I originally formulated this as a blog post, but I think it needs to go on the permanent record here on the web bit of the site!
As I move into full self-employment, I feel there are a few goals I need to have in order to maintain my sanity / ability to live in society. I’m only being a bit tongue-in-cheek here. As a classic introvert, I recharge by being on my own. I’m good at motivating myself, and hard-working. But I need to do these things. And maybe more! If you have any ideas to add, please post a comment!
Stop press (April 2012) – I’ve added some more, marked in red for the meantime, and talked about them in this blog post.
A home-worker’s resolutions (introvert version)
- I will get out of the house every day, in daylight if humanly possible
- I will speak to someone other than myself and my partner/housemate/spouse/parent/child/sibling [delete as applicable: I want to be inclusive here!] every day, even if it’s just an email conversation (but I’ll try to make it a face-to-face conversation)
- On at least 4 out of 5 weekdays I will eat a proper lunch. By a “proper lunch” I mean something that has more than one food group, and some fruit and/or vegetables, and is not constituted primarily of cereal
- This lunch will be consumed by 2 p.m., every day, at absolute latest
- I will leave the phone alone at mealtimes
- I will wash up and reuse my mug. I will not use all of the mugs in the house in one or two days
- I will go to an event outside the house at least once a week: networking, meeting a fellow freelancer friend for lunch etc. This does not include social occasions with friends or aforementioned partner/housemate/whatever
- I will keep up with my friends’ doings
- I will endeavour to stop work at 7 in the evening, and at midday at the weekends (unless I have urgent projects to complete)
- I will spend more time with my aforementioned partner/spouse/whatever.
- I will spend at least a little time every day doing something I love (that’s not my job, which I may well love too)
Well, Liz….if you can accomplish all those things you are doing beautifully. I think that list is comprehensive enough! That said, Harrowsmith ran an article a while back on “Telecommuting” (basically, the 10 year old term for working from home) and I’ll dig it out to see if there are any useful nuggets. Cheers, M
Thank you – I’m not doing too badly so far! I think it still is telecommuting if you work for another company from home, but not if the “commute” part of your job is “walking up the stairs to the study” like mine is!
Pingback: A typical week … now | Adventures in full-time self-employment
Pingback: New resolutions | Adventures in full-time self-employment
That’s a pretty comprehensive plan and I guess you can be honest enough with yourself to ensure you do it. Go Liz!
Thanks, Jan. Yes, I had an epic fail yesterday when I found myself eating lunch at 3.15, but there were extenuating circumstances. I’m getting very good at No Phone At Mealtimes already!