As part of my new job, I will be working from home one day per week. Now that I’ve been there for a couple weeks, my first work from home day will be tomorrow.
Over the next several weeks, I’ll be trying to make improvements to my home office, including deciding which room to use. We built a den/office in the house, but I’m thinking it might not be ideal. It’s in the main area of the house, and the doors have windows, making it very easy for Charlize to see Daddy and want to come visit. So the current thought is to setup a small work area in the spare bedroom, which is in the back part of the house. It has a heavy, solid core door, which is typically closed throughout the day anyway. So Charlie will probably never know that I am even in there. For tomorrow, though, I’ll probably be in "my chair" in the living room. Charlie and Mommy will be over at Grandma’s house for most of the day.
In the past I’ve worked from home a day or two here and there, but never on a scheduled, regular basis. If any of you work from home, I welcome your suggestions.
JasonK
I recently switched to a more scheduled one day a week, rather than the 3-5 times a month too. I work out of my *very* unfinished basement when I WFH. Out of the way, spacious, fairly quiet, and out of the foot traffic of offspring… I have a tri-level floor plan.
It leaves a bit to be desired in terms of asthetics now, but in terms of having fewer opportunities to get distracted. (“Oh my, its nice outside let go boating”). For me, having a low interaction diet totally supercharges my productivity and keep me “in flow”. You’ll never see my workspace on a “pimp my desk” episode, but it works for me.
Damon Payne
I would advise not only having a secluded area, but if any of your family are going to be home discuss with them that when you are working from home you are AT WORK. Do not stop in my office to talk to me about what your sister just did, do not come tell me about what just happened on Jimmy Neutron, etc. I come out of the cave for lunch and that’s it.
JasonK
Totally agree. And my wife totally runs interference for me. She sees the benefits and knows if I get my stuff done, then when I’m done, I’m home. If I can’t get my stuff completed because you had to tell me what happened on Judge Judy, then I gotta put time in to get it done. We all win when I get some protection of my time and concentration.
So yeah, I even call it the cave (funny enough) and I surface for lunch and a break in the afternoon. Otherwise, I’m basically off limits. It can’t work all the time, but that’s my ground rules for the family.