> You lose ambient awareness of coworkers’ problems, and asking for help is a bigger burden.

When I was in school, I discovered that I studied more effectively and efficiently when I'm surrounded by other students who's also studying.

Then at work, I found I worked much more productively if my coworkers are all doing their work.

It's not just simply peer pressure, it's an atmosphere effect, it tell you "hey, this place is for doing this thing, now you do it too", it makes you concentrate. Sometimes being concentrated is a good thing.

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satvikpendem 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

That sounds akin to like body doubling, a method used by those who have ADHD.

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card_zero 4 hours ago | parent | next [-]

Is there also an opposite effect? I concentrate best in solitude, preferably somewhere like an abandoned lighthouse.

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bigiain 3 hours ago | parent | next [-]

I'm not sure that's necessarily "opposite"?

I feel much the same as the article author in that

"this place is for doing this thing, now you do it too"

Is somehow powerfully motivating. But at least for me it's about the place, not the other people in the place.

I had the same covid-related journey from an office worker to unexpectedly fully remote. But I'm also lucky/privileged enough to be able to dedicate a room in my house that's quite separate from the rest of the house, and for me that's "where I work". I had coworkers who started out having to work from their kitchen table, some with housemates or children around - pretty sure that would have completely killed my productivity.

I do sometimes resent losing that room, effectively subsidising my boss by relieving his office rent costs. It used to be my "workshop" where I used my 3D printers, built drones, tinkered with electronics, and repaired stuff that broke - and I just don't do those things much any more because going into that room now feels way to much like "work" not "hobby or play".

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WalterBright 2 hours ago | parent [-]

We have the Dlang conference once a year where we all meet in person. It's amazingly productive. And yes, we do video chatting frequently. It just isn't the same.

	▲	card_zero 2 hours ago \| parent [-]
		If only it could be daily, all year round! Or maybe the part about it happening once a year is a vital ingredient.

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MarcelOlsz an hour ago | parent | prev | next [-]

I'm still trying to replicate my favourite working condition: being on a laptop in the middle of a concert. Pure focus.

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taurath 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

Some folks just socialize internally, or have enough little self loops to approach a task in multiple ways

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2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

[deleted]

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godelski 2 hours ago | parent | prev [-]

I prefer working in person iff I have a door.

Doors are a necessity in the work place and I hate open offices. 1 other person is okay but I'd rather a small room than no room.

A door let's be close out the rest of the world when I'm in the zone. There's time for collaboration but there's time for isolation. In a physical place I can turn off all notifications and close my door. I can make a space where there's low physical distractions like noise or people walking in front of my desk (or talking 5 feet away...) A slack setting of "away" is interpreted as either "eh, they'll probably answer" or "they forgot to turn it back off" (or they don't notice/care)[0,1]. But a physical door, people are much more cautious about knocking on it when it's usually open. It's not the same thing as a busy sign.

But I also don't think a door should be usually closed. It should usually be open. Indie collaboration but also respect your coworkers. A door is a great communication tool that you just can't get online.

[0] and for the love of god, do not hit me up with "hey". It's an asynchronous messaging system. I'll read the notification as it comes across my screen. Don't try to become synchronous with me that way. Call me, physically find me, or ask when I'm free for a call.

[1] seriously, my time is just as valuable as yours. To me it's even more valuable.