cycling group. Join the gym or swim. Find something you like to do and get active in it.

Will def think about changing my day a bit, and doing a lunch time swim or something.
AwkwardPaws27 it was a group for mums expecting in April 2005- best laugh I've had in my life!

kegofcoffee -you've got this, might take a few of your ideas! Like you, I find the housework gets left to me, as I'm the only one home, who has to step over all the stuff!

WFH would have been an absolute godsend when the children were young, but now they are teenagersit's no use!

I'm thining I will start a thread called 'keeping sane and working from home'.

I've just registered with an animal fostering place near here too, and might eventually have a short term pet.

Do you have any shared workspaces near you? Even just going in two days a week might break things up a bit! Or if role allows, work from cafe for a few mornings. I felt the same about WFH and do think the only solution is getting out into the world.

i'm similar, i mostly enjoy WFH but my god it's hard to motivate myself sometimes and the days bleed into each other. Some days i barely move from my bed to the front room and that can be a bit depresssing but i'm lucky in that i have really busy days and weekend to balance it out.

My theory is that everything you do in life has it's good bits and its crappy bits so i just try and suck up the monotony and appreciate the better bits of life (like not commuting.) It's not always easy though.

Sounds like the job is the issue more than the location. My job is really varied, interesting context, lots of virtual meetings, I chat to people in messenger. It's very fulfilling, not having to commute far outweighs the infrequent benefits of working in the office.

I WFH mostly and it does get tedious. Plus I changed job after Covid so everyone else who WFH knows each other & have online chats, you are just forgotten about. Out of sight out of mind.

There is an office I can go to but once again, teams arrange to meet up certain days and you just get treated like a bad smell in the corner. WFH is better than that...