Well it is day two now of me working at home and I’ve set up the laptop that work let me use while I rest here at home. The only things I think I need to add to this laptop are Apache2 and PHP5 so that I can work on my PHP programming without having to Remote Desktop into my computer at work.
As some of you have read in previous posts I injured myself playing softball (or was it glacier snowboarding on the backside of Whistler?) and severed my Achilles tendon. Well since after the surgery I am still having pain and discomfort. If my foot is not elevated my toes turn purple and swell up like little sausages (or so my little sister tells me). So I discussed it with one of my bosses at work and we decided I could try and work from home.
What is needed to work at home?
- A computer – in this case I have a desktop and a laptop
- Internet Service – Wireless for me!
- VPN (Virtual Private Network) access – Need to remotely access my files/folders and various other resources
- X-Lite – Voice over IP (VoIP) software that allows me to have a phone extension so that people at work can get a hold of me. This also requires you have access to a VoIP Server, we use Asterix.
I guess those are the basics really. For all the above I can do 95% of my work, the other 5% would require me to be physically there so that I could do things like server maintenance, troubleshoot people’s computer problems, run around like a chicken with my head cut off etc. But there are other people that can do the physical work I currently cannot do so that’s fine by me.
Do I miss being at work?
Sure I do, I miss the social aspect of the job, being able to talk to people on a face-to-face basis. At home I get to talk to people via Live Messenger and X-Lite which isn’t horrible but I like to be around people.
So do any of you out there who are reading this work at home? Or does the majority work outside of the home?
The VyperMay 01, 2007 at 12:08:53
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Well I tried to work from home, but appaerantly selling alcohol out of one’s home is a violation of the BC liquor Laws.
RosieMay 01, 2007 at 12:26:10
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I’m not sure I could get any work done, working from home!
Tyler IngramMay 01, 2007 at 14:31:41
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You still trying to sell moonshine from your basement?
Rosie: Depending on your distractions I guess that might make it a bit harder to work.
AnielaMay 01, 2007 at 20:36:58
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I hope you get better soon. Must be nice to work from home tho..wish I could do that every day
I probably wouldn’t get too much done tho.
ElaineMay 02, 2007 at 07:55:21
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Oh I feel for you! My husband completely severed his achilles tendon playing basketball and had to have surgery. It’s a long recovery. Have you started physical therapy?
I think I would like working from home (being a nurse that’s not possible). I know a lot of people that do though and it works out well for them. Good luck Tyler
Tyler IngramMay 02, 2007 at 08:21:56
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Thanks for the kind words!
Aniela: Rosie said that too but I seem to get a decent amount of work done.
Elaine: My foot is till in a cast, then next week they take this cast off to take the aluminum stitches out and then either a) put me into a new fiberglass cast or b) a walking cast. Though the doctor advised against the walking cast because I could tear the tendon again if it hasn’t completely attached itself even with the surgery.
StephenMay 02, 2007 at 13:55:43
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Ooo Ooo! Me me! I work from home! I also work from the coffee shop down the street, or wherever I can steal some WiFi.
I’ve somehow ended up pushing myself harder working from home than at a real job. I need to stop that
StephenMay 02, 2007 at 13:56:07
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PS: What’s wrong with your MyAvatars?
Tyler IngramMay 02, 2007 at 23:49:17
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I have to look at the code, I haven’t change it since I put it in so something on the other side must of changed. Haven’t had time to look yet.
It’s nice working at home or a coffee shop huh?
StephenMay 03, 2007 at 07:51:07
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I actually prefer working on my couch in front of the TV the best, though I did totally build a website from start to finish sitting at a coffee shop.
Tyler IngramMay 03, 2007 at 08:04:01
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I like laying on the couch working. Its fun and makes my foot hurt alot less. Now if only I could take my skills with web programming to something I could do full-time and not have to leave home (unless I was meeting clients) the better.
Tyler IngramMay 03, 2007 at 09:41:57
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There we go, I fixed the MyAvatar thing. I seemed to be missing the http: in front of the a href when it sets one of the variables.
Which is weird because it was like that for a while and worked fine. MyBlogLog must of changed something and I’m not sure where their development section is.
AngieMay 05, 2007 at 09:54:28
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I wish I could say working from home was some sort of lovely strived for perk for you, but it looks like you were put into the situation by a nasty act of fate. Ouch. If you can ignore the pain and awkwardness of the cast, I hope you’ll have some time to savor the cool things about working from home.
Tyler IngramMay 05, 2007 at 14:48:50
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I was thinking about talking to my bosses about having me work from home permanently. I don’t really need to be at the office since I can get everything pretty much done from here. It’s so peaceful and relaxing being at home.
Linux operating systemMay 09, 2007 at 11:17:39
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Hi, what operating system you use on your Desktop and Laptop?
Tyler IngramMay 09, 2007 at 12:36:16
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My desktop and the laptop are both running Windows XP. I used to game alot so I never really used Linux for productivity it has always been used for Server based applications. Running things like LAMP, DNS, SQUID, to even running game servers.
Honestly if I could play window games on a Linux system without running some sort of emulator I would. I’ve always liked Linux and I first started using Linux back in the days of my old Macintosh where I would dual boot an LCIII (68k Mac)with FreeBSD.
SnoreDeeJul 01, 2008 at 08:58:37
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Ok, so I’m late to the post here. But, I assume you are back in the office now. How was the entire work from home experience (start to finish)? And if you are back at work, do you miss the working at home? Given the increasing gas costs, and the fact that I have a 15 mile drive to work, I’m considering working from home on a semi-regular basis. I’ve looked around lots of places on the web for experiences.
Tyler Ingram July 2nd, 2008 at 07:10:21[Link]
The beginning was great even if I was confined to th couch for the first bit. Being able to take a laptop outside later though and sit on the patio furniture in the sun was great.
I also had less interruptions being at home. People not calling me unless it was really important, no random conversations around me that would distract me from work.
The only thing I probably didn’t like that there was little social interaction. Though some people might not need social interaction while they are at work but I know i tend to feel lonely closer to the end. But since I was at home due to medical reasons I am sure working at home and being mobile would be better. You could get out and meet people for lunch etc.
As for productivity, I thought myself to be more productive because of the less distractions from being in the workplace. Though you have to pay attention and not procrastinate while you’re at home. You might start saying something like ‘I can do that later’ and find yourself not getting some tasks done. Though I suppose that depends on your work ethic and if you could not be easily distracted while you’re at home.
Try it and find out. It may be for you, it may not. I’d like to go back working at home again, though I would need to reorganize my workspace at home.