Posted: Tue Jul 20, 2004 9:03 pm Post subject: Working Home emotional roller coaster
Hello All,
Does anyone else have these experiences? I have been working at home on and off for 4 yrs. These last 9 months have allowed me to work full-time from home, except the business trips that take me on the road.
I find I have ups & downs with attitude, emotions and general motivation. My office is a brightly coloured basement office that could do with soem feng shui improvements. ( I get very drowsy feeling quite quickly in the day).
I am looking for any motivation tactics to get me going. I know all i need is a walk sometimes, but boy is hard to get out of the chair( as I think i might miss a phone call)
Any comments or suggestions would be great to hear!
Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posted: Wed Jul 21, 2004 9:47 am Post subject: Re: Emotional Roller Coaster
Hello IndependentGirl,
Welcome to the forum and congratulations on being able to work full time from home.
Quote:
I find I have ups & downs with attitude, emotions and general motivation
I'd say those mood swings are to be expected and should be considered normal. We all have those moments from time to time. When you find yourself going into a slump and getting down in the dumps, the trick is to figure out ways to snap out of it and get back on track. That's not always easy to do, but it can be managed.
I don't know the nature of your business or what your daily routine entails, but I'd start with the following areas which are generic to most home businesses.
Environment... Organization... Goals.
Environment
- Your office may indeed need some feng shui improvements. A cosmetic office makeover could lift the vibrations and do wonders for your spirit. Take a look around and get rid of any and all clutter - books, files, papers, furniture - that you don't need. Make space.
- Rearrange the office layout so that it is comfortable, easy to use and a pleasure to work in.
- Fresh flowers, plants, soft music, crystals and even scented candles can all help energize you while you pour over your latest project.
It's easier to get more done with less effort in a neat and orderly workspace. The good feeling you get from accomplishment, pertepuates the urge to get more done.
Organization
- Arrange the tasks on your To Do list into segments. You can do this by (a) priority (b) urgency (c) type, or whatever works for you. Things like e-mail and phone calls can be taken care of between specific hours and for a specific time.
- Set time limits to complete each task and stick to it.
- Spend the bulk of your effort working on those things that will bring you the highest returns and speed you towards your goals.
- If possible, work on a different set of projects every day, or change their order to create some variety and avoid getting stuck, bored or burnt out.
Goals
- Write down your goals, personal and professional.
- Spend a few minutes every day reviewing and visualizing them.
- Remind yourself why those goals are important to you.
Getting intimate with your goals helps to bolster your drive to do what's necessary to achieve them.
Miscellaneous Tips
- On those occasions when you just can't seem to keep your focus and drive, take a break. Go for a walk or do something domestic around the house. Get your mind onto something else. You can tackle your project again later.
- Don't sweat the small stuff. Do the best you can today and don't worry about tomorrow.
- Be disciplined
- Make sure to exercise, get adequate rest and maintain a healthy diet.
The above tactics can help you stay motivated and invigorated, especially on the days when you question your sanity in deciding on a home business in the first place.
You need to draw a line between your work and normal life, otherwise things can go out of hand. This is one of the biggest problems one faces when starting a business at home. I think you'll find the below article very useful:
http://www.home-based-business-opportunities.com/library/1.shtml
Yes very true and very excellent advice. Stuff that I think I had overlooked or forgot to incorporate because I was/am too busy!
Thank you for your time and input I plan to put lots of those suggestions to work.
One thing I have been thinking abou tis the lack of human contact that home workers experience. I was thinking of starting a lunch club that met once a month or so. Have you or anyone had any experience in settingup such a club?
Vishal...thanks for the site to allow us a chance to speak of these issues and you have some great articles to read. Well done.
Joined: 05 May 2004 Posts: 26 Location: Pennsylvania, USA
Posted: Sat Jul 24, 2004 6:56 am Post subject: Human Interaction
IG,
Quote:
One thing I have been thinking about is the lack of human contact that home workers experience. I was thinking of starting a lunch club that met once a month or so. Have you or anyone had any experience in settingup such a club?
I agree that working for long hours in a home office can seem quite solitary at times. Since we are gregarious by nature, it's not long before the need for human interaction arises. A lunch club or some such "excuse" to get together periodically with friends or associates is an excellent idea.
I am part of a small group of business owners who meet monthly (except during the summer) to share ideas, ask advice, offer suggestions, expand our business acumen and just vent occasionally. Our business aren't in competition with each other and it's interesting how much we benefit from the exercise.
The meetings are structured but not formal. There is always a written agenda and minutes are taken. We contribute a nominal amount for dues which are used for refreshments, to attend seminars or to acquire information for the group as a whole.
We've established a great relationship, and I always come away from our meetings feeling recharged and invigorated.
Go for the lunch club. It'll be good for the psyche.
I am a chemist, employed in a big establishment , but being on a rollercoaster too, I keep thinking of leaving ( retirement, resignation, changing jobs ..whatever..)
Have been thinking about establishing my home based biz as a professional consultant , but have never figured out how a chemist can work from home, without a lab and high budget $$$ instruments. And changing my specialty at an age of 50 isnt that easy. So, the roller coaster and frustration goes on and on and on.
About mood swing(ing) , and relieving one's nerves... What works for me is to juggle a number of jobs at the same times. Dont know if it works for others. But really, when I reach my limit with one of them , I "dump" it and attend to another one on the list.
Oh, Hermas. Some of your points (particularly organization) are part of my engraved habits, and they help .. But I'll sure need to try other points, especially excercise . Thanks.
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