If you work at home, it’s easy to get into the trap of being home all the time. Although our homes can be a really great place, sometimes this at-home stuff can get a little out of hand. If you haven’t seen your friends, extended family or even much sunlight in a while, it might be time to shake things up a bit.
If You Have Little Ones
I know when I first started my home business with a little wee baby on my arm, I wanted to make sure that I didn’t have to run all over town selling my wares just to work at home. It seemed like such an oxymoron that all these “work-at-home opportunities” required that you get out of the house and sell products several times per week.
Even if you’re in the same boat now, that doesn’t excuse you from getting out with baby and getting a break just for mom now and then. You may work at home, but there’s plenty of fun to be had out there in the real world.
If You Have Older Kids
If your kids are older and in school, you might enjoy incorporating some out of home activities into your regular business day. For example, get out for networking events, learning opportunities, meeting clients and teaching. You can still have a home base of operations, but get out their talking to real flesh-and-blood human adults and you’ll see it’s great to be out in the real world.
For Everyone
Regardless of how you run your business, make sure you schedule a little fun, fitness and socialization into each day. It’s way too easy to get into the “in your PJs” rut. It’s true that working in your PJs has some perks, but a change of pace is good now and then too.
Here are some ideas to get you going:
- Join a gym, walking club or make some kind of commitment to fitness. If you have a baby, join a gym with a play center or get out with the stroller.
- Join a book club, take a class or participate in some regular activity.
- Volunteer for an organization you care about – your schedule allows it now.
- Go on many dates with your spouse or significant other.
- Call your family and connect more often.
- Call old friends who may have forgotten who you are and plan a date.
It doesn’t really matter what you do, but do something. Remember, bears, frogs and gophers hibernate – but humans don’t.
