How do you make WFH bearable?

[gotthearse]

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

Def look up coworking spaces nearby or even just go into a coffee shop. I’ve been WFH for 3 years and that’s how I manage. It’s always worse in the winter as well so remember it’ll probably improve soon!

I love it now but hated it 20 years ago when I was freelancing due to the isolation, so I understand.

Do you have any friends or family who WFH? I have a lunchtime phone call once a week with a friend. Next week I'm driving to hers at lunchtime one day and we will work 'together' in the afternoon.

My team has a Friday virtual lunch where we don't talk about work but just natter.

Getting out of the house every day is really important.

I try to make sure I go out at least one evening a week (I found a great meetup group that is unusually weekday evenings - this week I went to a pub quiz with them).

A sociable hobby is good. I've just joined a weekly group doing something new that is way out of my comfort zone but looks fun. First time next week.

I'd make sure that I had interaction with people, schedule a coffee, phone call and/or after work drink with a friend. If you can't do that regularly then make sure you at least get our anyway for a coffee or something so you are interacting with people, get your nails done? Gym? Do you have any colleagues or friends nearby who also WFH? Maybe do one day a week together? I feel you OP, I would hate this

Schedule some social interaction into each day - a walk with a friend, a quick coffee, evening activities.

hybrid suits me best. I thought I would love wfh but I really look forward to the days when I’m in the office and am with my lovely colleagues.

I go and sit in a cafe everyday for a break with my laptop.
I'm more productive that way

When I worked in an office I’d do all my weekly exercise alone and value alone time in cafes etc.
now I wfh I make sure to exercise in social groups and meet people for coffees. I get my person to person interactions away from my work.

Log into an accountability room on zoom or suchlike great way to bounce ideas off people. I've been doing it since before lockdown and it feels like you are in an office. There are voice ones too if you don't like video on, it are likely to forget. I use one on Heartbeat and sometimes on Zoom.

This is like reading about another species 😂 Honestly can't imagine not loving being on my own - the idea of shared zooms etc with strangers makes me feel shuddery!

Fwiw though OP i appreciate obviously it's hard for you which is what matters. When my kids were little and I was studying I'd regularly go to the local large coffee shop and do a few hours work there - there were always other people doing it and spare tables. I wouldn't do it in a small local cafe for example.

I have been known to put the Parliament Channel on with the sound down. They are all at work! It sounds mad but it seems to do the trick.

You need to break your day up. 20 minute work tasks/chores, 5 minutes relax...

I go for a walk at lunch
Try to walk at lunch with other wfh friends who are free.
Message friends sometimes during the day
Have a group hobby once a week to look forward to
Remember a previous job where I had to drive miles daily and worked 12 hour days and was never home!
Have a good book on the go

Understand where you're coming from though it can be a drag.

I have set myself up a lovely office which no one else in the house ever goes into (there not barred 😂 there’s just no need for anyone else to come in really!) and I look forward to going in there because I’ve got a good set up.
I always light a candle and usually play a podcast in the background.
I am really strict about taking a full lunch break, either going out for a walk or a swim or spin class and make sure I have lunch prepared so I don’t just end up eating crisps.
There are places you might be able to take a laptop and sit and work so you don’t feel totally alone If you really hate it.
It’s not for everyone and I don’t always love it when work is slow because I feel unproductive but that would be the case whether i was in the office or at home but I do one day a week in the office which is nice.

Oh wow, loads more ideas. Thank you all!! I love the idea of the on line buddy and will check this out. I have found a mid week yoga class to join and have been going for a walk in the woods/ nature reserve across the road, which does have a little cafe with a woodburner to sit by (I'd never been in, as it's so close I'd always just come home for a coffee).

I've only really got two friends, and they aren't close enough to see at lunch. The old office job was my life for a long time, and now that's gone much of my social network went with it, mostly people haven't stayed in touch. I'll have to work on building that back up over time. Lesson learned on that front. I'm going to ask on my local FB if anyone else in a similar position would like to do the walk/coffee thing.

If you like dogs then there’s a site called Borrow My Doggy where you can register and basically borrow a dog belonging to someone in your area. Great for getting out for a walk and for meeting other dog walkers you can chat to.

I do borrow my doggy had one today from 2:30 to 4:30 had a great stomp round the woods

I’m in exactly the same position. I work for a great, flexible company that many would dream of. I’m just so lonely & bored. I really miss banter, chit chat & just people.

I can’t change it at the minute as it suits my set up, I can Drop & pick my DD at school every day & get Fridays off.

I just want a laugh every now & again, it’s what makes my life better. I have an elder cat & dog with me that sleep all day so it’s just silence and snoring EVERY day!

When I worked in the office, when walking my dog, I’d quickly chat to people then have to go as I was so busy but now, I’m literally talking their heads off as it’s the only time I’ve seen a person all day!

i worked with people all through covid and it was all a bit of a nightmare so I’m loving working from home. I make myself a nice little breakfast in the morning, I force myself out at lunch for a walk. I’m doing a really tedious project at the moment so I’ve been taking myself to the library in the afternoon saying that I’ll get x,y and Z done there between 2pm and 5pm. It just breaks up the day if you feel your being unproductive.