Feeling guilty for being unproductive

[SallySooo]

Hi I am working in the financial services industry and sometimes work from home. Today I am wfh and have not achieved much AT ALL. I feel so guilty. It is partly to do with the fact that it was quite a busy weekend filled with lots of wider family obligations and I think I just couldn’t focus. I also had to help a brand new cleaning lady understand things around the house and so I was up and down from my chair all morning. Now kids are coming back home shortly from school and it will be even harder to get on with things. So so guilt ridden. Please tell me I’m not alone and that this sort of thing happens to others… I do think that if it wasn’t a desk job it would probably be better as I would have less ability to slack

Can you do some tonight? Set yourself one task that you can complete in an hour? Write a to do list and highlight which tasks you’ll complete tomorrow (keeping it realistic)? I usually start with easy to achieve tasks I can complete quickly to ease myself in.

I don’t think the odd unproductive day in the office or at home is unusual (I have rare visit to the office next week and expect to be distracted all day).

Don’t feel guilty as long as there’s nothing urgent you’ve ignored. The odd unproductive day whether you’re at home or in the office is acceptable for everyone.
I’m wfh today and have bounced around a few things but not finished anything, but also it’s a quiet time for us so I’m not under any pressure (for a nice change!) So have taken advantage and caught up on some training videos in the garden.

Thank you! I think the heat has not helped.. home office is roasting

Oh FFS don't let Jacon Rees Morgan see this 😂

We all have "off" days, even if we're in the office! Don't beat yourself up and crack on tomorrow.

That’s the reason why companies are stopping wfh, they are realising loads of ppl are very unproductive. So you are not alone, there are people who do nothing for months… however it gets found out, depending of course on your manager. A day is not great deal especially if you can then recover during the week, but you need to be careful it does not become an habit as it might affect your job and your teams. Policies to go back to the office 5 days a week get applied to everybody and affect the majority who is very productive at home especially women with kids who can really do with no commuting and not wasting time at the water cooler

I don’t think the odd unproductive day is too much of a problem as long as you are meeting your deadlines/targets.
I work from home 2 days a week and love my “ bare minimum Mondays “ it sets me up for the rest of the week and puts me in super productive mode for the days I’m in the office 😀 Retiring next year so that helps too! My manager is happy to leave me to get on with it any way that works for me.

Just look at their financial results and feel ok with not doing anything

That’s why I prefer to go into the office every day. Thankfully a short commute and there are spaces you can take yourself to work away from immediate area if you need a bit of quiet. I find way too many distractions at home. An odd off day hopefully hurt though.

Don’t worry about the odd day- happens to everyone.

If it’s happening more then maybe your set up at home isn’t conducive to productivity ? Easier said than done but the cleaner sounds very distracting.

Since wfh I have more unproductive days than not. But when I have a productive day I more than make up for it. Yesterday I wrote a complete training presentation with notes. Normally that would take at least a week in the office with all the distractions there.

I have worked at home for around 10 years. Its common whether you are at home or in the office to have less productive days. I don't feel guilty..o super productive days I start early finish late and sometimes have very limited lunch. Swings and roundabouts...no need for guilt!

I am WFH today as had my child's sports day this morning. I took my laptop, had a meeting during his activities but let's be honest, it was my most productive morning. As long as it's not every day a one off is OK.

I get like this some days. It isn't very often so I pass it off an an 'off' day and start fresh tomorrow.

Were you always super productive 100% on when you were in the office? Never had a day where you stared at your screen / had too many coffees / went to meetings you realised too late you didn't need to be there? Ended up chatting to Steve in the kitchen?

We all have unproductive days. One day is no biggie. Months of being unproductive, whether you are WFH or in the office is a problem.