Good and Bad points of working from home?
18 October 2005, 06:18 PM
#31
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Originally Posted by IWatkins
I've been working from home full time for six years now and I love it. I still have to go into the office (~120 miles away) about once a month or sometimes more often if a new project is kicking off.
I write software for a living so the lack of distractions is a major benefit. Also because you are not seen it is easier to keep yourself off the radar.
My terms, hours, pay etc. are all the same.
Good points: On flexi time so as long as my hours get done, doesn't really matter when I do them. Because I can concentrate I can easily get stuff that took 7 hours done in 3 or 4.
Bad points: Social schedule took a dive but that has now built back up with the locals here. Day to day interaction with work mates also took a dive but now has come back up using phone and email.
Only majoy bit of advice I would have is to have a seperate room that you only use for work. That way you can "Go to work" and "go home from work". I know it doesn't sound like much but it helps a lot.
Also, embrace all new technology. E.g. wireless lan and DECT phones. Both allow me to continue to do my job from the garden. Ideal in summer, sit on a sun lounger, listen to the cricket on the radio and still get some work done.
Yes, you pay for power, light, heat, but still way cheaper than all that fuel / wear and tear on car etc.
Cheers
Ian
I write software for a living so the lack of distractions is a major benefit. Also because you are not seen it is easier to keep yourself off the radar.
My terms, hours, pay etc. are all the same.
Good points: On flexi time so as long as my hours get done, doesn't really matter when I do them. Because I can concentrate I can easily get stuff that took 7 hours done in 3 or 4.
Bad points: Social schedule took a dive but that has now built back up with the locals here. Day to day interaction with work mates also took a dive but now has come back up using phone and email.
Only majoy bit of advice I would have is to have a seperate room that you only use for work. That way you can "Go to work" and "go home from work". I know it doesn't sound like much but it helps a lot.
Also, embrace all new technology. E.g. wireless lan and DECT phones. Both allow me to continue to do my job from the garden. Ideal in summer, sit on a sun lounger, listen to the cricket on the radio and still get some work done.
Yes, you pay for power, light, heat, but still way cheaper than all that fuel / wear and tear on car etc.
Cheers
Ian
As for new tech, already there
Business phone line goes in tomorrow, along with new DSL line. I've already got wireless in the place, so that is taken care of, as is cordless phones.We've always maintained support for sites on ET, but we do have clients on PT but they are used to eastern types being on different time zones and accept that we won't be there at certain times. We have no problem at all with not covering them and I have pointed out in the past that there isn't a hope in hell of me doing it without substansial renumeration, as it would eat in to my home life.
18 October 2005, 06:53 PM
#33
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Originally Posted by M444GY
there is to many distractions at home , tv ,car , computer games , beer , wife / g friend/b friend. u would never get anything done lol
g/f works full time so she won't be a distraction until she comes home, the hound might distract me, but it's doubtful she'll be asleep for most of the day
as for computer games, hmm, maybe, but xbox, nah, I'd have to go and sit on the sofa to use it (need a wireless card for it now as i've relocated the network 
), beer, hmm, might make me slightly more coherent that I am in the office, then again, we have a bar on the ground floor of the office, and it has been far too much of a temptation to us all in the past As for TV, have you seen US/Canadian TV recently, especially during the day, it's shockingly poor, it makes 'five' look like a top quality channel!
18 October 2005, 11:16 PM
#34
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i think working from home is brilliant - hours to suit around "life" - whether that be something important or minor. You can catch up with a hard slog when necessary and reap the benefits at other times. Its as easy or as hard as you make it, but personally couldnt go back to working or looking like im working to please someone else. Goodluck markus it is what you make it
19 October 2005, 12:00 AM
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Hello
I work home a lot, and I think it's great. You said that you don't have a problem with it, but the downside for me is that I work all the time as I will check my email, answer and so on at strange hours (like now!). It's also quite hard to have an affair.
Steve
I work home a lot, and I think it's great. You said that you don't have a problem with it, but the downside for me is that I work all the time as I will check my email, answer and so on at strange hours (like now!). It's also quite hard to have an affair.
Steve
19 October 2005, 12:06 AM
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WRXJase summed up most of my points.
I also snack on all sorts of cr*p when I'm WFH. I *know* I should make something interesting from the fresh stuff at the bottom of the fridge but I end up munching crisps etc all the same 'cos I'm too lazy
I find it really hard to stop sometimes. I use the same study for home PC stuff and work. If I leave the laptop plugged in - I find myself "just checking" in the middle of the evening. If I get in late from a meeting I'll sometimes quickly log on to work etc. In neither case would I "pop into the office for an hour".
I did enjoy watching the cricket though on my home PC whilst working on the laptop in the summer
Was giving ball by ball updates to colleagues via IM. I was apparently a few vital seconds quicker than the BBC scoreboard
I also snack on all sorts of cr*p when I'm WFH. I *know* I should make something interesting from the fresh stuff at the bottom of the fridge but I end up munching crisps etc all the same 'cos I'm too lazy
I find it really hard to stop sometimes. I use the same study for home PC stuff and work. If I leave the laptop plugged in - I find myself "just checking" in the middle of the evening. If I get in late from a meeting I'll sometimes quickly log on to work etc. In neither case would I "pop into the office for an hour".
I did enjoy watching the cricket though on my home PC whilst working on the laptop in the summer
Was giving ball by ball updates to colleagues via IM. I was apparently a few vital seconds quicker than the BBC scoreboard
19 October 2005, 04:13 PM
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Originally Posted by scoobychick
I run my business from home and love it. It takes a bit of discipline to still get up early in the morning but I love not having to go anywhere. I answer all my emails whilst eating brekky before I get dressed then surf scoobynet to my hearts content
The only thing I miss is a bit of human interaction but I get that from NSR with the added bonus that I can just turn it off if I get fed up with the humans in there
I can watch daytime telly, 
listen to the radio & CD's loudly or even catch up on some sleep if I want to.
If I want to go out shopping or for a drive I can whenever I like, likewise if I want to have a few days away at a rally I can. Working from home gives you lots of flexibilty
Plus I can have a lovely dinner ready for Bob when he gets home from work
The only thing I miss is a bit of human interaction but I get that from NSR with the added bonus that I can just turn it off if I get fed up with the humans in there
I can watch daytime telly, listen to the radio & CD's loudly or even catch up on some sleep if I want to.If I want to go out shopping or for a drive I can whenever I like, likewise if I want to have a few days away at a rally I can. Working from home gives you lots of flexibilty
Plus I can have a lovely dinner ready for Bob when he gets home from work
19 October 2005, 06:49 PM
#38
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Originally Posted by scoobychick
It takes a bit of discipline...............
There are times i am out of home and there are times I am working from home.I choose my own working hours.Discipline and self-motivation is a must and you are fine.It is not everyone's cup of tea though.Some people may not realise but they get motivated by having people around them.Some people like working without people.I fall into flexible catagory coz a lot of my work preperation may involve working alone from home but end product has to be exchanged with/among people out in the field.I am peoples person and get a great buzz in communicating face-to-face with people as the result of my work done at home.
I would say organisation to work effectively,self-descipline and self-motivation are the main competencies one needs in order to be a comfortable "working from home" person.
Last edited by Turbohot; 19 October 2005 at 06:52 PM.
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