Does anyone else here work from home?

[belladonna]

Do you find, as I do, that there is a definite downside to working from home? Still so worth it when the weather is bad and I don't have to go out in it, or the fact that I can (sort of) make my own hours, but I have found many downsides as well. Share them and tell me how YOU deal with them.

[flvegan]

1. Mostly from home.

I might go into "the office" once every couple weeks for face time, etc.

Downsides:
Ice cream is ALWAYS available
Barking dogs + client phone calls = not great situation
I'm logged in, it seems like, 24/7
Paperwork all over my house
Tough to socialize
No hot chicks

[belladonna]

2. Some of the same problems I have

But mostly it seems that some of the people around me don't respect that I DO have work to do. Just because I am here and not in an office somewhere, does not mean that I have time to answer 50 phone calls or stop my work every 5 minutes to tell you where you left your shoes or what I think about something you plan on doing five years from now. The second part that bugs me is that I just don't feel like I ever really have a day off... do you have that problem too?

[flvegan]

7. Yup.

I do feel like I don't really have a day off. I'll check my e-mails and reports on Sunday, just so I can get a jump on Monday. Pathetic. I feel like I'm always kind of "at work" too.

[Midlodemocrat]

8. Ugh. I totally concur.

I have decided it is easier to check emails than to think about checking emails.

Plus if I do some quickie project for someone over the weekend, I look like a hero.

When we went to Puerto Rico in February of last year, I didn't bring my laptop, but ended up in the hotel's business center checking emails and referring clients, etc.

I think sometimes it's a way for me to not think about the other stressors in my life. If I have to 'work', I can't think about my husband's health, etc.

I don't know. The salary is phenomenal considering I work in my own little office and in my pajamas, but sometimes the stress isn't worth it.

[belladonna]

11. Exactly.

Even when I tell myself this is going to be my day off, I somehow end up doing something work related because I convince myself that it's better to get a jump on Monday or some such silliness.

[Midlodemocrat]

3. I work from home full time.

I enjoy it. I have three kids and a traveling husband, so it is the solution that works for us.

[belladonna]

4. I enjoy it most of the time

The flexibility of working at home is a great thing in comparison to any downsides, I think. The problem I seem to be facing lately is something I never really thought of when I took the job. If there is tension at home, and boy, has there ever been tension lately, it does seem to spill over and affect my job and, obviously, there is no real escape from it because I have to get my work done. Does that make sense to anybody? :shrug:

[Midlodemocrat]

6. Totally.

When you work from home, you are essentially invisible to the company which definitely has its ups and downs.

[Radical Activist]

5. I have to leave home

and work in a coffee shop with wireless internet often. I get too distracted at home and don't finish much. Not having co-workers is both a good and bad thing.

[belladonna]

9. See, that's my thing right now... I WANT to leave home

My SO is acting like a dick and I almost wish I had a job where I could just go and be there for eight hours and not have to deal with this crap. But I have to stay here and work.... blech. :(

[Midlodemocrat]

10. If possible, shut the door to your work space and leave the SO

'behind' so to speak.

I have to do that sometimes. It's hard because I can hear the family, especially now that we have turned off the air conditioning and have the windows open, but often I do it just to clear my head and go from work to home mode.

[belladonna]

12. Haha, already done that...

He's downstairs entertaining the cat with his dickishness (not a word, but I like it and it fits him right now :D, but there is just so much tension around here lately that I'm not so sure how much shutting him out of here really helped.

[Midlodemocrat]

13. I'm sorry you are going through that. Stress certainly isn't

conducive to a productive work environment.

I feel as though I have manufactured enough stress hormones for the entire country this summer and it certainly has taken a toll.

[belladonna]

17. Stress sucks in the work AND home environment, true

I suppose I need to admit to myself that I have a problem here with him and it has nothing to do with my work, other than the fact that it is simply making my work harder right now, with there being no escape from the daily crap. That and I'm SICK of Urology at the moment and that seems to be all I'm doing this weekend. :argh:

[Midlodemocrat]

25. LOL. I met my husband at a company that made medical

capital equipment for urologists. I saw some *amazing* things in the OR, let me tell you.

[belladonna]

33. I actually love Urology most of the time

It's one of the fields I excel in and I'm super fast at. I just got a ton of it this weekend and I am SO sick of typing the words phallus, meatus and erectile dysfunction right about now. :crazy:

[flvegan]

14. You could

come work from home at my house.

I'll behave.

Promise.
:evilgrin:

[Midlodemocrat]

15. Suurrreee you will. You hot little vegan you.

:rofl:

[belladonna]

16. I almost considered it

Until you said you'd behave :evilgrin:

[siouxsiecreamcheese]

18. i do full time

I work for a messaging company from home full time. I've been there a little over a year now and I think its starting to get to me. I really don't go anywhere and I haven't met anybody new in months. My 8 year relationship ended a few months ago because of the tension of me always being there. Plus I got really lazy. I had to move because of the breakup, so now I'm in a completly new state and really don't know anything about the area. But on the plus side, I don't have a car so it works fine for me in that aspect.

[belladonna]

19. A messaging company?

Like an answering service or something totally different?

I'm actually LESS lazy now but then I have always been hyper anyway. Now I find myself cleaning things that are already clean between dictations :blush:

[siouxsiecreamcheese]

30. kind of the same thing

Basically its an answering service for drs and hospitals in the new york city and southern cali area. we take the messages and dispatch to on call drs. i have to sit the whole time because of the headphone leash and that just tires me out for some reason.

[ScreamingMeemie]

20. I work from home as a real estate appraiser...

I love my job and the money is good. The downsides are these:

1. MrG often times doesn't view it as a "real" job even though I often work longer hours, log a lot of drive time, am up past midnight working and still have to get him up for work at 4:30 AM because he still views me as a stay at home mom.

2. The kids. I love 'em, but it is difficult to conduct a business call with sibling rivalry raging in the background...or constant questions begging for something to eat, telling me the latest scandal at the 3rd grade or high school level. I deal with it by screaming like a banshee until they are convinced that Mom has finally gone round the bend and leave me alone.

3. DU...the internets themselves. I waste a lot of time here when I should be completing reports. I've decided to not fight that which I cannot conquer. :hi:

[belladonna]

22. Haha, different jobs but I DO relate

Especially on the "real job" thing :hi:

[ScreamingMeemie]

23. Why is they do that...? Even my extended family does that...

thinking I can run off and do things at the drop of a hat because it's not like I have to "punch in or anything". There are months when I bring in more than MrG and he still complains that the house is a mess. He works long hours as well, but a hand every once in awhile would be appreciated. Not that he isn't the greatest man I've ever known. :)

[belladonna]

24. I wish I understood why

My youngest daughter and my mother are both really understanding but the rest of the family? I get that same sort of comment... "can't you just do your work later"? I mean, yeah, I do have more flexibility than most people, but I DO have 24 hour turnaround on these files, except for on the weekend, and I really would rather not sit up until 4 a.m. working because I goofed off all day or let myself get distracted with other things.

[mzteris]

21. Define "work".....

:rofl: (Or do you mean as in - getting PAID?!?!?)

I'm a SAH(F)M for the sole reason that my older son homeschools.

I'd really like to "work from home". I had a great gig once doing consulting for NC STATE human resources that evolved from a PT position I had there - but now I've moved and I'm not sure how to go about finding a new "work from home" job.

Any suggestions?

[belladonna]

26. Medical transcription is an option

If you have a background or understanding of medical terminology. BUT... do not let yourself get fooled by the people who say it's easy and you'll make tons of money right off the bat. It doesn't work that way... it's hard work and, once you get established and some experience under your belt. the money IS great. Honestly? The best way to get into it is to go to your community college and take the certificate program that most of them offer or, if you have the time, get the degree. You can get a job without that piece of paper, but take it from me, it is not easy and you will not make as much money without, at the very least, a certificate from a LEGITIMATE school.

[Midlodemocrat]

28. I did transcription when my youngest was a newborn

I got $12 an hour and generally worked 40 hours a week. I think the market for it has declined recently because I see people killing themselves for five to six cents a line.

[belladonna]

29. Exactly why I am going to school full-time to get that degree

Although, the money IS out there if you can stick it out for awhile, even without the degree. To get a job with a company that pays for the almighty spaces, which makes a HUGE difference, you better either have some serious experience or the degree.

[SmokingJacket]

27. I did. Eventually I rented an office.

I'm MUCH more productive out of the house. Too many other things impinge on my mental space at home, not the least of which is DU (no internet at my office!).

[riderinthestorm]

31. I hate that clients always KNOW you are available

They know that there isn't any kind of "line" drawn between home-time and office-time. They will call at all hours for answers to questions or just to chat.

I finally installed caller ID at my house and I screen calls RELIGIOUSLY!

[belladonna]

32. Every day this week my boss has called me at 7 a.m.

Can you do a rush job for me? I know you don't have anything better to do... dammit. Course, I never refuse her so what do I expect: :shrug:

[WCGreen]

34. I have been working from home for 15 years....

I love working in my skivvies....

[InvisibleTouch]

35. Downside for me is that it takes a lot of discipline...

...and discipline has never been one of my strong suits. I like that my success or failure is totally within my own hands - but it's also very easy for me to say "Gee, I don't feel like doing this right now" and get distracted by something else. How to deal with it? Well, when the bills come due, I have to get down to work. It would be easier if I were more organized and focused - but I've worked lots of different "outside" jobs in my time, and I wouldn't trade this for anything. I like the familiarity of my own space. Just gotta work on that organization concept. :)