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People who work from home... — Brooklynian

People who work from home...

carmen
carmen
edited November -1 in Park Slope
How do you keep yourself from going stir crazy?
My apt is a sh*thole (and not actually in PS but there's NOTHING to do around here...) and I'm really tired of sitting in here or at tea lounge. Sometimes I feel like venturing into the city just for a change of scenery but I need free wifi which is a rarity in manhattan.

Suggestions? If I don't see another human being soon I'm gonna kill mahself!

Comments

  • kitkat
    kitkat
    I work from home about 75% of the time.

    I need to pack and move and my house looks like a shithole too. Now, if packing and cleaning interest you, you can come over here :-)
  • carmen
    carmen
    Don't tempt me. I'm seriously bored most of the time.

    Wanna give me your apt?! I want to move to the slope...
  • benst
    benst
    Trust me, I'm leaving this apt. with good reason (and that's about all I'm going to say about it online....).

    If you get tempted, PM me.

    Seriously, maybe you can work from the library or rotate to a new coffee shop. I spend so much time on conf. calls when I'm home that I haven't gone stir crazy yet. Although I have taken a nap or two during the day :-)
  • wtgirl
    wtgirl
    I work from home and now what I do is try to find a gig that is one or two days/week on location so I don't go insane. But I did just hear a report on NPR about self-employed and how when people band together and share office space like a cooperative, they are not only more productive in their work time but, make more money, and then feel less guilty taking time out during the day to say go t othe gym. I wonder if I should go that route? I don't want to sell my freedom for an office job, but it is nice to work with other people. There is that space in WT (mostly artists studios and design spaces) on 8th Avenue and like 18th Street?
  • carmen
    carmen
    Im going to try to start going to the Jelly things, but theyre only once a month. This is not enough. I'm a serious people person and its killliiinnngg meeeeeee
  • bryan88
    bryan88
    What are the Jelly things?
  • smallbiz475
    smallbiz475

    Subject: Working from home...

    Working form home can be quite enjoyable. Here are some activities that help avoid being stir crazy:

    Going to the local deli to purchase lunch. (A&S Pork Store rocks!!)
    Picking up the mail from my mailbox.
    Going for a walk. (Smith Street is so close.)
    Cycling around Prospect Park to get some exercise.
    Picking up groceries for dinner.
    Calling other folks that work at home on the phone.
    Moving my car for alternate side. (Bonus is meeting other folks working from home.)

    Hope this helps.

    SB
  • laura marsella
    laura marsella
    Don't forget:

    taking a nap with the Blackberry and phone in close reach and remembering to clear your throat and not sound sleepy if the phone rings

    keeping the cats off of the computer

    posting on Brooklynian

    Reading Dlisted.com and Cuteoverload.com
  • smallbiz475
    smallbiz475
    Flexichick wrote: taking a nap with the Blackberry and phone in close reach and remembering to clear your throat and not sound sleepy if the phone rings
    Speaking of nap time...

    Zzzz.....
  • puckbrooklyn
    puckbrooklyn
    SmallBiz475 wrote: [quote=Flexichick]taking a nap with the Blackberry and phone in close reach and remembering to clear your throat and not sound sleepy if the phone rings
    Speaking of nap time...

    Zzzz.....

    No kidding. This is always the time of day where I'm ready to sleep...the weather doesn't help
  • ljnd
    ljnd
    I work at home most of the time, but occasionally I get these 3 or 4 month gigs where I'm in the city. (Once it was Newark. Aaack!) So I get to miss being at home, and really enjoy it while I'm there. The naptime benefit is...not to be underestimated. Also escaping to the gym. Or, yes, bike-riding around the park. Or doing a Co-op shift.

    And I do a lot of blog reading.
  • cat
    cat

    Subject: same boat...

    WT Girl... I am in the same boat as you. I am not productive enough and agree if I was in a space with others, I would fare better. Or broke up the week more. (not that I don't have enough various 'projects'... not all paying!)

    What kind of things do you do 'on location?'

    And what is up with that space... on 8th Avenue?

    Can you rent a desk in there??

    Thanks!

    cat.
  • jasonlepes
    jasonlepes
    I'm also packing and planning my move + painting. I've got enough work for all of us :-)
  • carmen
    carmen
    Oh here's a link to the Jelly things-

    http://wiki.workatjelly.com/

    its basically where people open their homes/workspaces to groups of people who work from home so everyone doesn't get stir crazy. Desks/chairs and wifi...plus people who share your cabin fever. I think I'm going to the one this Fri- I havnt been to one yet so this will be new to me!
  • raw
    raw

    Subject: Re: Working from home...

    SmallBiz475 wrote: Working form home can be quite enjoyable. Here are some activities that help avoid being stir crazy:

    Going to the local deli to purchase lunch. (A&S Pork Store rocks!!)
    Picking up the mail from my mailbox.
    Going for a walk. (Smith Street is so close.)
    Cycling around Prospect Park to get some exercise.
    Picking up groceries for dinner.
    Calling other folks that work at home on the phone.
    Moving my car for alternate side. (Bonus is meeting other folks working from home.)

    Hope this helps.

    SB
    I thought we were talking about WORKING from home. This sounds like hanging out in the neighborhood. If you can convince anyone to pay me for doing the activities that you list, please hook me up!
  • veets
    veets
    Raw.. I think that listing is one that describes what people who work at home do to take the necessary breaks from working a solo act.. things that keep contact with the outside world and allow a person to restrengthen and "go back to work." many of us who work at home have lists like that.. daily patterns like that.
  • nubnu
    nubnu
    I work from home 90% of the time also and I just love the freedom!
    Yes, sometimes I just need to take a break and talk to a live human being.
    Most of the time I am so busy (I am a casting director) that I dont even notice the day fly by!
    When its a bit slow, I go for a walk, run errands, go food shopping, read magazines, watch tv, and plan my following work week.
    If all else fails, I go to my salon and get a mani pedi wax hair blow out combo, which literally kills half a day!

    Good luck!
  • gooner
    gooner
    I have been working from home for a few years now. Things that I have found very helpful:

    1) Start working at the same time every day.

    2) Coffee shops are your friend

    3) Schedule lunch meetings, coffee meetings, whatever meetings in Manhattan as often as possible. Once a week is ideal.

    4) Brooklyn Library internet is your friend.

    5) Coffee shops are your friend.

    6) Unless you have a pressing deadline, stop working at the same time every day.
  • carmen
    carmen
    So here's a question-
    I don't have a printer (and I almost never need one, AND I have no room in my apt for one [seriously]) Is there a place that offers public printing? Either where you can get online or where you can hook up a laptop?
  • annaclaire
    annaclaire
    Brooklyn Public Library has printing, though for a fee. For B&W, its 15 cents a page or so (or some such figure that's cheap if you're not printing in quantity). Color printouts are expensive - a buck a page or something, though I've not used it.
  • smallbiz475
    smallbiz475

    Subject: HP B&W Laser Printer Available (Free)

    Does someone want a B&W Laser Printer? (HP LaserJet 1012)

    I recently replaced my printer since it does not work with Microsoft Vista. It works fine with Windows XP. It has a relatively new ink cartridge and is in mint condition.

    Please drop me a note if you are interested and willing to pick it up in Northern Park Slope.

    I'll edit this post if someone grabs it.

    SB

    PS I would prefer that it goes to someone who is working from home.
  • carmen
    carmen
    damnit. I have vista on my computer or else I would love to have it! I'd cram it in a closet somewhere...

    How are you liking vista? I just got this laptop and I'm kind of lost- I used to use XP, then I was on a mac for about 4 months, now im on vista and my mac and my mind is having a hard time adjusting to the hybrid OS that vista seems to be...
  • smallbiz475
    smallbiz475
    You caught me fibbing.

    I actually use Windows XP Pro x64 which uses similar printer drivers to Vista. I figured that most folks here would be more familiar with Vista.

    I have been avoiding Vista like the plague. One of my colleagues recently went through the pain of downgrading his brand new laptop to Windows XP.

    I cannot say much more about Vista.

    SB
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