There are a lot of upsides to leading a laissez-faire life of couch-writing.
I rarely put on real pants.
On the other hand, working from home is often claustrophobic and isolating.
I once went five whole days without leaving my apartment in daylight.
If that sounds depressing, its because it IS.
Still, there are lots of ways to stave off despair if you work from home.
Here are a few of them.
Alan Cavaiola, a professor at Monmouth University.
Setting up distraction-free time is really important.
If you need further tips on how to structure your work-from-home day,weve got you covered.
Get out of bed
I have spent more than a few work days in bed.
This is a mistake.
Your brain needs to be able to separate work from not-work, and awake time from sleep.
Keep your work space separate from your living space, Caviaola says.
Have a little office space thats set aside for work.
Bed is for sleep andBodyguardbingeing.
Get out of bed.
Experts always recommend that if youre working from home, you should get dressed as if you are not.
Saedi Bocci suggests donning an outfit youd feel comfortable wearing outside.
Wear some basics that can go out door.
There is something about that accountability thats helpful, Saedi Bocci says.
I have watchedMy Best Friends Weddingno fewer than five times since I started freelancing.
Other people prefer music, with or without lyrics.
When Im working from home, I put classical music on in the background, Cavaiola says.
Keep a planner
If youre disorganized, working from home is productivitys death sentence.
This also holds true for chores outside of work.
Working from home tends to be a win/win for people who are well-organized.
These are people who can set goals and objectives and stick to those schedules, Cavaiola says.
If you fall into the former camp, good for you!
If youre in the latter, though, consider investing in a planner ormaking a bullet journal.
I use a planner every day, Saedi Bocci says.
I write down what my goals are for the next day.
A planner can really help to keep you accountable.
Trust me, you wont.
Get the hell out of your house!!!!!!!!
Thats fine every so often, but when you do it for days on end its a nightmare.
When you have those breaks, get out of the house, Cavaiola says.
Take a walk, maybe go have coffee someplace, where youre going to have contact with others.
This way youre not totally isolated.
And when you return to your couch/desk/floor, the walls will feel like theyre closing in slightly less.
Do not disappear
If you work remotely, it is easy to be forgotten.
Weigh in on group conversations on Slack.
Make yourself known (but not annoying.)
you might go to a yoga studio or to a gym, or join a church or synagogue.
Going out and seeing people helps to protect your sanity.
I recommend having a few regular weekly activities so you have some set social interactions to look forward to.
For instance, I go to the same Pilates class every Sunday, and I know the other regulars.
I go to a weekly happy hour.
Now, I can take long walks whenever I want.
I save money on lunch and MetroCards and after-work beers I dont need.
I miss the camaraderie of an office, but I dont miss the politics.
Sometimes the best way to deal with working from home is to take note of the benefits.
Once youre back to a regular work schedule/life, after all, youll miss the midday naps.
