Anyone here WAH?

[mishap]

Do you get lonely?

I telecommute, so I'm responsible for being at my desk from at least 9-5. (Sometimes in the off-hours too, but I usually get a head's up.) We have a nanny for the baby; DS1 goes to school. Basically, I work all day with very little adult interaction, take care of the kids at night (DH works late almost every night), and then watch TV or play on my tablet until I fall asleep.

My life is ridiculously lame, and I am lonely because of the lack of adult interaction. Doing things like going to the gym on my lunch hour are not an option -- I'm supposed to be working and everyone in the office generally works through their lunch. I can run an errand here or there, but not every day.

Anyone else WAH? Any tips?

[beachdweller]

I WAH for 5 years and it worked out ok for me. I did get lonely though, and made it a point to make lunch plans at least 2 days per week. Do you have friends close by? If you don't feel like you can "leave", you can have someone over to your house for lunch. I did that fairly regularly too. So many pros and cons to WAH -- isolation is def the big con to me. After 5 years, I took a different job and no longer WAH. Now I sometimes wish I could work in my PJs again!

[lmb5109]

I've been working from home for over a year now. My only adult interaction during the day is when I walk the dog and happen to talk to someone on the street or when we go to the dog park after work.

How can your work expect you to work through your lunch? My boss is very big on making sure we get out during the day and that we are not online till all hours of the night. Sometimes we work 50-60 hour weeks but she makes sure we take a afternoon off to make up for it.

It's lonely sometimes but I wouldn't give it up and have to put on makeup and real clothes everyday.

[hocus]

I WAH with a nanny. Yes I get lonely.

Overall WAH works for us (I could also go into the office which is about 40 mins away) but it certainly has it downsides. I don't see anyone from the office and I miss out on a lot of social stuff that makes it easier to get through the day. I take on more of the kids stuff. This is be more noticeable when the kids are in daycare because I'll do pick up and drop off.

When both kids are in school full time (so in about 4 years) I am considering transitioning back into the office.

[oregonpachey]

I work from home. I don't get lonely because DH stays at home with the boys. It's a small house so I get to hear everything that goes on.

[keh2oblue]

Really, you can't take any time for a lunch? When I WFH, my schedule was very flexible, so I could get out of the house any time I wanted as long as I answered the phone.

[savannah11]

Yes, and I had a hard time adjusting at first. The only human contact I had was the drop off and pick up at daycare and when DH came home in the evenings. After about a year I got used it and have really enjoyed the flexibility it provides. I have time to work out because I don't have to get ready and commute in the mornings. I can run errands during my lunch period. While I still think I'd prefer to be in the office it would be hard to give up the extra time.

[mishap]

May 18, 2012 16:16:06 GMT -5 keh2oblue said:

Really, you can't take any time for a lunch? When I WFH, my schedule was very flexible, so I could get out of the house any time I wanted as long as I answered the phone.

I can take brief breaks for lunch, yes. My boss takes 20 minutes every day to go get his lunch and is then back at his desk and eats while he works. I work for a news organization, so I'm expected to be available if a story breaks.

[jena]

I did it for about 6 months. I'm really not cut out for it. As soon as DH got home I would just talk and talk and talk. I could see his eyes glaze over and I just couldn't stop. Going back to an office probably saved my marriage. kidding... kind of.

[backinpgh]

I work at home and go into the office once a week, although it's only part time. I must say I really enjoy my time at the office so I can get out of the house, not worry about the baby, have some adult conversations, and exercise my brain muscles.

[backinpgh]

PS Do you have any opportunities to attend networking events or professional organization events?

Also, do you have any coop work spaces in your area? These are popping up in my city like crazy. Space rental is really inexpensive, and you get the chance to be around other people and even collaborate at times (depending on what your field is of course)