How to Beat a Work From Home Slump
It’s not secret that this happens to everyone and anyone who works from home: by “this”, I mean periods of low motivation and productivity otherwise classified as a slump. These hit me ever so often and I’ve learned just how hindering they can be to an in-home business like mine. The more you give into the slump, the stronger hold it can take on you and then when you indulge in that slump, your income will take a nose dive.
So why does a slump happen in the first place?
It’s important to first figure out why the slump has taken hold of you which will help reveal the solution on how to get out of it. Typically, I find that slumps are caused by:
Feeling overworked
Seasonal (hello PNW rainy season)
Feeling bored or unfulfilled
Fear
Detachment from goals
A failure or disappointment
This is a short list as I’m sure there are many more but I’ve found these to be the most prevalent in my own personal experience. You’ve probably heard me talk about burnout before. It’s a real thing, and can really take you down a rabbit hole of feeling unmotivated and unproductive. When I’m feeling anything remotely close to overwhelm and burnout, I have to rest and separate myself from my work to refocus. I’ve tried to plow through so to speak, and it never solves the problem. When it’s seasonal through the 90+ inches of rain we get each year, I find setting my computer near natural light really helps as well as sessions with my Happy Light. Never heard of it? In a nutshell, this is light therapy that brings the daylight indoors! It provides a full spectrum light without any harmful UV rays. These signals help you to relax, focus, and feel revitalized. Think I’m crazy? Perhaps. However, I’ve had mine for over a year now and can safely tell you that this thing has been a game changer for my mood through our bad weather seasons. I’ve felt my biggest slumps when I’ve experienced any failures in my life or business. These had the power to really suck you down and detach you from your goals and business and any sort of motivation.
HOW TO MOTIVATE YOURSELF WHEN YOU EXPERIENCE A WORK FROM HOME SLUMP
So you’re in a funk, or slump, and not sure how to snap out of it. I find my refocus comes when I’m able to refocus my mind. This sometimes happens when I step away from the computer to read a book on my Kindle, listen to a podcast, or writing. If you don’t already have a morning routine established, I can’t recommend it enough. The little things I do in the morning really help me have more productive days in my office.
Next, you can get out of the house and network. Sometimes these slumps come from simply feeling isolated and alone. It’s really hard to explain to people who don’t work from home what it’s really like and sometimes all you need it some social interaction. I’ve found that I have a tendency to lock myself at home and with my homebody personality… this can go on for extended periods of time. As much as I love being alone and being home, I have quickly learned how much better I feel when I escape my space for some adult conversation. My friend hosted a wine and wreath night just recently and oh goodness did this completely shift my mood! It was such a fun evening without the phone or computer to get my hands doing something creative and catching up with friends. So even though it can be hard to make these things a reality… it is ALWAYS worth it! Get together with your friends, drink some wine, separate yourself from your work and refocus.
Okay, if you’ve followed me for awhile now, you know I’m passionate about exercise! When I’m in a slump, I have found in the past that it translates to me not wanting to move my body. So now if and when I feel a slump coming on or has already started — this is when I push myself even harder physically. I’ll be the living proof that you do not need a gym membership to take your fitness to new heights. In December of 2017, I decided to take control of my health and started working out from home. Just over a year later I’ve lost over 50 lbs and have truly fallen in love with the routine of exercise in my life. You don’t have to do something crazy vigorous, but move your body and elevate your heart rate for at least 30 minutes every single day. I also find success with accountability. My Husband and I love to workout together and he serves as my accountability partner because we follow the same program and do it together in the evening when he gets home from work and before dinner. It’s become our “thing”, and I love it! It has motivated me to have dinner prepped and mostly ready to go so that once we’re done and fatigued, putting it together is easy.
Have you ever heard of Newton’s Law of Motion? It states that an object at rest stays at rest and an object in motion stays in motion. It doesn’t take a scientist to determine that an activity is the BEST remedy for a slump. Try it — and see how you feel!
Another thing I love to do is mix up where I work! Sometimes I’ll pack up my laptop and external monitor to head to the coffee shop for a few hours to simply change my scene. It really helps me get on track. Another thing I like to do is mix up my office by changing around furniture, redecorating, and finding little ways to make my space more inspiring.
Treat-yo-self. Ever heard of self-care? I know, it’s sometimes a foreign concept when you’re in the thick of a busy season or simply trying to run a business but I can’t express the importance of this! My tips above all fall under the umbrella of self-care, but I encourage you to actively pursue it every day. It doesn’t mean you should break the bank with weekly massages or spa days, but maybe you can implement smaller more manageable self-care routines into your day to fill your cup.
Lastly, give yourself some grace because as my mother always says, “This too shall pass.” This won’t be forever but the more you’re able to recognize what is happening (a slump), the better you’ll be equipped to handle the situation. Is it always easy? Heck no. Sometimes it’s really hard to get out of a slump (trust me, I know), but if you actively try to change your situation you will find success and it will pass. You’ve got this and if you ever need some extra encouragement, holler at your girl! :)
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