Working at Home Doesn't
Have to Mean Feeling Alone
Working at Home Doesn't Have to Mean Feeling Alone
By Vishal P. Rao
Operating
a home-based business may let you set your own
schedule, spend more time with your children,
and earn more money but it does have its own set
of challenges. One of those challenges can be
a feeling of loneliness.
Many home-based business
workers spend all their time trapped within the
confines of their house. They eat in their own
kitchen, type email on their own computer, and
socialize with their own family once they return
from the outside world. At first, this might seem
like a welcome change from the stressful interactions
in the average workplace, but when continued day
after day, it can dramatically affect your mood
and your productivity.
Luckily, you can combat
those negative feelings and keep your home-based
business. Here are a few suggestions:
1) Establish a Routine
Very often the flexibility
of working at home can deteriorate into disorder
and chaos, which usually leads to longer hours
and less socialization. A well-established routine
allows you to get your work done and have time
to mingle. For example, you could set office hours
from 8 am to 5 pm. Once you finish working each
evening, you'll be free to unwind and interact
with people for the rest of the night without
the distraction of your business. Plus, you'll
be forced to use those time management skills
which were so essential when you working for someone
else.
2) Take a walk with a spouse,
friend, or dog
If you visit any workplace,
you are bound to find people walking on their
lunch breaks. They don't just do this for the
calorie-burning benefits, however. It's also a
good way to release stress and to enjoy the company
of other people. You can do the same thing, but
you may need to schedule your outings so they
are convenient for your “walking buddy.”
Of course, if you opt to take your favorite canine
companion along, he or she will be available whenever
the need to wander strikes.
3) Join a health club
Exercise is an excellent
stress reliever, plus it fights against two other
common work-at-home problems: over-indulgence
in food and sedentary lifestyles. But exercising
on a stationary bike or treadmill in your bedroom
won't be enough to fight that feeling of isolation.
A health club, on the other hand, is a perfect
answer because it provides lots of exercise opportunities
and a chance to meet new people. Sure, club memberships
can be pricey but your health and well-being are
worth it.
4) Get a hobby
One of the bad things about
owning a home-based business is that you probably
turned your hobby into your livelihood which often
takes a lot of the fun out of it, so now you need
a new hobby. The best choice would be something
that required you to get involved with other people,
such as team sports. However, most solitary activities
can also be used for socializing. For example,
if you like to read, you could join a weekly book
club.
5) Go to the movies
Chances are those people
you love who spend 8-10 hours a day in the outside
world probably want to rent a DVD, microwave some
popcorn, and watch a film in the comfort of their
living rooms instead of venturing out into the
dark, crowded, and sticky-floored world of theaters.
You, however, should resist the urge. Watching
a movie in public with a group of people around
is the ultimate socialization experience. Even
though you don't know everyone in the theater,
you are connected for those two hours (or however
long the movie runs). Of course, if you can take
your spouse, your friends, your children, or even
your parents along, you definitely should. But
if they'd rather stay home and vegetate on the
couch, you can always go alone.
6) Buy a laptop computer
Owning a home-based business
doesn't mean you are never allowed to leave your
house. Of course, you don't want to miss out on
valuable work, but you also don't want to a prisoner
in your home office. If you buy a laptop, you
can have the best of both worlds. You'll stay
connected to your work and you can actually go
out into the world. You can work while you sip
coffee, relax at the park, or sit on your front
porch. All of which will give you a much-needed
chance to reconnect with the rest of the world.
7) Get a part-time job
You probably started your
own home-based business to escape the rat race
so you might be hesitant about getting back out
there. Even ten hours a week is enough to keep
you sane, but should not be enough to drive you
crazy. One freelance writer I know who works out
of her home also teaches a five hour weekly writing
course to college students in order to rejuvenate
after hours of isolation. The class lets her be
social, do something she enjoys, and earn a reliable
stream of additional income. The effects of a
part-time could be equally beneficial for you.
As you may have noticed,
all of these ideas have one thing in common: they
force you to leave your home. The reason is that
the only way to feel like you're not isolated,
is to not isolate yourself. Taking a few minutes
each day to talk to your working friends on the
phone, to stroll through nature, or to spend quality
time with your family is all it really takes to
keep your productive and happy.
|
