Working from home

Posted on Thursday, January 17, 2008

Leo of Zen Habits (one of my favorite blogs) recently posted asking readers for tips on working from home. I left the following comments on his blog:

Bad TV. Yep, that’s the secret. If you watch good TV, you will turn around from your desk and watch. Same with good music… you will pay attention to the music. Bad TV and bad music make you work harder. Bad TV is any variation of judge shows or jerry springer in the background. (I like noise)

I also kiss my wife goodbye in the morning on my way to the office… she works from home as well in the other room, but getting in to a work attitude helps a lot.

I'm dead serious. The best thing for me to do is watch bad TV or movies I've seen a hundred times (the mix is usually A Few Good Men, Friday, My Cousin Vinny, Tin Cup ... ). Not awesome movies, but that's the point. If you listen to new music or watch new tv shows,  it only takes away your attention.

Some people say "work in silence" - no way. I can't do that, it drives me crazy.

Do you have any little things that help you work during the day?

Jayme

Comments

• Michael Eaton on 1.17.2008 at 10:15 PM

• I don't agree with the bad music part. ;-) I gotta listen to good music to get into the zone. It's amazing how often I find myself totally in the zone with metal cranked as loud as I can get it.

  I almost never have the TV on, although my son does watch Nick Jr. in the morning, but I block that out.

  About once a week, I make sure I get out of the house and have lunch with friends.

• Jayme on 1.17.2008 at 10:23 PM

• Metal always works! Good music can be in the eye of the beholder, I'm a big fan of singer/songwriter so excellent lyrics and acoustic guitar is GREAT music for me - not good to work to though! Getting out of the house is something I need to do more :)

  Jayme

• Michael Eaton on 1.17.2008 at 10:43 PM

• I do know people that can't work with any noise. it's strange that I can crank out code with the music blasting, but if I pick up a book, I need absolutle silence. My wife can listen to music AND transcribe from tape (from a doctor with a very thick accent) with no problems.

  I will admit that sometimes it's metal (most of the time actually), but there are times where I need something mellow like Sinatra or Paul Simon.

• Stacy on 1.18.2008 at 1:28 PM

• Sometimes, I *have* to put music on so that I hear more than the laptop fan and confirm that indeed I am not the last person on earth. But it really depends on what I'm doing. I can't concentrate on specs when good music is on, but I can write up my TPS reports.

  I have my own space too--it's a separate room in the house so that I'm not distracted by the TV or Wii or household chores or the cat's cuteness.

  I also invoke the Mr. Rogers sweater methodology. Once I enter my office and put on the 'office sweater' I am transformed into the magical online world of work at Telligent. It's almost like being there...except there's no one to talk to, it's flippin' cold, and nobody delivers free breakfast.

• Jason on 1.18.2008 at 2:56 PM

• For me, I have to have something playing too. But generally, I'll have the audio portion of Top Gear playing in the background, as music tends to distract me too much. Strange, huh?

• kenali dan kunjungi objek wisata di pandeglang on 10.07.2009 at 9:05 PM

• Good music can be in the eye of the beholder, I'm a big fan of singer/songwriter so excellent lyrics and acoustic guitar is GREAT music for me

• replica watches on 3.17.2010 at 3:30 AM

• thank you and wish a nice day

• HP0-S21 on 5.13.2010 at 1:59 AM

• www.dzblog.net/.../Various+Cisco+C http://www.dzblog.net/brooke/ http://www.dzblog.net/victor/ www.dzblog.net/.../zhuhuijing

• taylor jerseys on 5.19.2010 at 3:52 AM

• I like to work with music, it will give me power.

• bo jackson jersey on 5.20.2010 at 1:49 AM

• I think those people agree with you are passionate. Not bad. Everyone has the style they prefer.

• Indonesia Furniture Reclaimed Teak on 5.28.2010 at 8:37 AM

• Thank you for another great article. Where else could anyone get that kind of information in such a perfect way of writing? I have a presentation next week, and I am on the look for such information.

• John Elway jersey on 6.14.2010 at 1:43 AM

• I think good music is very important for the work.

• picture frames uk on 6.25.2010 at 5:35 AM

• The favorite blog link you have updated here is also my favorite.I love working home and making a good amount of money.

• replica handbags on 6.25.2010 at 11:04 PM

• thanks for your post i was looking for something like this. Ill be subscribing to your RSS feed.

• fiwedding on 6.29.2010 at 4:18 AM

• hey, can you provide us OOP tutorial for PHP 5??

• Mary on 7.02.2010 at 9:33 PM

• I like to work from home. I do not have to pay for gas and I can eat anything I want at my desk. I agree with you about bad tv. All that is on during the day is re-runs or news. I mute it on the weather and rock-n-roll.

• replica watches on 7.03.2010 at 3:39 PM

• Excellent post thanks for sharing for some people you really have no way of seeing if the I found so many interesting in your blog especially its discussion.

• juicy couture on 7.06.2010 at 8:42 PM

• It's a precise and informative article. Things are formed symptom less. Get to know lot's of artifact which were unbeknownst to me. It's truly one of the most facilitative article I get ever read. Thanks for to percentage sensing for author from you. Symmetrical I bookmarked this diplomat as asymptomatic for to get supply from it in incoming.

• louis vuitton on 7.11.2010 at 4:15 AM

• I most definitely agree with what you have said here people who on the go theres enough Thank you for another great article.

• online vegas casino guide on 7.12.2010 at 9:13 AM

• It's not about the work - it's all about our psychology.

  We feel like home.That's it.

• Travelling Italy on 7.13.2010 at 2:10 PM

• I wish I could work from home either.

• loho on 7.13.2010 at 6:57 PM

• www.cheapairmaxs.com/.../mens-air-max-87 mens nike air max 87

  www.cheapairmaxs.com/.../womens-air-max- womens nike air max 87

  www.cheapairmaxs.com/.../nike-air-max-18 nike air max 180

  www.cheapairmaxs.com/.../nike-air-max-36 nike air max 360

• العاب on 7.15.2010 at 7:58 AM

• thanks

• Lace wigs on 7.15.2010 at 11:19 AM

• Thanks for informative sharing.Birkin would make you look cute and I really want to try this!

• quiz nights on 7.15.2010 at 11:17 PM

• Well...There are online businesses that resell public domain book titles who employ copyright research services to very the book status.So you can try this one...

• fake watch on 7.16.2010 at 2:54 AM

• Thanks for your interesting post.

• louis vuitton on 7.18.2010 at 11:58 PM

• I most definitely agree with what you have said here clutches like Ella and sassy Thank you for another great article.

• louis vuitton on 7.19.2010 at 1:43 PM

• I most definitely agree with what you have said here DesignItalian designers such as Thank you for another great article.

• Rushmore Online Casino Review on 7.20.2010 at 7:34 AM

• Nice article...Hope to read from you the nearest future.

• vibram fivefingers on 7.21.2010 at 2:29 AM

• It's my first time to post a reply, thanks for your sharing.

  You are my hero. This...yes. Yesyesyesyes.

  Beautifully done, both the content and the format.

  Definitely recommending this all around.

  I love it!

  last year, I wrote about the same thing.

  could you write more about it?

• tiffany jewellery on 7.22.2010 at 1:50 AM

• This is all very interesting information. I will be very useful.

• Ed Hardy Clothing on 7.25.2010 at 9:36 PM

• I found so many interesting in your blog especially its discussion. keep up the good work.

• replica watches on 7.26.2010 at 2:28 AM

• www.kopeez.com/.../Swiss-Army-64.h

• cosplay on 7.26.2010 at 4:14 AM

• I have been reading your posts frequently. I need to say that you are doing a fantastic work. Please keep up the great work.

• replica watches on 7.28.2010 at 2:56 AM

• Have a look at www.watchesimple.com/.../fossil-watches. to get high quality replica watches at a very low price!

• replica watches on 7.30.2010 at 9:07 PM

• It is a very nice stuff you are sharing us! Thanks for it !You made a good point about the blind spots.I like your article!I really like it, you write well,Thank you for sharing, I will always come back.

• replica handbags on 7.30.2010 at 9:09 PM

• Amazing post! thanx a lot! i hope i will back here soon,Thanks for this information, it was very helpful. Keep up the good work.This is very helpfull for me .Thanks,Great entry. I was helpful.

Leave a Comment