How do you utilize flexible work hours without feeling guilt?

Question

I work in a tech startup remotely and I have flexible work hours; meaning I can work whenever in the day without anyone batting an eye.This, among other things, means that I can do a lot of things in the day + get stuff done.I could get up early, hike a mountain, eat breakfast, put in some work, go for a run, put in some more work, go grab lunch, a coffee, and so on. But I always feel constrained by "working hours" and always feel guilt if I'm not inside my home office during daytime.Can anyone give tips & suggestions? How do you utilize flexible work hours without guilt?

gregjor · Accepted Answer

I have flexible work hours, remote. No one cares where or when I work, only that I get things done as promised. So I don't feel guilty as long as I'm delivering.You can stop thinking of your value and productivity in terms of hours spent occupying a chair, and instead think in terms of value added to your employer's business.

tsukikage · Answer

* actually get the things you committed to doing done, in (on average) the timescales you committed to
* work at least your contracted hours each week
* be available for real-time interaction with the people you are working with
Track these things and make sure you are doing them and keep doing them. If you are doing all these things and in the absence of negative feedback, there's no particular reason for concern or guilt.

brudgers · Answer

Just give it time.But also investigate whether maintaining a more structured routine is a better fit for you.What I mean is that the feeling that you label guilt might be more nuanced. Partly guilt, partly psychological benefits from routines.It took me a few years to realize that part of my makeup is that I want routine.Part of that, I think, is I don't want to spend brain cycles trying not to get-away-with things.YMMV. Good luck.