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Original poster

Anybody else struggle with working from home?

361 replies

staranise · 16/06/2008 16:45

As in, I'm meant to be working right now and am paying a fortune in childcare to enable me to do so but just can't get motivated, especially when I work sitting on my bed plus keep jumping up and down to put another load of washing on, tidy up some toys etc etc.

I normaly ban MN on work days but feeling weak today...

Wouldlove some colleagues to keep me focussed...

OP posts:
PortBlacksandResident · 30/06/2008 14:28

Thanks Hatty! Although i'm not sure what PortandLemon would make of us on her settee .

Sad thing is i'm not taking many commissions at the mo so some of the stuff i'm doing is to sell on after - this makes it even harder to get motivated.

PortBlacksandResident · 30/06/2008 14:30

I don't think them not having a routine will make so much difference. The places are the same aren't they - just the days that differ. They probably don't even notice that.

Will it be easier when they're at preschool?

hattyyellow · 30/06/2008 14:39

They are at pre-school one morning already, but that's useless as far as working goes as it's only 2 and a bit hours.

thumbwitch · 30/06/2008 14:49

Am totally with Boco on this one - and bouncingblueberries, you need to ban mumsnet totally until you have achieved at least half of what you meant to do in the day as it is all too easy to lose 4 hours to it and then wonder where the day went?!

I can do half of my job from home successfully because I have clients coming here, so no choice in concentrating. But my other job (which I am technically on maternity leave for but there isn't anyone else to do part of it so am still doing it from home) it is very hard to get on with, especially with a very cute but demanding nearly 7mo DS around all the time. In fact, I should be writing a news summary right now, not asnwering this thread...

thebecster · 30/06/2008 15:26

Am in need of kick up the arse too, after thinking I'd cracked it as had a really productive day on Thursday. Am going to put my laptop in a case & head to a cafe - I often get more done in a place where I have no MN, no TV, and no excuse to leave my chair! If it doesn't work, save me some strawberries

PortBlacksandResident · 01/07/2008 13:47
pickie · 01/07/2008 13:59

Here is another one that should be working! Great thread, will have to pick up kids in half and hour and still havent sorted out my homepage (for some reason it wont let me add spaces to paragraphs and kicks me out of the system so thought lets see what's going on on MN!)

laundrylover · 01/07/2008 14:07

God, I've done nothing today! Think we should post on here when we've actually achieved something!!

Saying that I am going to try and get a haircut as am going to a client's tomorrow and look a state.

Somebody post a task that they have completed and inspire me!! Has to be work related though as I have pegged out two loads of washing beautifully but not earned any pennies for it.

PussinWellies · 01/07/2008 16:21

Looks like nobody completed a thing then....

thumbwitch · 01/07/2008 16:29

have managed 2 massages today and written half an article, does that count?

edam · 01/07/2008 16:32

I had a driving lesson... but I was really productive yesterday, honest guv!

pickie · 01/07/2008 16:33

I filed all my paperwork away, posted 2 claims and managed to sort out the front page text on my site (little white lie, my web designer did it but it looks much better now!!) oh and I have eaten half a loaf of banana cake so who can beat that then

PortBlacksandResident · 01/07/2008 17:19

I have an excuse as it was DSs sports day today. Back to it tomorrow!

PussinWellies · 01/07/2008 17:21

I have done my June invoices...and cleaned out the guinea pig hutch...and emailed DS1's school for a recipe for apple cake

GentleOtter · 01/07/2008 17:29

My DH and I work from home but don't have any childcare. We work a farm between us and take turn about looking after the children.
Right now dh is picking dd up from a summer holiday activities thingy at the local school and took the baby with him hence my pouncing on MN.
We rarely see other people so conversations with others are rare....I like Mn to 'hear' what other people are thinking, eating, listening to etc.

GentleOtter · 01/07/2008 17:30

ps It is MN or mucking out the dung with a forklifter.....

hanaflowerisnothana · 01/07/2008 17:33

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

laundrylover · 02/07/2008 09:05

Starting the day off with a positive - I am going to visit a client in Liverpool so that means I will be forced to work this morning. Just put address into SatNav and it said ETA was 1.17am - took lots of grumping from me and a bit of techy thinking from DP to realise that it was in pedestrian mode.

I'll be back this afternoon and want some progress reports ladies!!!!!

GColdtimer · 02/07/2008 09:15

me too, me too (haven't read the whole thread because have a call at 9.30 and haven't prepared - what did I open up MN for?? ) but good to know that others have the same problem. I find motivation a real issue at times and feel guilty that DD is in nursery whilst I faff. Will come back later.

Remotew · 02/07/2008 09:19

I used to do a bit of work from home, also work out of the home, but I gave it up. I would leave it until the last minute then stress like mad to get it finished. I hated having the books in the house and realised that home should be for relaxing in so gave it up.

I know it's not always an option when you are truely freelance.

hattyyellow · 02/07/2008 09:21

Gawd, I've been at my desk 20 minutes. I've written one line of a work e-mail. Then I got distracted by a MN thread on chinese gender prediction for babies.

Even though I think it's a load of old rubbish I then had to google the predictor just out of curiosity to see what my bump is likely (supposedly) to be.

I need to get someone to block all but the internet sites I use for work don't I!

It's like a crack habit. I open my e-mail, I HAVE to open MN - it's like saying good morning to colleagues in the office .

fymandbean · 02/07/2008 09:25

I work from home 5 days a week (own business) and have exactly this problem. Am just looking at getting an office, however am pregnant so its not ideal...

thumbwitch · 02/07/2008 09:44

LOL Hattyyellow - it is like an addiction, I have exactly the same problem! it's a bit like Bridget Jones and her answerphone thing; or when we first got email and kept checking it evry few minutes to see if anyone had sent us one!
I always think - oh, I'll just check to see if anyone has written anything on the threads I'm on, and then I'll get on with work, whereas in reality I should just not open MN at all, or it's another 2 hours down the pan!

ninja · 02/07/2008 09:48

I do a lot of work from home (some of it weekends and evenings) and am also pregnant. I'm in a salaried job so I jot down all the hours I work, which really concentrated the mind!!

What's really annoying is when DH comes home and complains about the house being a mess as if I was there to tidy it - but you've been at home all day grrrrr. I try and let myself do other things during 'commuting time' etc but like most of you the temptation to rade the fridge is really high.

Sometimes I go to the library and use the computers there - there's NOTHING to do there but work and that helps...

GColdtimer · 02/07/2008 10:21

hattyyellow, that is exactly what happens to me. I end up looking at random things that are sort of interesting but are not going to get the mortgage paid. And I know what you mean about saying hello to colleagues. Perhaps we need set breaks where we come on here and have a chat.

OK, here is a task that I have achieved this morning:

Received quotes for list purchase, print and mailing for a marketing campaign. Started work on the copy for a promotional flyer. There, that has made me feel a bit better.