|
Looks like the other answers cover most stuff. BUT have a really honest discussion with the family. When you're at work, you're AT WORK. Herself CANNOT keep popping in every ten minutes to ask where the xxx is or have you done the yyy. Make sure that if there's anything in the office any member of the family is likely to need, have them fetch it before you start work. If you're like me, you get into a "zone" when coding and there are times when you simply CANNOT break your concentration. It sounds innocuous but if your partner just opens the door and says "Anything you need from the shops?" that can at best delay you for a while, at worst mean you forget to put in that vital closing bracket and you spend the rest of the day tracking down the problem.
BUT equally, don't feel like you're locked into your office. Take breaks, and do something useful in those breaks. Put the washing out (or bring it in if it looks like rain). Empty the dishwasher, or take a longer break and pick the kids up from school or walk the dog. Your change in working practices is not just a big change for you, but for the whole family (including pets if you have them). Your partner, if normally at home, may find it harder to adjust than you do. They may feel oppressed and constrained. Talk about it.
Been doing this for 25 years now and absolutely love it, and if you've been spending 4 hours in the car each day, your health and your bank balance will love it too. Make sure you work enough human interaction into your day.
|
|
|
|
|
A good point, but not because of herself (she is out working)... but the kids... I talked to them about it and explained, but probably will be problems until they totally understand and get used to it...
"If builders built buildings the way programmers wrote programs, then the first woodpecker that came along would destroy civilization." ― Gerald Weinberg
|
|
|
|
|
A good perimeter defense system will do wonders 
|
|
|
|
|
I prefer the ones from Portal 2. 
Bond
Keep all things as simple as possible, but no simpler. -said someone, somewhere
|
|
|
|
|
Yes what DerekTP said, do NOT allowed the kids to interrupt you, if the door is closed it must stay closed till you open it! Get a BIG do not disturb sign.
I wish I had had a forest to walk in when I worked from home and decent internet connection (I was on dial up back then)
Never underestimate the power of human stupidity -
RAH
I'm old. I know stuff - JSOP
|
|
|
|
|
I have been working from home full-time for 10+ years now. I love it. It is not for everyone, for sure.
Good luck. Hope you like it too.
-- Not going to post my tips/tricks as most have been presented to you already. However, this tip from Griff is paramount IMHO: Quote (Griff): Time management is also important: have "work hours" and "off hours" - and try to stick to them. Don't goof off in work hours, don't work in off hours.
|
|
|
|
|
Security, perhaps you are already doing this: Get a separate Internet service for the work LAN and keep isolated from family LAN. I would not allow wireless on that service. I would also suggest a "business" router/firewall with options like intrusion protection and application blocking. I would block all social media locations to reduce the risk of clicking on links in email. I would not do personal email on the same system as work email. Get a separate printer for business if you do much printing.
We use static public IP addresses (5), on fiber service, to isolate stuff (1: wireless for customers, 2: surveillance cameras, 3: IP phones, 4: Domain/business LAN). Never the twain shall meet :
>64
Some days the dragon wins. Suck it up.
|
|
|
|
|
One thing not mentioned - make sure the background for those video calls is decent or use one of those plugins or whatever they are that fakes your background.
Also - when working at an office, people tend to have the courtesy to notice you're talking with someone else or if not, ask if it's an ok time to talk about something. Working from home, besides the emails, there is often a constant barrage of Team chats, because of course nobody knows if you're busy talking to someone else -- a feature that any chat program really should have, like a "get in line" feature. Some days there are times where I'll be having 3 chats on 3 different topics going on simultaneously.
Personally, that can be mentally exhausting because of the context switching, not to mention being distracted from the task I'm actually trying to work on. Consider whether management/the team is ok with designated chat times so you can focus on work during some parts of the day and be available for chats at other designated times.
|
|
|
|
|
Teams might be integrated with outlook (yeah, I know... but it is employer decission), so your status is seen by other people in the same domain / active directory.
If I am phoning it shows "speaking" or "meeting" if I am attending one
If I am in a scheduled task it shows "busy"
If I am idling more than 5 min it shows "AFK"
And you can always set the "do not disturb" manually.
Not that everyone will pay attention or respect that status, but there is some people that do comply.
M.D.V. 
If something has a solution... Why do we have to worry about?. If it has no solution... For what reason do we have to worry about?
Help me to understand what I'm saying, and I'll explain it better to you
Rating helpful answers is nice, but saying thanks can be even nicer.
|
|
|
|
|
A locked door to keep the wife, kids, and pets out. 
ed
|
|
|
|
|
Honestly my wife in the room would be the only thing that keeps me sane. I would bring her to work if I could, too bad she works elsewhere.
GCS/GE d--(d) s-/+ a C+++ U+++ P-- L+@ E-- W+++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
|
|
|
|
|
You haven't been married very long then. Or, you have married a quite exceptional lady.
Married 50 years and loving every second of it.
|
|
|
|
|
6 years married, 13 living together, 17 as a couple. I firmly believe she is an exceptional lady. The breaks are much better when I'm with my loved ones, it calms me at a deep level.
GCS/GE d--(d) s-/+ a C+++ U+++ P-- L+@ E-- W+++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
|
|
|
|
|
Tell everyone (who's not a co-worker) to think carefully about getting in touch with you. If they wouldn't normally contact you at the office during work hours, then they shouldn't contact you during those same hours just because you happen to be home.
This may seem like a simple thing, but I couldn't get that point across some people's minds until I reminded them I'm not working for myself and I'm on the clock. Don't know why that distinction made to clearer for them, but that's what worked.
The same goes for whoever lives with you. No, you're not available during work hours to go get a pint of milk at the corner store, or to help with the laundry. And you're certainly no babysitter. Don't make any exception - that's called setting a precedent. If you give in once, "they" will know they can do it again.
|
|
|
|
|
Reserve a room for work. That's it. All else fails. You need to create an office in your home.
Bastard Programmer from Hell 
"If you just follow the bacon Eddy, wherever it leads you, then you won't have to think about politics." -- Some Bell.
|
|
|
|
|
When you're in the "office", you're "unavailable" unless it's business.
"Before entering on an understanding, I have meditated for a long time, and have foreseen what might happen. It is not genius which reveals to me suddenly, secretly, what I have to say or to do in a circumstance unexpected by other people; it is reflection, it is meditation." - Napoleon I
|
|
|
|
|
I've been working from home for 3 years - the only one who doesn't abide by the 'unavailable' rule is the dog. He goes bonkers when he sees a furry creature outside and I have to mute my microphone 
|
|
|
|
|
Craig Robbins wrote: the only one who doesn't abide by the 'unavailable' rule is the dog. He goes bonkers when he sees a furry creature outside and I have to mute my microphone
Yep, I know this one all too well.  
|
|
|
|
|
Other than sending your family away?
"In testa che avete, Signor di Ceprano?"
-- Rigoletto
|
|
|
|
|
My two cents:
1) Excellent chair. Go for office chairs with lumbar support, neck support and possibly extensible leg support.
2) Good monitor, keyboard and mouse. Do not, I repeat, do not work on your laptop.
3) Check the lighting and window positions, adjust with obscurants if needed.
4) Clean and ordered desk and cable management. This is incredibly important for home office productivity.
GCS/GE d--(d) s-/+ a C+++ U+++ P-- L+@ E-- W+++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
|
|
|
|
|
Yes, what he said. I would only add Time management as a major component. Hardware is the easy part. Starting at a specific time, taking an actual lunch break, and quitting at a designated time, is the hardest part for me.
Act just like you are used to time wise. Start working when you normally do, stop working when you usually do. It is very easy to think of 5:00 as just a number on the clock but putting in 14 hour days can sneak up on you and will burn you out.
I know this as a fact. I also know you can recover from burn out (most folks do) but it's not fun.
Other than that and the suggestions above you really should enjoy the extra time you have and you will find you can have a productive day and 5 meetings without missing a beat!
It only takes a couple of min. to set up a teams meeting and if you have an agenda for them they are usually very productive.
|
|
|
|
|
Personally time management is the least of my issues, it allows me to work better. I usually shift evrything by an hour, doing 10 - 18, as it's my most productive time range.
And while I occasionally worked overtime it had the same frequency of when I work in the office, epsecially considering how in no company I ever worked with overtime is allowed unless preemptively authorized by the boss for each instance and a set duration, plus the law fixes maximum overtime caps daily, weekly and yearly.
GCS/GE d--(d) s-/+ a C+++ U+++ P-- L+@ E-- W+++ N+ o+ K- w+++ O? M-- V? PS+ PE Y+ PGP t+ 5? X R+++ tv-- b+(+++) DI+++ D++ G e++ h--- r+++ y+++* Weapons extension: ma- k++ F+2 X
|
|
|
|
|
It depends. @OriginalGriff covered most of the high points, but the "depends" is what are your employers expectations of you working at home.
I moved from full-time office to full-time at home during Covid. My hours were 7:30 to 4:30 and it was expected that I be available during that time. I basically got up the same time as I had, not taking credit for the 15min commute difference. I got dressed for the most part as if I were going to the office, though I went more for jeans and sneakers with a casual dress shirt. During that time, my productivity increased; I had less interruptions at home, and my family understood that work was work, and left me alone. The dog, not so much, but really wasn't a bother. I actually lost weight since there were no sugary office snacks and I could make better lunches. It wasn't unusual to stretch the day a bit at the end, as there was no incentive to follow the herd out the door at 4:30.
Early last year, I semi-retired and began working as a consultant for my employer and another organization. I trade off hours as I want. I was able to escape this winter and work remotely with an endless summer. There are still things I need to do during working hours some days, but if I want to work at 6am or 6pm, I generally can.
That really goes to the 'depends' as well. If the company just wants productivity and isn't concerned about availability, logging the 40 hours a week can be super-productive. It takes a mindset to do that. Even after retiring, it took a while to not feel guilty about mowing the lawn on Tuesday morning or using a nice day to have some fun. But that's a different world.
Two quick tips I'd add. Get the best internet connection you can. If fiber is available at a higher cost, it's a tradeoff for your commuting cost. And have a data plan on your cell phone just in case. Didn't happen often, but my primary connection with Comcast had issues at times and I had to tether the phone.
The second one is desk location if you need to do zoom meetings. Don't worry about the background, you can use a background image and the latest versions of those work well. But lighting can be a factor. Having a window behind you can be a challenge to get the light right and it varies depending on the time of day.
Enjoy it and if you miss the office, you can always venture in a day a week or whatever.
|
|
|
|
|
When my company did an office change that required most of the staff to begin to work from home, they sent us with our own chairs, monitors, etc, in addition to our laptops. Still, I much prefer my own monitor, keyboard and mouse to those provided, so my work space is shared with my home office space (I just move the accessories over to my personal laptop).
You need a definite workspace with a good office chair and a desk expansive enough to hold everything you need. The rest is all dependent on your own discipline and practices. Log on at the same time every day and work through as you would at the office, taking only the same breaks you would there. When you are finished for the day, shut your laptop and leave the room even if, like my your home office is in the same space. Walk away from the screen for a while at least; interact with the other people in your home; go to the gym.
Enjoy your extra time from no longer commuting.
|
|
|
|
|
I read most of the replies, especially OG and DerekT-P.
I’d only add that your equipment (computer and peripherals) should be at least on par with business supplies items. And your internet connection be fast and stable. The cost is offset by reduced commute costs.
Cheers,
Time is the differentiation of eternity devised by man to measure the passage of human events.
- Manly P. Hall
Mark
Just another cog in the wheel
|
|
|
|
|
General 
News 
Suggestion 
Question 
Bug 
Answer 
Joke 
Praise 
Rant 
Admin 
Submit an article or tip
