7 ms·

Quarantine work is not remote work

67 points by askthrowaway 6y ago

djohnston 6y ago
I'm also feeling burnout, I suspect because I'm actually working more hours now, sometimes out of sheer boredom.
eyelidlessness 6y ago
I've worked remotely most of my career, and this reflects my feelings as well. This time is not representative of my years of remote work at all, and anyone who is feeling stress and burnout in this time (I certainly am) should know that you're not alone, you're not failing in any way, you're having a normal reaction to a very unusual and stressful situation.
masona 6y ago
This new 'quarantine work' is just an awkward retrofit - those positions (and their managers) were never designed to work remotely in the first place. I spent 4 years remote in a position designed for it, and it was still a challenge even on the best days. You have to communicate twice as much as everyone who is on site. It's hard to learn all the remote working lessons at the same time as everyone else in your family is also learning them. Crash course in boundaries.
odshoifsdhfs 6y ago
I am also a remote worker for the last 6-7 years or so. There is a few things I would like to point out to people that are now working from home for the first time and think it is the best thing ever. (Though many may not have the possibility to do) a) Stop working on your laptop that work sent you. Get a damn monitor and get your back straight b) Stop working from your dinning room table or what not. Get a desk/comfortable chair c) Take breaks from the screen. Walk to the kitchen, make coffee and talk with the dam wooden spoon if you have noone else. Most of the problems with not doing this don't show up in the first few weeks of home working, but will be with your for much longer than that after a while. (if you can exercise, even better, but I won't recommend you to go to the gym at a time like this)
- ebg13 6y ago
  This is well and good, but our apartment which is great to live in is not large enough for two work spaces. Nor can we afford to lose the space for as many monitors. And it's not like we can suddenly move in the middle of pandemic quarantine to a new place with more room. When we weren't working at home we did not plan for our living arrangement to also be our working arrangement. Your advice is great, but only if you can arrange your home around being one or more offices in addition.
  - fragmede 6y ago
    I find it hard to believe you live in an apartment that is too small to accomodate two work spaces. I can believe you live in an existing space that you could not have two workspaces added to it, but that's not the same thing. It may take sacrificing the normal living room/TV/kitchen/common area, but these aren't normal times we're living through. Whether you want to, is a different matter.
    - ebg13 6y ago
      > It may take sacrificing the normal living room/TV/kitchen/common area Because the best way to avoid losing your mind is to completely eliminate the only relaxation space in your home, yes?
      - WWLink 6y ago
        Folding tables always work.
        anotheryou 6y ago
        Monitors and furniture all cost money though, but I agree, this thing would be sweet: https://media.manufactum.de/is/image/Manufactum/750s_shop/sekretaer-flatmate--28299_01.jpg https://media.manufactum.de/is/image/Manufactum/750s_shop/se... If you got the funds: 1 high res monitor and the laptop folded or under the table or anything is also already better.
musicale 6y ago
Working remotely is normally great, but working during this epidemic feels much harder, less enjoyable, and less productive - probably due in part to the steady barrage of warnings, restrictions and alarming news, all of which seem to contribute to worry and stress. Not to mention the increased isolation. Just taking care of basic necessities seems to be a lot harder and more time-consuming. But I can't complain much, since being able to work at all (not to mention staying housed and fed) is a pretty good thing! I've also caught up on sleep to some extent, which I highly recommend.
izend 6y ago
Quarantine work + 5 Year old without childcare = Extremely Difficult
- wmeredith 6y ago
  I've worked remotely 90% of the time for the last 7 years and this ain't it. My partner and I are now homeschooling both of our children while attempting to work full time remote. The results are mixed, with the kids mostly getting the short end of the stick so our lively hoods can remain intact.
CM30 6y ago
In addition to the points in the article, it's also worth considering that the amount and kind of work you're doing at the moment also likely isn't normal for remote working. That's because if your company is client based, many of said clients have likely stopped paying for work at the moment, and many organisations are struggling to find anything for their employees to do at all. They're also likely going to use this time to focus on internal projects and maintenance too, since that's the kind of work that's available right now. So if you do remote work after the pandemic/lockdown ends, you'll likely have a lot more on your plate than you do at the moment. For better or worse.

67 points by askthrowaway 6y ago

I'm also feeling burnout, I suspect because I'm actually working more hours now, sometimes out of sheer boredom.

I've worked remotely most of my career, and this reflects my feelings as well. This time is not representative of my years of remote work at all, and anyone who is feeling stress and burnout in this time (I certainly am) should know that you're not alone, you're not failing in any way, you're having a normal reaction to a very unusual and stressful situation.

masona 6y ago

This new 'quarantine work' is just an awkward retrofit - those positions (and their managers) were never designed to work remotely in the first place. I spent 4 years remote in a position designed for it, and it was still a challenge even on the best days. You have to communicate twice as much as everyone who is on site. It's hard to learn all the remote working lessons at the same time as everyone else in your family is also learning them. Crash course in boundaries.

odshoifsdhfs 6y ago

I am also a remote worker for the last 6-7 years or so. There is a few things I would like to point out to people that are now working from home for the first time and think it is the best thing ever. (Though many may not have the possibility to do) a) Stop working on your laptop that work sent you. Get a damn monitor and get your back straight b) Stop working from your dinning room table or what not. Get a desk/comfortable chair c) Take breaks from the screen. Walk to the kitchen, make coffee and talk with the dam wooden spoon if you have noone else. Most of the problems with not doing this don't show up in the first few weeks of home working, but will be with your for much longer than that after a while. (if you can exercise, even better, but I won't recommend you to go to the gym at a time like this)

ebg13 6y ago
This is well and good, but our apartment which is great to live in is not large enough for two work spaces. Nor can we afford to lose the space for as many monitors. And it's not like we can suddenly move in the middle of pandemic quarantine to a new place with more room. When we weren't working at home we did not plan for our living arrangement to also be our working arrangement. Your advice is great, but only if you can arrange your home around being one or more offices in addition.
- fragmede 6y ago
  I find it hard to believe you live in an apartment that is too small to accomodate two work spaces. I can believe you live in an existing space that you could not have two workspaces added to it, but that's not the same thing. It may take sacrificing the normal living room/TV/kitchen/common area, but these aren't normal times we're living through. Whether you want to, is a different matter.
  - ebg13 6y ago
    > It may take sacrificing the normal living room/TV/kitchen/common area Because the best way to avoid losing your mind is to completely eliminate the only relaxation space in your home, yes?
    - WWLink 6y ago
      Folding tables always work.
      - anotheryou 6y ago
        Monitors and furniture all cost money though, but I agree, this thing would be sweet: https://media.manufactum.de/is/image/Manufactum/750s_shop/sekretaer-flatmate--28299_01.jpg https://media.manufactum.de/is/image/Manufactum/750s_shop/se... If you got the funds: 1 high res monitor and the laptop folded or under the table or anything is also already better.

musicale 6y ago

Working remotely is normally great, but working during this epidemic feels much harder, less enjoyable, and less productive - probably due in part to the steady barrage of warnings, restrictions and alarming news, all of which seem to contribute to worry and stress. Not to mention the increased isolation. Just taking care of basic necessities seems to be a lot harder and more time-consuming. But I can't complain much, since being able to work at all (not to mention staying housed and fed) is a pretty good thing! I've also caught up on sleep to some extent, which I highly recommend.

izend 6y ago

Quarantine work + 5 Year old without childcare = Extremely Difficult

wmeredith 6y ago
I've worked remotely 90% of the time for the last 7 years and this ain't it. My partner and I are now homeschooling both of our children while attempting to work full time remote. The results are mixed, with the kids mostly getting the short end of the stick so our lively hoods can remain intact.

CM30 6y ago

In addition to the points in the article, it's also worth considering that the amount and kind of work you're doing at the moment also likely isn't normal for remote working. That's because if your company is client based, many of said clients have likely stopped paying for work at the moment, and many organisations are struggling to find anything for their employees to do at all. They're also likely going to use this time to focus on internal projects and maintenance too, since that's the kind of work that's available right now. So if you do remote work after the pandemic/lockdown ends, you'll likely have a lot more on your plate than you do at the moment. For better or worse.