I bathed today, and shaved. Unfortunately, due to the combination of several factors, this is a big thing.
These several factors:
- I’m an introvert.
- Suzanne is out of town, so it’s just me and the dog.
- I’ve worked from home for the last 9 years.
- I’m injured, so I can’t work out for a couple more days.
With all that said, let me offer you a glimpse into working from home, and a few tips if you should start.
First, for all I’m about to tell you, it’s awesome. Every time I go into one of our offices, I realize that it would be extraordinarily difficult for me to go back to that lifestyle. I can’t imagine commuting again, or having to get dressed up every morning. (And yes, even business casual for me is dressed up.) Also, no matter what you read about home-based workers sitting around watching TV or internet porn all day, studies show that home-based workers tend to be happier, less likely to quit, and more productive – about 13.5% more productive, according to a study by Harvard’s Nicholas Bloom and James Liang.
Tip 1: Leave your house.
You need to see the rest of the world periodically. Yes, I know that leaving your home requires putting on pants, but it’s good for you. Even if you only leave the house to walk the dog or go to the gym, that counts. Do that.
Tip 2: Bathe.
Even if your only plan to leave the house for the day is to walk the dog, a shower or bath is a good idea at least once a day. Also, brush your teeth, too. This can also be a great prerequisite to putting on clothes in order to leave the house. Bonus activities are shaving and styling your hair.
Tip 3: Have a social life IRL.
This may be the introvert in me speaking as much as the work from home guy, but if you don’t see people in an office every day, you need to make an effort to see people in other settings. Social media doesn’t count in this context, but it’s useful to make connections so you can meet up IRL. Make sure you spend time with other people occasionally. If you haven’t seen another person socially in more than a week outside of Skype and social media, it’s time to make some plans.