How To Stay Sane When Working From Home
I’m often asked how to remain focused when working from home. The reality of it is that I don’t really like to think of myself as someone who works from home. I have a love/hate relationship with the topic. For some folks, it’s a way of life that makes sense for them. They work for a company or have their own online business, so it works out. For me, it’s my nerve center for catching up on well…everything.
As an entrepreneur, work is everywhere. Work takes me all over the country, and sometimes to other countries as well. In fact, there have been month long stretches where I was only home long enough to unpack, pack again, and head back to the airport. However, when I am back in town for a few weeks, there is nothing I like better than staying home with my computer.
Here are some tips I use to keep my sanity or at least the illusion of sanity.
1. Keep the same schedule
I make it a point to stay on the same sleep schedule. When at home, I wake up at the same time as when on the road. Then, I get out of my pajamas as quickly as I can. I hate sitting at my desk in the morning in my pajamas, then looking up, noticing that it’s dinner time and I’m still in the same pajamas. It’s depressing. For digestive health, I also try to eat at the same time each day. It’s good for your metabolism and I get cranky when I’m hungry.
2. Pick one important action item
When there are only so many days where I’m in town, it’s easy to get overwhelmed by tasks that suck away time but won’t help the bigger picture. I pick one thing that must be done and bulldoze through it. If I’m exhausted, some naps are thrown in, but if it’s the only task that gets done that day, at least I won’t go to bed with anxiety.
3. Time block
Sometimes that important thing can take up an entire day. Not because it’s time consuming, but because of all the distractions. I make 90-minute time blocks with a goal of reaching a certain point in the task. Then I take a break. There are studies that show that our focus decreases after 90 minutes. After the break, I do a small task, then start again on another 90-minute time block if needed.
4. Go outside
If I don’t put in my schedule that I need to go outside, I’ll just sit with my computer like a dog with a bone. It isn’t healthy. Our eyes need to see greenery and the blue sky to create calm. Simply looking out the window isn’t enough. Put on your shoes and get some fresh air.
5. Eat your veggies
When I work from home for several days in a row, despite going to the gym every morning, I still feel unhealthy. I start feeling like everything I eat is simply adding to the “ass expansion program.” That starts to change my relationship with food and plays mind games. I’ve learned to avoid this by sticking strictly to veggies as snacks. There may be a piece of fruit as an afternoon treat, but all snacks must be plant related. Try it, you’ll feel better.
6. Stay away from the television
Television sucks me in like a moth to a flame. When working from home, I cover the television with a sheet. This way, there is no temptation to turn it on while I eat lunch because I have no willpower to turn it off when lunch is finished. I usually just find more veggies to eat simply for the excuse of not being finished with lunch. Then, I eat far too much and fall asleep in front of the television. The sheet is enough of a pain in the ass to deal with that it keeps me away from the time trap.