Active discussions

Meet the Other Phone. Flexible and made to last.

Meet the Other Phone.
Flexible and made to last.

Buy now

Please or to access all these features

Talk
Work

Chat with other users about all things related to working life on our Work forum.

Original poster

How do you make WFH bearable?

42 replies

gotthearse · 31/01/2024 19:17

I have quite long spells with no meetings or contact. I know for some this would be a dream come true but it's my worst nightmare.

I'm lonely and sad and the days are long and grey. I love the warmth, humour and camaraderie of the office, I love to come home at the end of the day having been out and done something.

The WFH is my only viable option for me to earn what I need at the moment. My work is a bit niche and so local opportunities where it's feasible to 'go in' are rare. So for now I have to make the best of it while I figure out what to do in the longer term.

If you are like me, how do you make it tolerable? Thanks x

OP posts:
RiceR1ceBaby · 31/01/2024 19:23

Sympathy - I know what this feels like. Make midweek evening plans (an exercise class/ choir/ see friends) to counter the quiet day.
put the radio on in the background
get out for a walk in the morning or at lunch, bonus points if it’s somewhere with lots of people to get the buzz
carve your tasks up into two-hour chunks and make sure you plan what you’ll do on your break otherwise you sort of slump into the day and get unproductive
following with interest for other tips!

EmpressaurusOfTheScathingTinsel · 31/01/2024 19:23

On WFH days I make sure I get out & see people at some point, usually a pre-work gym session, evening yoga class or just a visit to the coffee shop over the road.

Do you have any pets? I foster cats & they’re brilliant company when working.

MedievalNun · 31/01/2024 19:25

I have the option to WFH if I need to for any reason. I usually have a couple of set points when I touch base with the lady I job-share with- when we''re checking the joint in-box we have a chat on speaker via whatsapp so we can co-ordinate and if it's something that can be resolved with a quick phone call do that instead of an email - there's only us two in our office space so if one isn't in even the office gets a bit lonely! We also chat around lunchtime as I finish at 1pm.

Would something similar work with your colleagues? We found that by talking instead of just firing off an email we work better as well as lessening the feeling of loneliness.

DreadPirateRobots · 31/01/2024 19:25

Do you have any co-working spaces locally? Taking a desk there could be an option which would get you company and camaraderie.

Taking a walk at the start and end of your day - a "fake commute" - helps to delineate the day. For productivity, I'd suggest a) the Pomodoro technique or similar and b) creating accountability for yourself - if you have a work friend, ask them to check in with you at the end of every day and hold you accountable on whether you've done the specific things you set out to do that day. Or do it with your boss - "Boss, I'm going to send you the first draft of the presentation by 5pm today".

Minimum85percentCocoa · 31/01/2024 19:25

This might be a bit weird but during lockdown I used to find YouTube videos of office sounds. It helped me feel like I was in an office while I was working. (You do soon notice they’re on a loop but it can be quite funny listening out for certain things

LifeOfBriony · 31/01/2024 19:28

A neighbour has her own business and works from home. She has organised some meet-ups with other local people who exclusively or mainly wfh. Might this help you?

Ikeawarrior · 31/01/2024 19:30

I do things like watch you tube videos, listen to pod casts or put the radio on just to have that kind of conversational background noise going on.

Get out every day - even if it's just a walk on your break etc. Are you able to just randomly ring colleagues for a chat? I felt so awkward doing that when I first started this job (was totally new to a WFH team). But now I think nothing of phoning colleagues just to ask what they had for dinner last night 😂

Unexpecteddrivinginstructor · 31/01/2024 19:30

I have worked at home for years. Try to find other home workers and meet them occasionally for walks, coffee etc. I am lucky in being able to manage my own timetable too so very flexible but some of my friends have less flexibility so we just go for a lunchtime walk sometimes.

decionsdecisions62 · 31/01/2024 19:32

I go out for a run, have a shower, feed animals, work, break for lunch, work, finish, It's heaven. What's not to like. No crappy travelling, no office politics.

coxesorangepippin · 31/01/2024 19:33

In the same boat as you op

I make sure I get out every day, for a walk or to see friends for a coffee/chat

Easier in summer because I can go bike riding

SideshowAuntSallyx · 31/01/2024 22:16

I take a late lunch and go to the gym or for a walk depending on if I've done a gym class that morning.

Occasionally I'll put the radio on, I'll give a friend a call once a week and we have a good old natter. I go and see my parents in my lunch break sometimes as well.

Original poster
gotthearse · 01/02/2024 19:22

Thanks everyone there are some great suggestions here. I'm going to see if any locals want a lunchtime coffee and stroll. Might not come to owt but worth a try.

OP posts:
Hmmmmaybe · 01/02/2024 19:24

Co working space definitely

havw you got a teams chat?

Pourmeacupofhope · 01/02/2024 19:43

Do you have a local library? I've worked from there (when not wrangling my loopy toddlers) and it's a nice change of scene, general hum of quiet activity and WiFi/charging points. Our little library is very good and has meeting rooms for use if taking a call/zoom meeting.

SM4713 · 01/02/2024 19:48

Do you have any colleagues in the company OP? Can you set up a whats app group to discuss your work through the day when needed? Do you have a garden or balcony to sit on and work from sometimes? Join nextdoor.com and look for luncheon clubs, walking groups or hobbies in your area.

judy776 · 01/02/2024 19:54

I have the opposite issue, how do I make going into the office bareable, on the very rare days I'm forced to go in for a pointless meeting. The 2 hours of stuck in traffic, overheated office, people talking at me all day. I'm team wfh every day!

GellerYeller · 01/02/2024 20:02

Do you have to be at your desk at certain times? Can you compress your hours, work through breaks and finish early with something nice planned?
I carve up the day into chunks otherwise.
Our local has a work from the pub scheme, with coffee and light lunches provided. Anything like that near you?
Otherwise I occasionally take my full lunch break and go to the shop/walk round the block. Clears the head and a bit of vitamin D for a mood boost.

BarelyLiterate · 01/02/2024 20:05

I have WFH FT for the last four years. After many years in the hell of open-plan offices, it’s introvert heaven. Whenever I’m asked about it, I always say that it wouldn’t suit everyone, but it does suit me. Obviously, the reality is that you are one of the people WFH doesn’t suit, so the only real solution is to get a different job.

If that really isn’t an option, do you have any friends or colleagues who also WFH who would like to keep you company? You could go over to theirs or vice versa. Could you work in a cafe at least some of the time? Is there a local remote working hub where you could go & work there? Do you get out of the house at lunchtimes? I always go for a walk or to the gym or supermarket to get away from the screen & get out of the house. I also have the radio on all day, plus a news channel on my iPad with the sound turned down.

C1N1C · 01/02/2024 20:10

Set away, get a mouse mover, go to the gym :)

Mintearo7 · 01/02/2024 20:12

I usually listen to a light hearted podcast when making lunch or when I go for a walk. The chatting makes me feel like I’m with people.

maddiemookins16mum · 01/02/2024 22:07

Music. Podcasts. A walk at lunchtime. Sometimes I pop to the Community Cafe for a cuppa during my lunch break.
In the summer I potter in the garden for an hour. Today I did an online workout.

2024horizons · 02/02/2024 03:59

Focus Mate! I could not be without it. I have done about 1500 sessions since the Pandemic.

LaPalmaLlama · 02/02/2024 04:08

I run with friends two mornings before work and in the evening with another friend on another day. Wfh still sucks a bag of dicks ( is also freelance which I think is worse) but it is what it is for now. Just done a week-long overseas work trip with actual humans and I feel so energised.

IMO radio on all day just makes it worse- when you start to feel like Chris Evans, Vasos and Rachel are your actual coworkers and you actually know them. 🤣.

Punxsatawnyphil · 02/02/2024 05:41

I love wfh compared to the office so not in your shoes. I listen to podcasts all day whilst working. It's like having people in the office with me but i can pause it if i need to concentrate. If the weather is good, I like a walk before work or lunch and go to the gym after work. At breaks I'll do a cleaning chore or dinner prep to save me time at the weekend.

MariaVT65 · 02/02/2024 05:51

I wfh and do miss office life. I do feel lonely. The only things that get me through:

-Knowing it is necessary for me atm, so I have no commute and I can pick my kids up from nursery.

-It enables me to do some errands during my lunchbreak, or do some exercise.

-It was nice in a previous role not to be working f2f with a manager who was bullying me.

If i didn’t have kids though, i’d definitely go into the office and move to a different company.