3 ms·

I actually am someone who would go into the office part time but I would still want to maintain the ability to have 100% remote work. I am bothered a lot by pe

I actually am someone who would go into the office part time but I would still want to maintain the ability to have 100% remote work. I am bothered a lot by people at home. I’ve been remote pre-pandemic so the affliction of people thinking your being at home means you can run their errands is not new. The pandemic made it worse because now I am bothered all day every work day. You’d think, “stop bothering the person paying the mortgage” would be a motivator but it’s simply not the case for me. I know many people in this position so it is worthwhile to have empathy for people who really need an office. And of course to reiterate, that doesn’t mean that a return to office should be mandatory.

b3morales 4y ago
Your complaint about errands is kind of oblique and I find it confusing -- are you speaking of housemates, or your family, or who?
- paulryanrogers 4y ago
  I've seen the errands and expectations problem from family. Clear boundaries can be difficult to maintain if one makes too many exceptions. Young kids especially can struggle to understand why a parent is visible on the way to the bathroom or for water but otherwise forbids interruption. It takes diligence, patience, soundproofing, and sometimes locks and a detached shed / workshop.
notadev 4y ago
I have the same issue and am really struggling to resolve it. I’m the sole income and have young kids. I’m constantly interrupted by the kids who want to come see me. I try not to turn them away because the advantage of WFH, or so I believe, is that we don’t miss all the things our kids do while we’re slaving away at an office. However, this requires me to push things to later in the day. Then there are appointments and things that my wife usually has covered, but with another adult in the house “can you take the baby for a couple minutes”. I tried explaining the concept of context switching but so think I just come off like an uncaring jerk. I’m looking for a 1-2 time a week space away from my home office because I can’t keep looking at these same four walls day in and day out. I used to be so much more productive in the office, but felt like a terrible father. I’m really trying to come up with a way to have my cake and eat it too.

b3morales 4y ago

Your complaint about errands is kind of oblique and I find it confusing -- are you speaking of housemates, or your family, or who?

paulryanrogers 4y ago
I've seen the errands and expectations problem from family. Clear boundaries can be difficult to maintain if one makes too many exceptions. Young kids especially can struggle to understand why a parent is visible on the way to the bathroom or for water but otherwise forbids interruption. It takes diligence, patience, soundproofing, and sometimes locks and a detached shed / workshop.

notadev 4y ago

I have the same issue and am really struggling to resolve it. I’m the sole income and have young kids. I’m constantly interrupted by the kids who want to come see me. I try not to turn them away because the advantage of WFH, or so I believe, is that we don’t miss all the things our kids do while we’re slaving away at an office. However, this requires me to push things to later in the day. Then there are appointments and things that my wife usually has covered, but with another adult in the house “can you take the baby for a couple minutes”. I tried explaining the concept of context switching but so think I just come off like an uncaring jerk. I’m looking for a 1-2 time a week space away from my home office because I can’t keep looking at these same four walls day in and day out. I used to be so much more productive in the office, but felt like a terrible father. I’m really trying to come up with a way to have my cake and eat it too.