For those working from home

Oct 1, 2009 1:32 pm

As some of you know, I am getting my knee replaced in a few weeks. My plan is to work from home for the rest of the year, since I will be spending alot of time in rehab.

When I first went indy I started working from my house and I went stir crazy - to the point where my kids and wife were always pissed at me. I am trying to avoid driving them crazy again this time.

For the guys who have been working at home for some time, how have you been able to overcome the issue of working 24/7. With an office in the house, I have the tendency to want to just “peek” at my computer - that peek ends up being 4 hours.

I don’t seem to have the disciple to just shut it off when I work from home. Any tips or suggestions? If I can’t figure this out, I may need to shell some $$$ out for that pony my daughter has always wanted.

Oct 1, 2009 4:58 pm
BioFreeze:

Ask God to help you stay focused. 

Oct 1, 2009 6:43 pm

Cali,

  No joke, for a while, you could ask your wife to put a lock on the door, and not give you the key until the next morning.  For most of our wives, putting a lock on something and not giving you access would be quite simple.
Oct 1, 2009 7:25 pm

b24-

that’s actually not a bad idea.

Oct 1, 2009 7:34 pm

I find that it’s not just staying away from work.  It’s also about spending the quality time with your wife/family.

  I've just recently started implementing more structure into my family's life.  We have morning time together.  We have evening time together.  It's only a couple hours in the AM and PM, but it's making a huge impact on the family.   So, don't just try to get away from the work.  Make sure your time away from work is actually spent with your family - for just a couple of hours at a time.
Oct 1, 2009 7:44 pm

Thanks Gordon-

I am trying to move down that road also. I spend way too much time working when I don’t need to. Plus I notice a big change in my kids behaviors when there is more structure in the house.

Oct 1, 2009 8:24 pm

I will agree to that.  Sometimes I get in the old “corporate” mode - when I have down time, I just screw around at work, rather than busting it at work and going home early.  In other words, I sometimes fill an eight-hour day with four hours worth of work.  Of course, other times, I need 29 hours in the day, but that happens.

It really disappoints my kids when I am at home and on the computer checking e-mails, typing garbage on RegRep forums, checking voicemails, and the such.  Sometimes technology just sucks.  It's funny, I have a friend that runs a pretty successful technology support/consulting business.  He said his Blackberry goes off at 5:00, and doesn't get turned on until 8:00am.  He checks no e-mail from home.  He has staff to take care of after-hours stuff, and there is nothing so earth-shattering that can't wait until the next day.  If there is, the important people in his life have his personal cell phone number (which is not for work).  I predict there is a "quality of life" renaissance going on.  Many people are sick of the 24/7 work style that has invaded our lives that past 10 years.  Personally, I am sick of seing people at family parties on Saturday nights, texting, doing e-mails, taking business calls.  It's no longer "cool" or "hip" or a sign of "importance".  It's become just plain annoying.
Oct 2, 2009 1:17 pm

Sometimes I get in the old “corporate” mode - when I have down time, I
just screw around at work, rather than busting it at work and going
home early.  In other words, I sometimes fill an eight-hour day with
four hours worth of work.  Of course, other times, I need 29 hours in
the day, but that happens.
It really disappoints my kids when I am at home and on the
computer checking e-mails, typing garbage on RegRep forums, checking
voicemails, and the such.  Sometimes technology just sucks.

That’s my issue 100% I am having issues with disconnecting. My blackberry is like a drug. I can see that blinking red light (new msg indicator) through a brick wall.

I predict there is a “quality of life” renaissance going on.  Many
people are sick of the 24/7 work style that has invaded our lives that
past 10 years.

You right and I think it is starting. I mentioned my issue with a buddy of mine, and he just got a second cell phone. After 5pm and on weekends you can only reach him at his new number. He locks up his blackberry in his office desk.

it kinda sucks. I busted my a$$ for years so that I could work less hours in the future. Its now the future and I could work less hours, but I haven’t taken advantage of it. (tough problem to have, right? I sound like my kids)