or How to stay motivated when you’d rather be outside
Working from home is sometimes a challenge in the summer. Yes, there’s the fact that I have no air conditioning and my office is on the 2nd floor. (Last week’s heat wave in eastern Canada and U.S. was brutal).
There’s also my teenage son who is home from school and around the house. Plus there’s the sun shining and I want to be outside.
As a result, there are some days where sitting at my desk staring at my computer seems unbearable.
But I still need to work. The mortgage still needs to be paid and we have this pesky little addition to food.
So, what’s a home-based entrepreneur to do?
I posed this question to my network and got some interesting answers.
Some people like to get up and do something physical: “a walk, mowing the lawn, stacking firewood. For me physical activity is the key to getting unblocked.”
Other’s shared that tidying the office is a good start. I know my desk often looks like a paper bomb exploded on it. And if I let it go too long the paper breeds and soon my office is covered. Taking even 10 minutes to clear the desk to the surface can often be enough to unblock me and get me going. In fact, that’s what I did right before writing this blog post.
Another friend commented that she picks the easiest thing on her task list. Getting that done and out of the way motivates her to keep going.
And sometimes, I think you need to give in to your inner sloth and enjoy the summer. Get outside and do something fun, even if it’s just sitting on the deck having a beer and reading a trashy novel. You’ll feel refreshed and pleased that you no longer have the worst boss you’ve ever had. And likely, the next day you’ll come back to your work with renewed energy and enthusiasm.
Andrea J. Stenberg
What’s your trick for getting back on track? Share your thoughts and experiences by leaving a comment.
