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Beth Sandland

The Importance of Getting Out the House When You Work From Home

07/13/2017 · DEAR DIARY, LIFESTYLE, PRODUCTIVITY TIPS

 

 

 

There are a lot of perks to working from home. Not only do you get to set your own hours, make time for a cheeky bit of Holly and Phil in the morning and wear baggy t-shirts, you also have nobody keeping an eye on you or dictating your work schedule. It can, however be quite isolating and at times I realise that I haven’t actually left the house in several days, aside from the odd trip to Tesco or the gym.

I find that after a while I get cabin fever and my productivity levels really slow down; I allow myself a nap with the promise of furiously ticking off my to-do list afterwards, then get distracted by the over-flowing laundry basket or the neighbours cat. Eventually, I realise that I’ve wasted a lot of the day browsing Pinterest for my ideal home office (the one I’m not going to be able to afford unless I get off my phone and start smashing dem deadlines) and feel a bit deflated.

This morning, when my alarm sounded at 9am (told ya, perks) I lay in bed and contemplated whether I could be bothered to head into town today. I’d agreed to meet a friend for brunch but I knew that he’d either be very late or sleep through it entirely, and I had an invite to a press day which I decided nobody would really notice if I actually attended or not. However I realised that, should I stay at home, it would be my third day in a row without going outside other than to hang the washing out or interacting face to face. I did the whole “3…2…1…okay UP” thing in my head and jumped in the shower before I could change my mind.

I know, I know, I’m about as deep as a puddle, but putting on some make up, a spritz of perfume and a sassy little outfit (helllllooo metallic Zara jeans) really does alter my entire mindset. I took a very self-indulgent selfie – praise the lord of VSCO from HB1 – to commemorate the occasion and then headed to the train station.

 

Things That Happened to Me That Wouldn’t Have Done if I’d Stayed at Home: 

  1. I ate a Dishoom bacon naan roll for breakfast *happy tears*
  2. I got a spontaneous cartilage piercing in Soho (sorry Mama)
  3. I went to a Christmas in July press day and stocked up on all them festive feels
  4. I networked, chatted and laughed with new people
  5. I came home feeling inspired and full of new content ideas

 

How My Day Would Probably Have Gone if I’d Stayed at Home: 

  1. Trackie bottoms
  2. 2 hours spent ‘working’ on the sofa (i.e. watching This Morning)
  3. Weird fridge snack breaks
  4. Cat videos
  5. Zero human contact

 

I’m a big advocate of duvet days when you really need them, but they’re not very conducive to a productive working environment. It’s all well and good telling yourself that you’re going to get up, dressed (in something that doesn’t have a drawstring waist) and sit at the desk like a good little worker bee ready to bash out a to-do list as long as the Great Wall by midday, but then you’ve got to actually see it through.

It can be as simple as a change of scenery, conversation that doesn’t have a subject line and coffee out of a mug without a half-faded Disney character on it to give your mojo a little boost and save your sanity too. You don’t have to spend a lot of money (or any – there’s always the library) or do anything fancy, but getting out – even just for an hour – can make a huge difference to your productivity levels and success.

Posted In: DEAR DIARY, LIFESTYLE, PRODUCTIVITY TIPS

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Comments

  1. Madison says

    07/31/2017 at 04:38

    I love this post! It’s so easy to get lost in your job sometimes when you’re just at home staring at the hours passing by. Thanks for sharing!

    http://www.forgeafrenzy.com

    Reply
    • Beth Sandland says

      07/31/2017 at 20:48

      Thanks so much for your comment Madison! That’s definitely true – one minute its 9am the next it’s 6pm and sometimes I worry I haven’t achieved enough in between!

      Reply
  2. Lola says

    08/29/2017 at 19:06

    Love this!! so true, I get cabin fever and my bf is knackered when he comes in and im like ‘where we going, what can we do’ 🙂

    Reply
  3. Casey says

    09/03/2017 at 20:14

    This post was so truthful! It can really make a positive impact on my day if I make the effort to get out and fight against the thoughts saying 5 more minutes in bed, or a lazy day is what I need. There are only so many lazy days deemed as acceptable before it gets out of hand. Thank you for posting lovely!
    Love Casey
    http://casestreetx.blogspot.co.uk

    Reply
  4. Scott Dawson says

    09/05/2017 at 14:28

    I love how you write! Although you probably have to spontaneous pierce cartilage every other outing, lest it become a habit. Seriously, though, as a work-from-home guy, I love going out for a run, for example, and coming back recharged and full of ideas.

    Reply

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I am a multi-award winning blogger, photographer and writer from London. I’ve travelled to over 38 countries, lived out of a backpack for a year and love to scuba dive! This site is a destination for all things travel, lifestyle and my successful online book club.

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MY SON ❤️ Our beautiful boy was born on Friday MY SON ❤️ Our beautiful boy was born on Friday. He was admitted to the NICU at 3 hours old where an incredible team of doctors and nurses have been working their magic ever since. I was quickly induced last week after one of our routine growth scans showed emergent concerns and his birth was an incredibly traumatic experience both physically and mentally. Although we just about made it to term, his little lungs are premature and need some extra help. We could not be more in love with him and can’t wait to be a family outside of the hospital but for now we’re all just taking life at a gentle pace as we heal together. Please keep our sweet boy in your thoughts, prayers and positive vibes. 💓🙏🏼🌈
AD: So ready for some down time 🧘🏼‍♀️🙏🏼 The Readly app - home to over 5000 magazines - is one of my absolute favourites so I’m thrilled that they’ve teamed up with Diet Coke to encourage you to take a break! Even if that’s just 10 minutes peace with a great article and a cold drink. You can get 2 months free Readly membership with promotional Diet Coke’s in supermarkets now. Plus, they’re giving 10 people a YEAR’S supply of both! Enter on the link in my bio 🤞🏼 What’s your favourite mag? @readly @dietcokegb
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Bags:
@cathkidston Foldaway Overnight Bag
@jemandbea Jemima Black Changing Bag
@tibaandmarl Elwood Changing Backpack
@elizabethscarlett pouches
@eleanorbowmer pouches

Labour:
Water bottle with straw
Fairy lights + sky projector
@babycaretens TENS machine
Cooling spray + flannel
Lip balm
Hair bands
@spritzwellness aromatherapy sprays
Massage oil
Eye mask
Headphones
Large t-shirt/nightie
Comfy underwear
Slippers/flip-flops
Snacks + isotonic drinks
Dressing gown (for pool)
@placentaplus encapsulation kit

Post-Birth:
Disposable pants
Maternity pads
Large black knickers
Nursing Bra
Spritz for Bits
Nipple cream
Nightdress x 2
Thin robe
Towel
Toiletries
Peri bottle
Anusol
Fig syrup
Going home outfit
Chargers
Camera
@bbhugme feeding pillow
Own pillow
Some harvested colostrum

For Baby:
4 x vest in each size
4 x sleepsuit in each size
2 'normal' hats
2 cute hats
2 muslins
Jersey blanket
Knitted blanket
Nappies
Wipes + cotton wool
Nappy cream
Cardigan
Towel
Soft toy

Just in case:
Extra bag to stay in the car with extra nappies, pads, towel and clothes for mum and baby

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🐳 Everything aches, everything is swollen. Even my tongue?!
🥛 Colostrum harvesting: weirdly satisfying! But whoever said ‘don’t cry over spilt milk’ has never squirted a syringe-full all over themselves...
😴 Insomnia (aka that thing that makes you want to punch people who say “sleep while you can! 🤗”)
🧘🏼‍♀️ Keeping up the Hypnobirthing though our course has finished, had my birth preferences approved by the midwife and generally feeling excited and ready for the main event!
🥘 Batch cooking! Slowly filling up the freezer.
🧠 I’d like to say baby brain isn’t a thing and I’m still as sharp as ever but it’s just not true. Basic tasks are becoming much more of an effort!
🌪 Didn’t think I could get windier. Sorry husband.
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#36weeks #week37 #thirdtrimester
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