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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:
hattyyellow · 02/07/2008 10:29

Glad I'm not the only one!

I've had a really productive week so far. This morning, I spoke to the ice queen who is my current client. She told me how pleased she was with my work and that things were working out really well.

Which was nice.

But since then, rather than repaying their gratitude by keeping up the hard work, I've just slacked off . What's all that about then?

Have hung out the washing, cleaned the kettle, tidied DD's room and tried out a couple of different hairstyles in the mirror.

Please somebody make me focus!

Am now going to log off all sites until at least lunchtime. Or 11am.

hattyyellow · 02/07/2008 10:30

ps well done everyone who has achieved work stuff this morning.

okay, am really going now.

lingle · 02/07/2008 11:26

I've worked from home for 4 years and yes it's so hard to focus.....

1 hour to go before pick up. Signing off NOW!

PortBlacksandResident · 02/07/2008 11:35

I'm on my coffee break - honest!

Had quite a productive morning all in all. Spoke to a couple of potential clients and tidies studio up after last project.

LOL at cleaning Kettle.

scattercushion · 02/07/2008 11:51

Another freelancer here - I say to myself I'll look at Mumsnet til it reaches the hour or half hour on the computer clock... Good in theory but when it goes past that deadline I then have to carry on until the next hour/half-hour deadline. And so it continues... Including reading a thread about slacking when you're supposed to be working from home!!!! How ironic - tell that to Alannis Morrisette.

thumbwitch · 02/07/2008 11:55

I was doing so well this morning, and then I had to log back on to MN to find a link on Novel Oils in formula feeds, which I am incorporating into my article (I suppose I could have just googled it but that didn't occur to me first, wonder why? )
And then I had to "just check" on my threads, and now I am writing another post... - no willpower at all.

scattercushion · 02/07/2008 13:45

ooh who are you writing for? I do stuff for Mother & Baby amongst others. And what's novel oils? I could just google it but you know what it's like...

thebecster · 02/07/2008 13:53

Had a productive morning - client call scheduled for 9:15am which went well and started me off on the right foot. Then I headed off to a cafe straight away before I could get distracted to do a bit of work on the laptop, came home for lunch and to do some 'odd job' work at the kitchen table. Heading off to cafe again now though as I can sense I'm about to get sucked into the time vortex that is MN

Trouble is, I think I'm spending more on lattes than I'll be able to bill in client fees And I'm getting fat...

It's oddly comforting to know that others are battling the same demon of procrastination and faffing. And I'm also starting to remember that even when I worked in an office I had days where I felt I'd just faffed around and not achieved enough (but then I was on salary so didn't need to worry so much!)

Good luck for a productive afternoon everyone...

GColdtimer · 02/07/2008 14:02

well done thebecster.

I have just been for a run and had my lunch and am going to switch off MN now and write a PR plan for a book I am working on.

Good luck fellow faffers.

thumbwitch · 02/07/2008 14:41

I hope you're impressed that it's taken me this long to get back to the thread, because I was actually finishing my article!

Scattercushion - I sub-edit a journal called The Nutrition Practitioner (subscription only) and I was writing the News Roundup article, which means I can put in anything of nutritional interest.
Hunkermunker started this thread a few days ago on the use of novel oils in baby formula - novel foods are foods either derived from a new source (as in this case, the oils come from algae rather than fish etc.) or newly-designed foods (can't think of an e.g. at this moment!). Anyway, these novel oils are supposed to be like DHA and ARA but they're not the same and they give a number of babies explosive diarrhoea among other things - yeuch!

PortBlacksandRegeneration · 03/07/2008 10:03

Coffee break and a quick look for potential studio space. I can keep dreaming of working out of the house!

thebecster · 03/07/2008 10:06

I should NOT be on MN right now. Am leaving this very moment and will press on and finish my project by 1.30pm. See you all in the kitchen for lunch around then!

laundrylover · 03/07/2008 10:14

Morning freelance faffers!!

Well I didn't get back from Liverpool til 4pm yesterday and then wrote my notes up without MNing, which I was quite proud of!!

I am going to do 3 work things before I come back on....any one want to join me???? Oh and put a wash in as it's stopped raining....

I missed my run this morning as was trying to get GPs appt with ridiculous new system which involves trying to get through for an hour and then being told all ppts have gone...EVERY morning this week. I work much better after a run but have had a virus for over a week so not ventured out.

GColdtimer · 03/07/2008 10:48

well done laundrylover and thumbwitch. I was much more productive yesterday after my run too.

Right, I will research my press contacts for a book I am promoting and write the press release. Will probably see you in the kitchen thebecster at 1.30 for lunch and a gossip.

Well, after I have my washing out that is. It has stopped raining here too.

laundrylover · 03/07/2008 12:58

look how long I stayed away!

Having lunch so am allowed back on....got lots of things started but have had 4 work calls too so not anything finished. Washing out on line though and still in pyjamas.

I'm very impressed that the thread is so quiet today. Well done all.

BecauseImWorthIt · 03/07/2008 13:04

Have done bugger all work today! But I'm between projects - next one starts next week - and I've got a horrible cold.

So I've been catching up with domestic admin today, and am rather horrified to discover how long it is since I've done any .

Have had a very good result of this though - British Gas informed us on our last bill that they were putting our monthly electricity payments up by 50%!!!! I called today and managed to get them to knock £7 per month off, so it's not quite such a huge rise.

I've paid bills, written letters and been to the tip to get rid of garden rubbish (one more trip yet to do), so feel that some MN time is justified!

dramaLlama · 03/07/2008 13:19

It always takes me hours to get going on the days I'm meant to be working. I don't seem to be able to get into a working frame of mind the way I could when I walked into an office in the morning.

I make loads of soup too.

laundrylover · 03/07/2008 13:20

Indeed BIWI you have earned your MN time. I, on the otherhand, have finished my lunch and so should do some work...

kingfix · 03/07/2008 13:27

hey can I join? I have booked dd in for an extra day at nursery to Get Things Done and lo! half way through a bid and arsing about on MN. The guilt...

iheartdusty · 03/07/2008 13:38

guilt here too
This is absolutely my last child-free day before the summer holidays due to various nursery and pre-reception activities

so I MUST finish this thing I am writing

and so far I have added 2 sentences to it,

plus phoned round to check delivery dates on various new bathroom fittings, got out a tent to lend to a friend and typed out the pitching instructions, checked and re-checked my emails and au pair websites and had a thorough look round MN in case I missed anything, and I am due for a haircut in 20 minutes after which the DCs will come home.

kingfix · 03/07/2008 14:11

It's not the just the faffing and diversionary tactics, it's actually a shorter day at home for me: drop dd off at 9, home at 9.10, leave at 4.20 to pick her up, whereas used to be in the office 8.45 to 6 so i guess it's not completely unreasonable to get less done. Can you get some sort of lock put on Mumsnet/online papers as a prosthetic will power?

laundrylover · 03/07/2008 14:23

kingfix, what do you do? I'm writing a bid too (or not as the case may be)!

GColdtimer · 03/07/2008 14:48

BIWI, Southern Electric put mine up by 80%!! So shocking. So as a result I have been spending some time on uswitch. that is not going to get the publicity for the book I am working on done is it?

Kingfix - sounds like you will fit in well here!

Original poster
staranise · 03/07/2008 15:33

OOoh, I have achieved SFA today, can I join in? But I did go to the library, meet a friend for lunch, got my fringe trimmed at the hairdressers, and shopped lots in the Body Shop sale (all with DD2 I hasten to add).

I now have DDs 1 & 2 here, plus DD1's friend over for tea and I've decided that NOW is a good time to finish my work in time for that deadline tomorrow...

Am not having a very productive week...

OP posts:
kingfix · 03/07/2008 15:53

Ooh it's nice to find a home! I do environmental policy consulting with a sideline in HE knowledge transfer and my 'bid' is for research funding, or would be...

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