A New Promise I’ve Made to Myself
August 13th, 2010 by Michael Kwan
So, what promise have I made to myself and what on Earth does it have to do with the Monopoly card shown above? Well, it has a lot to do with maintaining my sanity, because, you know, that’s kind of important.
I will make it a point to get out of the house at least once a day.
From the outside looking in, this may sound like a very easy promise to keep. However, if you’ve lived in my freelancing shoes, then you’ll know that I have gone days at a time without ever venturing out of my front door. It’s hard when I don’t have any real excuse to do so. I work from home. I take my breaks at home. I prepare lunch at home. There’s no real reason to leave the outside.
You know, aside from maintaining my sanity.
Getting More Work Done
This could also be useful from the perspective of improving my productivity. When I’m working from home, it’s easy to get distracted by a variety of different things. I know that there is work to be done, but I also know that I can do it at just about any hour of day. That hour may not necessarily be this hour and therein lies the struggle.
By contrast, if I choose to pack up my laptop and hit up a local coffee joint for a caffeine fix and some free Wi-Fi, I feel compelled to do something. I’m taking up one of their tables and using their Internet access. I don’t want to be a freeloader, as it were.
Breaking Out from the Self-Imposed Jail
Even then, it’s not absolutely imperative that my adventures outside of the home have to do with the world of work. It can be as simple as going for a nice healthy jog around the park, helping family with some errands, or going out for lunch with a friend. Getting outside the house reminds me that there is a world beyond these walls and beyond this computer screen.
So, Internet, you can go ahead and hold me to my promise. Check up on me via Twitter and ask me every day if I’ve gone outside yet. Hold me accountable.
Tags: home office, life-work balance, work from home
Filed under Personal Development.
Sounds like a plan Michael. Great idea, but what is the difference in a promise and a New Years Resolution?
I like to set small goals that lead to a larger goal. It gives me steps to look forward to that are not just a final goal in the distance.
I’ve come to dislike that term: New Year’s Resolution. They’re too easily broken and forgotten. You’re right that they seem awfully similar though.
That’s why I’m turning to the Twitter community to hold me accountable.
Getting out to the coffee shop is always good. Even though I set up a study/office space for work, I find getting out to blenz or even a library will help me be more productive (compelled to work).
Ive always promises to my client finish the task as promised but it hardest things to do if you work alone someone monitoring you .
Have you gone outside yet today?
I did go out on Sunday, yes, for lunch and dinner.
[...] to socialize with real people in the real world, indulge in some non-work related hobbies, and get out of the house whenever you [...]
[...] and other work-at-home professionals. That’s why I’ve made a promise to myself to get out of the house every day. If nothing else, it’ll help to save my [...]
I thought you were just trying to stay out of jail based on the picture you chose. Your ass wouldn’t survive in the big house.
[...] working at odd hours in the day and taking time off when most people cannot. It allows me to get out of the house every day, taking a break whenever I feel like I need [...]