My manager pulled me aside yesterday and said my output has slipped. Honestly he's right. I'm getting distracted by the kids, I take longer lunch breaks to help out, and I'm not putting in the same hours I used to at the office. But I'm also actually present for my family. Don't know how to balance this. Feel like I'm failing at both. Anyone figured out how to do this right?
That's a tough spot man. Working from home with kids around is like trying to grill with charcoal in a windstorm. Have you tried setting up a specific work zone they know is off limits during certain hours?
Dude I feel this. The distraction factor is real when they're home. Maybe talk to your manager about adjusted hours instead of just output, like if you start earlier or stay later those core hours are locked in.
That's tough timing feedback but also honest. The good news is you know what's happening. Adjust your setup, maybe talk to your manager about realistic expectations when working from home with kids around.
Working from home with kids is a whole different beast. Are you trying to work while they're home or is it the lack of commute time that's throwing you off? Might need some hard boundaries with your schedule.
Real talk, home is full of interruptions. It's hard to focus. Can you find a coffee shop to work from a couple days a week? Sometimes just a change of scenery helps me get more done.
At least he told you straight up instead of it showing up in a review. That's actually a chance to fix it before it becomes a bigger problem. Maybe set office hours and stick to them hard.
This is the real struggle nobody talks about. You're in your home office and your kid knocks or you hear them and suddenly an hour disappears. Have you tried doing a specific work block where they know you're unavailable?
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Working from home is weird because you're always available but also always distracted by the family stuff. Set real boundaries if you can. Specific work hours, a space that's just for work, and stick to it. Helps me anyway.