Since I left
corporate world last year and started working from home full-time, I've found that human contact one gains by going to "work" every day is something that's good for soul.Sure, there's nothing quite as rewarding as being directly responsible for my own success, and benefits of being my own boss far outweigh answering to someone else. But, I really do miss some of conversations & laughter we enjoyed at office.
Now my day consists mainly of sitting here at my PC in my home office, banging on keyboard, all alone.
I don't mean to whine, but I have to do something about this before I start talking to my favorite coffee mug. I've considered naming it "Wilson".
When my wife gets home from work, I'm so excited, I'm practically waiting at door with my tail wagging, fighting for first position with our dog.
My sanity has recently been questioned.
Seriously, here are a few ideas for you if you're feeling a little isolated too...
Keep In Touch With The Gang
Call old office once in a while to see what's new. If they're just too busy to chat, encourage them to call you back when they do have a little free time. Spending even a few minutes with them on phone can make you feel better and you'll hang up with a smile on your face.
Use Chat Rooms And IM Programs (wisely)
Take a few minutes to visit a chat room or use your instant messaging program to provide a little break from daily routine.
A word of caution: If you've ever done it before, you know that these things can get out of hand & you'll find that your day is being interrupted at inopportune times by others. Set limits & take yourself offline or make your status "busy" so you won't be bombarded by IMs all day long.
Is It Too Quiet? Turn On The Radio Or TV
Listening to background music is relaxing and it can help day go by faster. Many offices have music "piped" in for this reason.
If you worked in an office that had music before, turning on your own radio can make your home office seem more like "real thing".
