My team recently moved from an office with wall to wall windows and a beautiful city view to an interior room with no windows. Combined with a 25% longer commute (2hr total daily) has remote work looking more appealing by the day.
I think the agency consideration is huge - What ability do I have to make choices and decisions for things that directly impact my life?
My recommondation for a Two Percent method to reduce the downside of commuting is to make it an active commute. Cycling or walking/jogging to or from work turns a commute from a drain to a benefit. And yes, I think it is worthwhile to prioritize this when selecting employment and living locations.
I have worked both in-person and remotely, for different companies, and I would choose remote every time.
When I worked in-person, my stress level was considerably higher. Commuting, wearing uncomfortable business-casual clothing, being stuck inside all day with limited opportunity for movement, having to deal with annoying or unpleasant co-workers, and just the general uncomfortableness of offices that are too hot and stuffy and have lights that make you want to scream...plus the stress of having to drive an hour home to pick up a sick kid at school, or being stuck working late and having to scramble to find someone to let the dog out so you don't come home to poop on the living room carpet....
I much prefer working at home, where I can wear comfortable clothing, I'm in control of my environment, I can take a break and go for a walk or do some pull-ups or a quick yoga practice to re-set my brain, and if I have to work late it's not so bad because I am already at home. Plus, I spend much less money on gas and car repairs, and I don't have to deal with packing a lunch.
It probably helps that I'm a bit of an introvert, and I have social things and connections outside of work. I do have friends who hated working at home and got depressed doing it, because they lived alone and work was their main form of social contact.
I’ve done remote work since 2016. I’m intentionally understanding of some of its limitations but its upsides far outweigh those progressions inside a corporation.
I have the time, space, and energy to write, play, create, and be social outside of the 9-5. The three components of structure that Sam laid out in this article are imperative for longevity in this work set up.
I wonder if those three NYTs writers hit “submit” on that article and then signed with dread at the thought of another commute home…
I used to commute 3 hours a day. This was before podcasts etc so the drive was boring. So I started working from home some days. My department chair and Dean didn’t approve. So they created my lecture schedule so I taught the first period and last period of the day. In other words I had to be in the office 10+ hours a day. So I quit and am much happier. I found a new job. I’m very social - meet with friends bw meetings and work during the day. Great post!
My team recently moved from an office with wall to wall windows and a beautiful city view to an interior room with no windows. Combined with a 25% longer commute (2hr total daily) has remote work looking more appealing by the day.
I think the agency consideration is huge - What ability do I have to make choices and decisions for things that directly impact my life?
My recommondation for a Two Percent method to reduce the downside of commuting is to make it an active commute. Cycling or walking/jogging to or from work turns a commute from a drain to a benefit. And yes, I think it is worthwhile to prioritize this when selecting employment and living locations.
I have worked both in-person and remotely, for different companies, and I would choose remote every time.
When I worked in-person, my stress level was considerably higher. Commuting, wearing uncomfortable business-casual clothing, being stuck inside all day with limited opportunity for movement, having to deal with annoying or unpleasant co-workers, and just the general uncomfortableness of offices that are too hot and stuffy and have lights that make you want to scream...plus the stress of having to drive an hour home to pick up a sick kid at school, or being stuck working late and having to scramble to find someone to let the dog out so you don't come home to poop on the living room carpet....
I much prefer working at home, where I can wear comfortable clothing, I'm in control of my environment, I can take a break and go for a walk or do some pull-ups or a quick yoga practice to re-set my brain, and if I have to work late it's not so bad because I am already at home. Plus, I spend much less money on gas and car repairs, and I don't have to deal with packing a lunch.
It probably helps that I'm a bit of an introvert, and I have social things and connections outside of work. I do have friends who hated working at home and got depressed doing it, because they lived alone and work was their main form of social contact.
I’ve done remote work since 2016. I’m intentionally understanding of some of its limitations but its upsides far outweigh those progressions inside a corporation.
I have the time, space, and energy to write, play, create, and be social outside of the 9-5. The three components of structure that Sam laid out in this article are imperative for longevity in this work set up.
I wonder if those three NYTs writers hit “submit” on that article and then signed with dread at the thought of another commute home…
I worked in academia for 7 years. Most academics work a hybrid schedule, coming into the university only when they need to teach.
I used to commute 3 hours a day. This was before podcasts etc so the drive was boring. So I started working from home some days. My department chair and Dean didn’t approve. So they created my lecture schedule so I taught the first period and last period of the day. In other words I had to be in the office 10+ hours a day. So I quit and am much happier. I found a new job. I’m very social - meet with friends bw meetings and work during the day. Great post!
The job of university administrators, in my experience, is to mummify good ideas in red tape.