The Perils of Working From Home + what to do about them

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Working from home. That’s the dream, isn’t it?

Imagine ultimate flexibility with your work and personal schedules, not having to deal with rush hour traffic, not to mention working comfortably parked in your PJ pants on the couch.

Sounds awesome if you ask me.

But there are some tidbits about working from home that aren’t quite as glamourous. And that’s what we’re talking about today.

Don’t worry, I’m not trying to scare you, and after reading this post I’m sure you’ll be just as ever to start your working from home journey.

You’ll become privy to little annoyances and issues that crop up, but we’ll also discuss how to remedy these situations so that you remain comfortable, healthy, and productive while working at home.

Curious about what the heck I could be talking about? Read on.

It’s self-explanatory, really. When you venture out into the world, your senses are hit with new inspiration every second. Even if your routine remains basically the same, nothing is ever the same out there in the world. If you keep your eyes open, you’ll surely never run out of fresh ideas to scale your business, or just improve your personal growth.

On the contrary, things do stay the same in your home, and if you depend on your surrounding for inspiration, being at home during full-time working hours can leave you feeling less than inspired.

Bonus! Are you a blogger who constantly feels like they’re running on fumes when it comes to business and blog post ideas? I’ve got a post that will definitely help with that! Right this way >> Never Run Out of Blog Post Ideas w/ These Simple Tricks

What to do about it…

Stop taking the phrase “Working from home” literally. When you have a “work from home” business, chances are at least some components of it exist online. Which means you have freedom to work anywhere you can scrounge a WiFi connection.

Walk to a nearby coffee shop, meet up with other entrepreneurs for a work-date, or even just sit on a park bench with your laptop.

You have ultimate freedom to find inspiration- but you must take advantage of it.

We all know what this is like. No boss peeking over our shoulders means Facebook break free-for-alls and unlimited trips to the break room, i.e., the couch.

There are days when I barely even finish writing one post because I take so many little breaks. It’s a serious problem for all work-from-homers.

What to do about it…

Instead of just sitting down to work with no plan and no end in sight, schedule yourself breaks throughout the day just like you would have if you worked in an office.

Now here’s the hard part- you have to be super strict with yourself about adhering to these set break times. It takes willpower and practice, but eventually you’ll have yourself trained.

Tip: Try setting a timer for 20-40 minutes and then working as hard as you can until the timer goes off. Then take a short 5-10 minute break, and then set another timer. You’ll get more done during each session knowing you have a “time limit.”

What do I mean by “organic networking?” Basically, networking with people who you would meet naturally when you’re out and about. This could mean a colleague in your field, or somebody you strike up a conversation with at yoga.

Sometime the best networking opportunities aren’t planned, and you often don’t have that when you’re spending days coupes up in your home working.

What to do about it…

It’s the same thing as with the inspiration gathering above- you have to go out into the world! Just because you are technically working from home, it doesn’t mean you must remain tethered to your house all day.

You may also need to become more diligent about online networking to supplement. Social media is amazing for this.

You’ve heard this before. Join Facebook groups and participate in Twitter chats. You don’t have to act like you’re “networking.” Aim to make friends, just like you do in real life, and watch your network blossom.

The issues discussed above can be detrimental to your business if not addressed, but this one is detrimental to your life. Really.

When you’re working from home and you know you aren’t going out, (but really, you should start,) then you think, “I’ll just stay in my comfy clothes and not waste time getting ready. I’ll spend more time working and be more productive.” 

Except you won’t be. #realtalk. I’ve tried this strategy, and I somehow always end up back in bed watching The Food Network with a bag of potato chips.

Why? Because why not? I don’t have nice clothes on that I want to avoid wrinkling, there’s no makeup to smear, and my hair is a mess anyway so I might as well lie on it…

What to do about it…

Take a shower. Get dressed. Brush your hair. Put on a little makeup. (But keep your shoes off, because wearing shoes in the house is just gross.)

If you didn’t feel like heading down the street to Starbucks before, you just might now. Plus you’ll get out and get inspiration. PLUS you’ll possibly have some networking opportunities. Not to mention you’ll be that much closer to racking up for 10,000 steps for the day.

Day = made.

And it all started with changing out of your comfy pants.

Humans crave interaction with other humans. Even if you don’t think you do.

I, for one, am a very introverted person and I like being alone in my own environment where I can focus on my own thoughts. But after a while, just listening to myself all day gets rather annoying.

Working from home gets lonely, and it only gets worse the longer you put off doing anything about it.

What to do about it…

You know what to do.

Get dressed.

Leave your house.

Talk to people on social media.

All the things you should be doing already. *wink

This last issue is something you may not have though of, but is especially poignant.

Before I started staying home more, I used to be all over the place on my days off. I’d drive around, hang out at the mall, and chat with people in my building.

These days, driving gives me anxiety, and I’m afraid to exit my apartment for fear I’ll have to interact with an actual person on my short journey to the mail room. I’ve gotten so comfortable in my ever shrinking “comfort zone” that anything outside is getting increasingly terrifying.

Don’t let this happen to you.

What to do about it…

You home is your main sanctuary, but it shouldn’t be your only one. Find places outside of your home that make you feel comfortable, and where you can also be productive. Make it a point to hang out in these places on a regular basis so that you remain accustomed to being a functioning member of society- not a hermit.

I know, us introverts really find the idea of hermit-living super appealing, but trust me, it’s not great for your mental health.

Take action!

Don’t just read, put these tips to work!

Here’s how >> Get out your planner and schedule when you will take breaks and when you will leave the house. Add a reminder that you need to get ready every morning too!

Putting these things down on paper in plain sight everyday will make sure they don’t fall by the wayside.

Your business, and your own wellbeing, will thank you.

That’s all for today!

Like this post all about working from home? Then this post is a must-read >> The Most Underrated Organization Trick You Need to Know

If you find this post interesting, informative, or just plain entertaining, tell me about it in the comments below! And don’t forget, sharing is caring. Share this post!

Till next time. ♥︎

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FTC- Not sponsored by any brands mentioned. I purchase all products myself. All opinions are my own. Some links may be affiliated.