Working from home is tough, especially when you have other responsibilities to bother. I find some days are harder than others. On some days I am struggling to catch up on my endless to-do list and dealing with all sorts of work requests. Which is good because it means that I am busy, therefore my bank balance would be busy. But then I have to ensure I hit all deadlines and that my 2 kids are happy. Then on quiet days, I panic and worry about it being quite, and me not being busy. Even though I was so busy a few days ago. It sounds mad but it is true.
Working from home is beautiful. It is what I have always dreamed of and I am happy I am finally living my dream. But it also takes its toll on my mental health sometimes. I am a worrier by nature. I worry about silly things most of time, and I do get anxious sometimes. So the stresses of working from home, on my own most of the time, with me being my own boss comes with its pros and cons, like any other job. There is no one to blame if something goes wrong. No one really understands how I go about what I do so it can be tricky to explain, and I don’t know anyone going what I do in real life, so it can be lonely sometimes.
Having said that, I won’t change what I do for anything in the world. The pros of being a freelancer outweighs the cons for me massively, so that is not going to change. Which means I have to find a solution to my worry. So how do I stop worrying and how do I take care of my mental health? I am not one to dwell on problems, I always look for solutions instead.
Here are a few things I will be doing to help my work and state of mind.
Early to Bed
I normally work for as many hours as I can. I am usually in bed after midnight on most days, which is not good enough, since I am usually awake at 6am thanks to my early bird kids. Which leaves me feeling horrible in the mornings.
Early to bed is my going forward. I have decided to go to bed as early as possible on most nights, so I can get 8 hours sleep. I work better when I am well rested.
Take Time Off
I am hoping to take more time off work this year. I usually continue working even on Holidays, except for Christmas, which isn’t great but you don’t get to take many days off when you work for yourself.
Going forward, I plan to take some more time off work, regardless of how busy or quiet it is. When I need it, I will take it. I also need to try switching off work a bit more, especially on weekends. Speaking to counsellors would also be helpful if you are dealing with mental health issues.
Motivate Myself
Motivating myself is easily done. I am good at motivating myself naturally. I always says the fear of having no money and not being able to work from home are my greatest motivators.
I need to keep myself motivated. I find business, self-help and inspirational books very motivating. So I make sure I read few chapters of a good book on my Kindle every day.
Enjoy the Outdoors
I do the school run so I get out of the house everyday. Weekends are usually packed with all sort of activities, which means I get to do other things outside the house which is great.
This is going to continue even when the kids are on holiday. Weather permitting and with the kiddies’ cooperation, I aim to get out of the house everyday, even if it is just for long walks or to let loose in the garden. Being outdoors is great for general health. I also plan to work in my garden during the summer months.
Spend Wisely
Working from home and running your own business means you usually get to manage your money yourself. This can be a blessing and a curse depending on how you are with money. I am quite good with me. I am more of a saver than a spender, and this has helped me in the unpredictable world of freelancing.
I plan to continue the way I am with money. Spending wisely and saving as much money as I can so I don’t worry too much when work is quiet.
How do you find working from home? Does it affect your mental health?
*Collaborative post.
