5 ms·

This is all super valuable advice. The biggest thing that I've learned from working 100% remote for the last six months (which is also in the article) is to hav

by zrail 13y ago

This is all super valuable advice. The biggest thing that I've learned from working 100% remote for the last six months (which is also in the article) is to have a space that is just for work. Another thing that I've learned is to be crystal clear on when your normal working hours are, especially if the bulk of your team is in a different time zone. Don't be inflexible, of course, but establish normal working hours and stick to them.

LanceH 13y ago
These are points #1 and #2 for me as well. I couldn't manage more than a day in a row at home, until I made my own space for it. It went from impossible to more productive. Having a space just for work also eliminates the "at home commute" of switching out personal and professional computers/books/papers/phone/etc... I separate my computer as well. I have a personal and professional laptop. I know a lot of people live the lifestyle and mix the two, but the separation keeps things clear for me.
djim 13y ago
eh. ive worked from home for 6+ years and i don't have a "space" designated for work. i work from bed, the desk, my couch, kitchen table, etc. all i need is a laptop and i'm at work.
Touche 13y ago
Excellent points. #2 is critical. This is what I have to say about #1. It's important for your psyche. So you can feel like you are "leaving work" at the end of the day. But after a while it becomes less important. You get used to working from home and don't need the office as much. My routine is I get up ~7:30, make some coffee and work from the couch until 10, take a shower and then go back to work (could be any number of places around the house or outside) until lunch. Then I like to work in the office more during the afternoon. For me the routine works because I am much more of a morning person. It's easy for me to have 2 pull requests ready in the first hour of working. The afternoon is tougher so I go to my office to concentrate. But absolutely, the first couple of months working from home there's a jarring sense of work/life imbalance and having an office is critical to bringing the balance. Eventually the need simply goes away.
AJ007 13y ago
I really like the article. Numerous tiny things I've never considered, like the switch between headphones and speakers. The weird thing is I started working in my bedroom a while back. Not only have I had the most productive year in my life (and I never had a computer in my bedroom, even as a child) I also have managed to completely eliminate my sleep disorders. The most important things I tell people, including my own remote developers: -Exercise and be active -Eat healthy -Control your light: flu.x, lightbulbs, tape all blue electronics lights -Be social; working from home in a remote area is really bad, in a city its great If your smart, you can figure out the rest of the stuff because you won't have to worry about your health. I jump out of bed in the morning happy and ready to work.
- mason240 13y ago
  That runs counter to alot of advice I've seen. Working in the same room as your bed has helped you sleep better?
  - BSousa 13y ago
    I've gotten the advice of using the bedroom only for sleep and (well other very specific things) but I personally have no problem to fall asleep after using my computer in bed. Programming or watching a movie or surfing the web. I honestly think it helps me (I've tried to leave my laptop on a single dedicated room before, never taking it from there as a personal experience and I did notice I got more antsy, and had difficulty falling asleep). But my wife is the opposite, if she uses her iPad or laptop in bed, she will go to sleep a couple hours later than usual. Different strokes and all ;)
  - AJ007 13y ago
    No, rather I think that the room had nothing to do with sleep -- light control had everything to do with it. I tried just about all of the other tricks short of sleeping pills, none had any meaningful impact.
- __--__ 13y ago
  I had no choice but to set up my computer in my dorm room at college for 4 years. By the end of the third year, my ability to sleep in that room was gone. I also work remotely and I do so from a remote area. Cities are too noisy and the few years in which I lived in SF, it drove me crazy. This is all my way of saying what works for one person may not work for another. Which is one of the points of remote work, isn't it? To create the perfect environment for you?

by zrail 13y ago

LanceH 13y ago

These are points #1 and #2 for me as well. I couldn't manage more than a day in a row at home, until I made my own space for it. It went from impossible to more productive. Having a space just for work also eliminates the "at home commute" of switching out personal and professional computers/books/papers/phone/etc... I separate my computer as well. I have a personal and professional laptop. I know a lot of people live the lifestyle and mix the two, but the separation keeps things clear for me.

djim 13y ago

eh. ive worked from home for 6+ years and i don't have a "space" designated for work. i work from bed, the desk, my couch, kitchen table, etc. all i need is a laptop and i'm at work.

Touche 13y ago

Excellent points. #2 is critical. This is what I have to say about #1. It's important for your psyche. So you can feel like you are "leaving work" at the end of the day. But after a while it becomes less important. You get used to working from home and don't need the office as much. My routine is I get up ~7:30, make some coffee and work from the couch until 10, take a shower and then go back to work (could be any number of places around the house or outside) until lunch. Then I like to work in the office more during the afternoon. For me the routine works because I am much more of a morning person. It's easy for me to have 2 pull requests ready in the first hour of working. The afternoon is tougher so I go to my office to concentrate. But absolutely, the first couple of months working from home there's a jarring sense of work/life imbalance and having an office is critical to bringing the balance. Eventually the need simply goes away.

AJ007 13y ago

I really like the article. Numerous tiny things I've never considered, like the switch between headphones and speakers. The weird thing is I started working in my bedroom a while back. Not only have I had the most productive year in my life (and I never had a computer in my bedroom, even as a child) I also have managed to completely eliminate my sleep disorders. The most important things I tell people, including my own remote developers: -Exercise and be active -Eat healthy -Control your light: flu.x, lightbulbs, tape all blue electronics lights -Be social; working from home in a remote area is really bad, in a city its great If your smart, you can figure out the rest of the stuff because you won't have to worry about your health. I jump out of bed in the morning happy and ready to work.

mason240 13y ago
That runs counter to alot of advice I've seen. Working in the same room as your bed has helped you sleep better?
- BSousa 13y ago
  I've gotten the advice of using the bedroom only for sleep and (well other very specific things) but I personally have no problem to fall asleep after using my computer in bed. Programming or watching a movie or surfing the web. I honestly think it helps me (I've tried to leave my laptop on a single dedicated room before, never taking it from there as a personal experience and I did notice I got more antsy, and had difficulty falling asleep). But my wife is the opposite, if she uses her iPad or laptop in bed, she will go to sleep a couple hours later than usual. Different strokes and all ;)
- AJ007 13y ago
  No, rather I think that the room had nothing to do with sleep -- light control had everything to do with it. I tried just about all of the other tricks short of sleeping pills, none had any meaningful impact.
__--__ 13y ago
I had no choice but to set up my computer in my dorm room at college for 4 years. By the end of the third year, my ability to sleep in that room was gone. I also work remotely and I do so from a remote area. Cities are too noisy and the few years in which I lived in SF, it drove me crazy. This is all my way of saying what works for one person may not work for another. Which is one of the points of remote work, isn't it? To create the perfect environment for you?