I actually find it much easier to work at the office. I have a lot fewer distractions plus having a separate environment for your work and your home life I think is important. Having said that, my commute is only a 15 minute cycle and I actually enjoy that part of the day.
I'd be interested to hear what other people feel and how they benefit from working from home.
I agree, I find it difficult to work at home - I mean, seriously, there's a big screen TV and Xbox right over there! When I do, I also find it easier to work in the kitchen... my regular workspace has too much "fun stuff" and is distracting.
Also, am I the only one who doesn't experience this "cubicle nightmare" scenario? I don't listen to inane chatter by coworkers, I'm not overly burdened with meetings - and the ones I do have are productive and enjoyable. Also, I bus/walk to work, so I don't really experience the gas-brake-honk freeway experience either...
Oh, and I never, ever get called. I get emailed, people drop by my office, but I think I've gotten less than 5 calls in the past 6 months.
Are there others out there like me who find it just fine to work at the office?
Also:
> We’re commuting instead of computing
I disagree with this vehemently. There's nothing wrong with going to work at a physical place - the commuting problem is not solved by making people sit still. It's solved by wide, far-reaching changes in how our society perceives quality of life. It's solved by denser urban centres, surrounded by denser suburbs, and the elimination of the gigantic American backyard. The freeway culture is a direct result of the American obsession with the house, two cars in the garage, and the huge backyard - go look in Asia or Europe, high quality of life without the massive suburban sprawl. We need to get on that train (somewhat literally) or continue to suffer twice daily down the highway.
i work from home, but i keep regular hours and have a desk that i tend to use "just for work" (not always; if my personal computing needs more power than my laptop then i need to sit in front of the "work" desktop).
i like it, but i am something of an anti-social clod. i can have a nap on my bed after lunch without anyone complaining. i can do the shopping at lunchtime (we live near shops). i don't waste time commuting (in fact i cook + wash pots in the time my partner commutes). i can surf the net as much as i want. play my music as loud as i want. have more space and more privacy and better furniture than i have had in any office.
but i should also admit additional pressures - i live in s america (chile). the work culture here is appalling (it's not what you do, but how many hours your boss sees you around for) and the wages low. by working from home i can do consulting "internationally". i do sometimes consider renting a small office nearby, just to keep work and "life" more cleanly separated. but it seems a lot of expense for little real gain.
[edit: while i agree with much of the article, i find the title a bit odd. i don't want to dedicate my whole life to others, so the "working week part" (9 til 5) makes sense to me. if i nap or surf the web in that time it's because i need a break - that doesn't mean i then have to work more hours to "make up". the idea is that i manage myself better than someone who isn't me could do]
I agree working at the office is much better. I have a family (young son and stay-at-home mom wife) and it is way too many distractions at home. I work at home 2x per week, and have 1hr45min commute each way other 3 days. But train ride is good for reading/programming too. Ideal situation: small work cabin in my backyard...
I prefer working in the office - normal commute is 20 minutes by train - the only problem at least in my office is no doors and i sit close to people who are in tele-sales , constant noise.
For thinking time, i have to get into a meeting room with my laptop - not ideal but still better than at home. I prefer the separation.
I'd be interested to hear what other people feel and how they benefit from working from home.