Why You Need to Get Out from Behind Your Computer Today
Posted July 17, 2011 in Lifestyle
One of the best things about freelancing is that you can work from home. There’s no real need to leave your house or commute to anywhere to get your work done. For most of us, this means money saved on transportation costs such as gasoline and wear and tear on your car.
One of the best things about freelancing can also become one of the worst things, if you don’t make an effort to stay engaged in activities outside of the confines of your own home office.
In this post, I’ll discuss why it’s good to get out from behind your computer and out of the house. I’ll also list several ways that you can get out from behind your computer.
How Getting Away from Your Computer Helps
Probably no one is more comfortable as a web worker than I am. Since I’m naturally a bit shy working from home doesn’t bother me. Sitting behind my computer for hours at a time and writing copy comes naturally to me.
While my ability to work for long hours can sometimes be good (especially when there’s a deadline looming in front of me), I’ve also learned that there is such a thing as too many hours behind the computer. That’s why I now make an effort to spend at least some time each day away from the computer.
Getting out from behind your computer can be beneficial to you in the following ways:
- Gives you a fresh perspective and sparks new creativity
- Allows you to interact with people in person
- Affords you the chance to be more physically active
- Alleviates feelings of isolation and loneliness
Often, I find that I am much more productive after taking a break from the computer.
So how about it? Are you ready to get out from behind your computer? Here are some tips for doing just that.
Get Physical
The first way that you can get out of your home office has some health benefits associated with it. Taking part in physical exercise is a great way to get out of the office and it can also help you stay fit.
You don’t necessarily need to join a formal exercise program to enjoy this benefit, just taking a daily walk around your block may be enough.
The important thing is to get out there and get active. Just do it. You’ll probably discover that you do better work when you are feeling better.
Get Involved
Taking part in volunteer activities is another great way to get out of your home office. To get started, pick an organization that you are interested in and call and ask about volunteer activities.
Although some freelancers have found that volunteering leads to more clients , you don’t necessarily have to find new clients to benefit from being a volunteer. Often, just knowing that you had a part in something worthwhile is enough of a reward.
Get Educated
Another great way to get away from your computer (and out of your home office) is to take a live class. Yes, I know that there are plenty of online classes that you could take, but enrolling in a local class with an actual physical location gives you a break from staring at your computer monitor all day long.
You need to update your skills regularly anyway to stay on top of your game. Why not do it in a physical setting such as at a local college or at a training center?
Plus, meeting your classmates face to face gives you the opportunity to make new friends. Who knows? Some of your classmates may even need to hire a freelancer one day.
Get Friendly
I’ve saved the best way of getting away from your computer for last. My favorite thing to do when I’m not “at work” (in my home office), is spending time with friends and family.
Making time for friend and family is crucial if you want to live a balanced life. Also, having strong relationships can help you combat freelancer loneliness and even stress.
While your friends and family may never really understand what you do for a living (and let’s be honest, do you actually know how all of your non-freelancing friends and relatives earn their living?), those relationships are still valuable and are still a part of who you are.
Your Turn
Do you spend too many hours sitting behind your computer in your home office? Do you feel the need to break out and do something different?
What offline activities do you engage in when you are not working? Share your answers in the comments.
Related posts:
- Eight Freelance Businesses That DON’T Require a Computer
- Six Things to Do Instead of Working Today
- 11+ Computer Security Apps to Keep Your Freelancing Business Safe
- Open Thread: What Type of Computer Do You Use?
- How To Use VMWare To Survive A Computer Crash
About the author: Laura Spencer is a freelance writer from North Central Texas with over 20 years of professional business writing experience. If you liked this post, then you may also enjoy Laura’s blog about her freelance writing experiences, WritingThoughts. Laura is also on Google+.
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21 Comments
Daquan Wright
July 17th, 2011 at 10:32 amThis is great and recently it’s something I adopted. I’m not working or going to school now, but I’ll adjust my chart as needed (once they start up).
What I’ve created is called a restriction charge, which restricts my time to certain activities.
For me, it’s like this:
1) Sleep = 8hrs
2) Freetime+Eating+Bathing = 8hrs
3) Computer Use = 8hrs
The reason I made this chart is because I was spending 17/18 hrs on the pc a day and I couldn’t get any sleep. Not only do my eyes not burn anymore, my sleeping is starting to come back and I feel refreshed. I do love my desktop….but I realized that if I had no restrictions, I’d abuse my love for it and that wouldn’t be a balanced life.
Also, the less time I give myself on my PC, the more I get done…..hehe
Krysten
July 17th, 2011 at 11:17 amI like to read a novel (outside if the weather’s nice). It’s a great way to relax and renew your overworked creativity – kind of like dreaming and REM sleep is for your brain.
Laura Spencer
July 17th, 2011 at 2:33 pmDaquan Wright–That seems like a great schedule! Plus, the more you follow it, the more it will seem like second nature to you.
Krysten, I LOVE to read. :) Enjoy your afternoon.
Alex
July 17th, 2011 at 2:55 pmI find a trip to the pub for lunch can work wonders. There’s always the option to take along the laptop and do some work too ;)
Lorraine
July 17th, 2011 at 3:06 pmHi Laura:
Thanks for posting on this ever-timely topic. Like so many others, I spend far too much time glued to my laptop. I very much like your suggestions, especially exercise–which I do regularly–and taking a class–which I would LOVE to do.
In addition, here are a few more things that help me overcome my computer/digital addiction:
* Family meals. I make a point of scratch-cooking very simple family meals almost every evening. Benefits are two-fold: I find the process of food preparation calming and de-stressing and I get to spend time with the people who are most important to me.
* Walking my dog. My “fourth child” is an extremely active boxer dog. He needs to be exercised hard several times a day. I always walk/run him in the morning for at least 30 minutes.
* “Art breaks”: I find a trip to a museum, concert or theater completely recharges my creative juices. Yes, it sometimes means taking half a day off. But my boosted productivity afterward makes the break worth while.
Darlene
July 17th, 2011 at 4:34 pmHey Laura! Excellent post! It led me back to 2 of your older posts that I had not read yet but quickly related to – “naturally a bit shy” and “Are You Your Own Bully?”
Yes and Yes!
Both are things I deal with and work on on a daily basis. I am so prone to beating myself up, I find myself doing it even when I know the call or meeting went well. Like you said, it’s just habits we create and habits we need to get rid of.
Hope your summer is going well !!
TLC
July 17th, 2011 at 10:58 pmI got laid off twice in 2008, which led me to starting my own business and working from home. From that first layoff, I made it a rule that I had to leave the house at least once day, unless I was sick or the weather was too bad. At the time I made the rule, temps in my city were averaging a high of 15 below zero that week, and hibernation was a serious alternative! I’ve been keeping that rule for 3 1/2 years and it really helps. Sometimes when I’m really busy, I may only take my son to school and/or pick him up. But at least it gets me out of the house!
Douglas Prater
July 17th, 2011 at 11:30 pmTo those who haven’t experienced it, working from home and being your own boss sounds like a blissful dream. Don’t get me wrong, I wouldn’t have it any other way, but it certainly comes with its own set of challenges.
The problem with working for myself is that I’m quite the slave driver. I wouldn’t consider myself a “type A” personality by any stretch of the imagination, but I do tend to feel guilty when I take time off. It seems there’s always something else I could be working on: Building assets, networking, fiction writing, brainstorming post topics. The list goes on forever.
The trick is to set a clear boundary around my working hours; it’s a trick I have yet to master. But I do make sure to get outside every morning for my daily walk, which helps greatly to ward off cabin fever and focus my writing efforts.
Thank you sincerely for the reminder; it seems I was overdue for one.
-Douglas
Laura Spencer
July 17th, 2011 at 11:41 pmGreat conversation everyone! I hope most of you spent at least some time today away from your computer. :)
Alex–I sometimes leave the house for lunch too. The change of scenery does help.
Lorraine, Those are great tips. Sometimes getting away from the computer is just a matter of prioritizing.
Hi Darlene! I’m glad you enjoyed the posts. So far, my summer is going okay. I would like to sneak a short vacation in, but at this point I’m just not sure…
TLC, I think getting out of the house once a day is a good rule.
Douglas Prater–I faced the endless list too, so I understand feeling guilty. The truth is, we just can’t implement every good idea we read about (especially not all at once). It takes a while, but you’ll learn to distinguish between the must-do tasks and the nice-to-have tasks.
Issa @ Ajeva
July 19th, 2011 at 4:50 amLaura, I just did get out to just be in the now and feel the present… and I found it quite uplifting. I haven’t been sleeping well lately and I guess, I need to keep my computer hours back to normal so I can rediscover the beauty of sleep. Ever since I’ve started freelancing full-time, I’m missing those moments when you can just sit back and enjoy your favorite paperback… or watch people passing by. It’s like you never get to appreciate these things until years have robbed you of living life, the way it should be lived.
ppt to video
July 19th, 2011 at 11:28 pmThe problem with working for myself is that I’m quite the slave driver. I wouldn’t consider myself a “type A” personality by any stretch of the imagination, but I do tend to feel guilty when I take time off. It seems there’s always something else I could be working on: Building assets, networking, fiction writing, brainstorming post topics. The list goes on forever.
Steve
July 20th, 2011 at 10:55 amGreat Article! It seems like more and more I’m stuck behind the computer night and day. I really need to get outside more often and take in some fresh air!
Thanks!
Caitlin Kelly
July 20th, 2011 at 2:19 pmLots of good ideas. I take a jazz dance class every Friday morning and pool aerobics once or twice a week; these force me out of home, into vigorous exercise and are social.
I agree with taking regular “art breaks” — the whole point of freelancing is to ENJOY the freedom from crazy schedules and long commutes that otherwise rob us of these opportunities.
make website design
July 26th, 2011 at 7:14 amBut the biggest problem that i face is the disturbance from my relatives
John
November 8th, 2011 at 9:58 amWorking from home for too long will hurt your abilities to interact with people in person.
Megan Bayliss IS The Junk Wave
January 2nd, 2012 at 2:07 pmOh Laura….I need to pin this to my forehead!!!!!
I have tennis elbow from too much computer work!
This year I am attempting to have an hour on and an hour off….my family will be well pleased because it means I will probably get some housework done during my off hours :)
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