Working from home or working at uni

C

Lately I've been feeling like I work better at home but I keep feeling bad when I am at home. Sometimes I actually get more done at home but I still feel like I should be an university at my desk even though I might not get much real work done there. Its a little annoying.
Just wanted to know if its okay and how others manage their work.

T

You should only be working at home if you are at least as productive there as you are in the office.

I am working in a lecturing position and I tend to work from home one day per week because I can work free from distractions at home. If I didn't get much done at home though, I wouldn't do it.

I understand the pressure to be at your desk, as I have this too, but I ignore it because I know I'm working more effectively my way. Right now I work 11am - 7pm and I know this is frowned upon by the 9-5ers but I don't care. It suits me better at the moment. We have no obligation in our contracts to be in at a certain time or on certain days.

B

I think it's fine to work where's best for you, but at my uni there is a waiting list for offices so might be worth letting the uni know if you don't need that workspace so it can go to someone else.

T

I had this issue initially. I tried both, and realised I'm far more focused at university. So, I keep the lighter tasks for when I'm at home. It seems to work vice-versa for you and that's completely alright.

I became so dependent on the environment of my library to get work done, that I felt terrible staying at home. But I gradually got used to that too. I think it's only a matter of time and adjustment.

P

Quote From canatanx:
Lately I've been feeling like I work better at home but I keep feeling bad when I am at home. Sometimes I actually get more done at home but I still feel like I should be an university at my desk even though I might not get much real work done there. Its a little annoying.
Just wanted to know if its okay and how others manage their work.


What you are describing is presenteeism - the need to feel you are at your work desk to be seen to be productive.

It takes a wee while to get over that and you can help yourself by setting some goals to be achieved each day and then recognising that what is important is getting things done rather than clocking a certain number of hours up.

You might also need to start working on an attitude of caring less about what co-workers feel about your working preferences. That will also take time but it is very liberating.

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