4 ms·

Personally, I tend to work much longer hours when I'm remote. Some of that is that the commute is shorter, so I can start work earlier and stop it later withou

Personally, I tend to work much longer hours when I'm remote. Some of that is that the commute is shorter, so I can start work earlier and stop it later without while keeping the same amount of time at home. Some of that is that my lunch breaks are typically much shorter. I don't have to take time to go to a restaurant if I fail to pack a lunch in the morning, and I'm much less likely to spend a while after lunch just chit-chatting with my colleagues. A big part of it is that I just don't mind working longer hours when I'm remote, because the experience of working is more pleasurable - fewer distractions, I can listen to music without headphones, the lighting is much more pleasant (I made sure to give myself a window office at home), the people furnishing my home office were kind enough to buy me a chair that doesn't make my back ache, etc. etc. At an office, when the end of the day rolls around, I can't wait to get out of there. Working remotely, I'd rather finish up whatever I was in the middle of before shoving off for the day.

Scarblac 7y ago
I assume you don't have a wife and kids around your home office? Because in my experience it's much harder to train them to let me concentrate than colleagues.
- malvosenior 7y ago
  The opposite for me. You can tell your child to be quiet and respect your space. It’s a political gamble to tell the VP Sales that taking calls all day next to your desk is impacting your ability to focus. Also, get a locking door for your home office. Kids will learn that locked door == parent is working.
  - bunderbunder 7y ago
    Doesn't even have to be locking, just closing. The general convention at our house is that closed door means "send me a text message or ask the other parent", open door means, "sure, come say hi". It's been a day or two since I've had a closing door at a co-located office, so I'm not used to being able to implement such a policy in that kind of work environment. (I'd also add that there's no quicker way to recharge your batteries than to pop out of the office to spend 10 minutes building a block tower or whatever with your kids. 14/10 much more effective than bitching about work with your colleagues in the office kitchenette.)

Scarblac 7y ago

I assume you don't have a wife and kids around your home office? Because in my experience it's much harder to train them to let me concentrate than colleagues.

malvosenior 7y ago
The opposite for me. You can tell your child to be quiet and respect your space. It’s a political gamble to tell the VP Sales that taking calls all day next to your desk is impacting your ability to focus. Also, get a locking door for your home office. Kids will learn that locked door == parent is working.
- bunderbunder 7y ago
  Doesn't even have to be locking, just closing. The general convention at our house is that closed door means "send me a text message or ask the other parent", open door means, "sure, come say hi". It's been a day or two since I've had a closing door at a co-located office, so I'm not used to being able to implement such a policy in that kind of work environment. (I'd also add that there's no quicker way to recharge your batteries than to pop out of the office to spend 10 minutes building a block tower or whatever with your kids. 14/10 much more effective than bitching about work with your colleagues in the office kitchenette.)