Working from home-Cabin Fever?

[Debtdad]

Hi all,

I worked from home for nearly five years and did very well. It sounds stuipid, but the one thing I struggled with was that I was always felt a bit lonely, cabin fever my wife called it!

I sometimes found myself looking out of window wandering where all these busy people were going on their day to day travels, what jobs they had etc. After being back at work for nearly 2 1/2 years I've got the bug to get back to working for myself.

I'll admit it though, I think I'm gonna miss the people (some of them!) and the interactions I have when working in a large group, missing that does scare me a bit.

What do you think, and if you feel like I felt sometimes how do you overcome it?

Thanks

Paul

 

[katykicker]

Hi [member=3312]Badshot[/member] nice to see you!

I work from home and have done full time for 3 years, or maybe 4, I lose track now

I had this a lot at the beginning. These are the things that I did to combat the loneliness:

Speak to people online. I've 'met' nice people here on the shed, who I talk to on Skype. Also I use Twitter, Facebook and Instagram to interact with bloggers. This is something I enjoy.

I get out everyday. This is something that hasn't happened quite as much while pregnant but I usually stick to this. I go for a walk, pop to the shops, visit friends and relatives.

Have regular days out. Mostly with my husband but sometimes friends too. Things such as lunch out, bingo nights, games nights etc.

Have set times each day not to work. I don't like to spend the whole day working and don't want to fixate on it. Which can contribute to the feeling of never doing anything other than working for yourself.

I hope this helps a little. I've got to say I love working from home. My husband only works 3 or 4 days a week, so I'm not really alone much when I fill the other days with friends, errands and social activities.

 

[Topaz]

I was a recluse before I started working from home, which is probably why it suits me so well.

I'm quite happy not to go out of the house for weeks on end if I don't have to - internet shopping makes it oh so easy to get everything that I need delivered to my door.

I try to make an effort to go out for a walk most days but it doesn't take much rain or cold to keep me at home on the sofa, although I do go to visit family at the weekends come rain or shine

 

[Jon]

This is one of the reasons why I couldn't work from home full time

The thought of being stuck (and having to stay at home) to work Mon-Fri while others around me are at work is depressing

I want to go out for work drinks on a Friday or go round work mates at the weekend or whatever.

I also crave management as I've mentioned before and enjoy personal development a lot.

Like Katy says, you would need to get out lots, it's not healthy to sit alone at home all the time in the long run I don't think

 

[Chammy]

I suffer with cabin fever to the point of distraction, I do like being able to work from home and take my son to school/be at home in the holidays but I'm an attention seeker by nature - I love to socialise.

I try to get out properly once a week or fortnight either with the husband or with my mum (spot of shopping and lunch). I also, same as Katy, try to talk to people online through the day either on Skype or Facebook.

Fresh air, conversation (even virtual) and taking a break completely on a regular basis will help

 

[Elaine]

I also get cabin fever. I find myself talking to the presenters on radio 6 (I did that before working alone though). I find it far too easy to get distracted when working alone. I find myself chatting to people in the shops now and I am gutted when I have to use self service because I want to talk to people.

 

[Jon]

Yikes, I didn't realise just how bad the need to talk to people outside is for people who work from home 24/7

 

[Twiggy]

I have worked from home for the past 10+ years and I love it because I don't have to mix with people on a daily basis. I take the dog out every few hours and then a long walk in the afternoon somewhere like along the canal or the woods, so am always having breaks outside. Husband works part time too, so I have him around. I love living in my own bubble, it suits me.

 

[matt77]

I work from home 2 days a week. I do get cabin fever every now and again but make sure that I go out, usually for some dinner.
A big bonus for me is that I have a 45 minute each way commute, and we have 2 young kids. On the days when I'm in the office, I see them for maybe 45 minutes at each end of the day. So seeing them much more when I work from home is a definite plus for me.
You need a balance, make sure to socialise or at least speak to people outside of work, but I think, given a choice, I would work from home full time.

 

[Queen]

I like my own company, but I also like chatting to people I've "met" on here on Skype. However, working from home and sitting in the kitchen most of the day staring at the fridge has led me to be fatter than I would like

 

[RedAlix]

As well as working from home I have a small part time job, mainly so that I know I have some money coming in each month. Problem is I have so much to do in my 2 short days that I don't get time to chat to the other staff there.

I started a volunteering job for the fire service last summer and its great, I'm loving it. I only have to commit 4 hours a month to helping out at events. I get paid expenses so I'm not out of pocket and they give us so much training in various things, I have done a driving course and in a few weeks I have an emergency first aid course. Will also be getting food hygiene and water safety soon!

 

[Jon]

 

[mai.yami]

Im starting to ease off full time employment but hadn't given this a thought. I dont think it will be much of a challenge for me as i manage to cope very well and i like solitude. Time will tell.

 

[spike241]

I'm one of the most antisocial people ever. I don't really like going out much, I'd much rather stay in so working from home seemed ideal.
The only reason I'm still remotely sane is because I've been trying to make plans every day my partner is at work for the past couple of weeks.

There are some amazing benefits to working from home but it can be incredibly lonely and sometimes that builds up and catches you by surprise.

 

[Sherliarty]

It's been two months since I had to leave my part time job and I'm quite a social creature so I do find it tough. I try to keep busy, meet people for coffee and there are days when I love the quiet and solitude but then there are days when I'm practically climbing the walls! This forum has been a great help and distraction! ;D

And I am hoping that once I get a hang of the different things I am doing and have some routine then I can have more time to get out. I am currently a little disorganised which means I am far from efficiently using my time.

 

[Debtdad]

Thanks all for your replies, well i bit the bullet and left my job last week and three days in this week I've been busy but i still have that nagging lonely feeling that i was dreading, ah well best I get busy with all this stuff people work from home do, my wife was on a 3 month contract but has been offered a full time contract so I'd better get used to it i suppose :-X

 

[Queen]

Thanks all for your replies, well i bit the bullet and left my job last week and three days in this week I've been busy but i still have that nagging lonely feeling that i was dreading, ah well best I get busy with all this stuff people work from home do, my wife was on a 3 month contract but has been offered a full time contract so I'd better get used to it i suppose :-X

chin up - could be worse

 

[PhilN]

I think this is something everyone will go through at some point working from home. Depending on your personality, you may suffer a bit more/less than others.

I've been working from home for the last six years, and have learned to cope with it really well. As mentioned above in the thread, Skype can be a really good tool for combating loneliness if you're speaking to people all day on it.

Other than that, I like to get outside on my break to walk to the shop. Fresh air really changes how I feel. I also like to make time to go to the gym to burn off some energy before/after work, and make sure I spend time with people when I'm not working.

You do get used to it, and now I don't feel lonely for the most part.

 

[SarahLu]

Interesting thread, its nice to hear about how others deal with these things. I've been working from home part time for a year now and it does suit me. I also have a part time job 2/3 days a week but I would give that up if I could and I love my own company so I don't think it would bother me. I do need to start making sure I get a decent break though as I often end up online from the minute I get up right into the evening 'on call'. I find it hard to switch off though when I know that work could come in at any time (especially those of us that do LF)

 

[paul65]

I do suffer from cabin fever sometimes, so now and again I drive somewhere nice (beach or country etc.) and use my laptop with my mobile wifi. I can basically work anywhere that there is a mobile signal for the wifi to function.