re: Is working from home overrated?

I did it part time for 4 years, then in 2008 went full time working from home. I really like it.

I work for a software company.

I was going into the office, to just sit on the phone all day. It felt like a waste of effort. If I were to go into the office, I wouldn't really have anyone to talk to. And my work is freakishly quiet place.

I try to do something social at least once a week during work, and the wife and I are pretty social on the weekends.

I do get a bit in the mood where I want to get out of the house. And so I do. I can't work in coffee shops.

I also travel about once a month for work, usually for a week. So I get non stop interaction then. in fact, sometimes I go crazy having it all at once.

I think I would go crazy if I suddenly have to commute. And not have so much flexibility for grocery shopping/exercise

Also, my wife works from home 2x per week.

Can't argue with any of that

I do it every Friday and about 10-15 weeks a year. I used to dick around and it cost me time on the backend. Now that I have more work than time, I like because I don't have to talk to clients or staff and can just rock it out.

These days I work everywhere, though. At home, at the clients office, in the hotel before going in and after getting back, airport, plane, while on vacation, while eating, while shitting, while sleeping.

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When you have young kids working from home is an absolute joke. Get ready to either a) wake up at some ridiculous hour so you can get shite done or b) stay up late. My wife works from home mostly are it is a major PITA.

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Cardinal rule at my company is that telecommuting is not a substitute for child care. The kids go to day care as though both parents work in an office. During the summer, my wife (teacher) is home, so she takes care of the kids and I work in a separate room as though I'm not even home unless I choose to leave the room.

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the lack of social interaction is becoming an issue. Anyone else have those challenges?

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yes, plus I was padding around the house in my pj's until 10 before I got to work.

Yep, I could have done it all summer last year but decided I preferred the office.

I have my second kid because I work from home.

There are pros and cons to working from home. You definitely miss the social interaction but I have actually found I don't really want to interact with anyone from work. I have two kids under two so being able to walk upstairs and see them when I want is amazing.

Cons are you miss the social interaction but I have found you don't miss it after all. Mainly for me because I don't want to be around/talk about people from work after a day of work.

I've been doing it for 10 years and would have trouble going back to an office environment. Actually, I travel 30-50% of the time, but office on Mondays and Fridays most weeks. I'm also on my own on Hotels other than when in front of customers, at trade shows with my team or in company meetings. I've been to our home office in Mineapolis less than 15 times in 10 years. See my boss about 4 times/yr, but speak to him a few times/wk.

The main positive is freedom in spades. I get my hair cut, oil changed, grass cut, etc during the week. I miss some stuff for my kids, but I also make stuff a lot of Dads don't get to. I do miss flirting with the office hotties back in the day.

I'm sure to have lunch with buddies or my Dad or Wife a few times/month to keep the sanity.

Not overrated at all. I love it. I have plenty of friends outside of work that I can hang out with, and meet for lunch sometimes. ESPN on all day in the background. It's Easy to find time to do little things around the house. I'm honestly amazed at how much time is wasted in an office because the only thing you can do is work, if that makes sense.