Its been over 12 months since I have been working remotely. I have been interested in working remotely (Working from home WFH) for some time. I would try to WFH a day here and there, but not consistently.
After about 3 weeks of being asked to WFH ( due to the coronavirus restrictions) I had to make a few adjustments to make me productive. I already had a place in my study with a decent work table and chair. The new additions were :
- improved lighting ( brighter overhead lights to brighten up the study )
- better monitor ( work lent me one, so I had dual screens )
- regular hours ( start and stop work at near about the same time every work day )
Pros:
- time and costs saving with not having to travel to the office
- time for a morning work 2 or 3 times a week
- time for study in the evening
- able to run errands during the day or early evening
- not catching the winter flu in 2020
- able to accommodate late night and early morning meetings
Cons:
- miss the office buzz and hallway chats. A MS Teams meeting does not really cut it when compared to in-person
- not taking regular breaks during the work day, led to eye strain
- increase in energy costs
- less inclined to stop work even if its late or not feeling 100%