I think this highly depends on the person. For me, it wasn't just about enforcing separation of equipment.
For a time, I was using the same desk for work during the day and then switching inputs on my screen to use my personal gaming PC in the evenings. I still shut off notifications, never had notifications on my phone, etc.
This wasn't enough.
So I set up a small desk in another part of the apartment and made that the work desk. It was better than using the same desk.
This wasn't enough.
I've realized that a lot of my emotional states and memory recall are very anchored to where I am physically. Just being in the same physical space after a stressful workday was the problem. Glancing at the plant in the corner that I was staring at while contemplating a challenging problem earlier in the day immediately made me start thinking about work again.
> Or go take a walk.
Walking is one of the best ways I've coped. But I also live in a four seasons climate, and this isn't always possible.
As much as I dislike the idea of going back to a physical office space, I think this is one of the hidden costs of WFH.
For me, work from home didn't really change the hardest things about shutting down. It has never been (again, for me) the equipment or the emails or the messages, but that the mind doesn't stop chewing on things. I can put away the computers and go for a walk and still have my mind working over whatever problems I was trying to solve. I think it's an example of the mind working against itself, because I enjoy solving problems but I also enjoy putting work aside after hours.
>For a time, I was using the same desk for work during the day and then switching inputs on my screen to use my personal gaming PC in the evenings. I still shut off notifications, never had notifications on my phone, etc.
I mean yea I have this too but I don't actively look at notifications. I'm constantly "on" and nervous but Ive just been that most of my life.
And now I'm in office. I do not know if its gonna get better.
> But I also live in a four seasons climate, and this isn't always possible.
Kind of curious what season it’s impossible to walk in, and how it’s related to 4 seasons?
I’ve lived in 4 season climates my whole live, and the only time I can think of it would be inadvisable to take a walk (though not impossible) is in the middle of a thunderstorm/typhoon.
I don't think it's about "advisability" per se, but desirability. I probably shouldn't have used the word "possible". I guess possible relative to my ability to deal with it.
Sure, you can walk in a snowstorm, when it's -15F, when it's downpouring, when it's 100F, but these are hardly a refuge from the inside environment in many cases.
Don't get me wrong. I've spent plenty of time doing exactly this, but my underlying point is that it's not a consistent or low friction option.
I think this highly depends on the person. For me, it wasn't just about enforcing separation of equipment.
For a time, I was using the same desk for work during the day and then switching inputs on my screen to use my personal gaming PC in the evenings. I still shut off notifications, never had notifications on my phone, etc.
This wasn't enough.
So I set up a small desk in another part of the apartment and made that the work desk. It was better than using the same desk.
This wasn't enough.
I've realized that a lot of my emotional states and memory recall are very anchored to where I am physically. Just being in the same physical space after a stressful workday was the problem. Glancing at the plant in the corner that I was staring at while contemplating a challenging problem earlier in the day immediately made me start thinking about work again.
> Or go take a walk.
Walking is one of the best ways I've coped. But I also live in a four seasons climate, and this isn't always possible.
As much as I dislike the idea of going back to a physical office space, I think this is one of the hidden costs of WFH.
It's not insurmountable, but neither is it easy.