Working From Home – No Motivation

Jan
2009
27

posted by on Make Money Online, Personal, Ramblings

25 comments

As I always say there are ups and downs to doing what I do. I work from home, mainly working on ThinkComputers. While to some this may seem like an awesome job, I make my own hours, I’m my own boss, etc. There is 1 thing that is hard to overcome, it’s the lack of motivation I have some days. This lack of motivation causes me to get less work done and makes doing work not at all that interesting. I mean I am getting paid obviously to do what I do, the checks come each month but lately that really is not that motivating.

I think that many people that work from home have this same problem. I have been thinking about it and I’ve come up with a few solutions for people who work from home and have no motivation.

Change Your Workspace
Sometimes you feel like you’re stuck when your workspace is always the same. Take a few hours and change it around, move your desk etc. This way you feel like you have a clean slate to get back to work. If you can’t change things around then at least clean up, even that will help you out. Another thing you might want to try is taking a day per week to work from a coffee shop or a place like Panera Bread. This way you are in a different environment.

Go To Conventions
One thing I look forward to every year is CES. It is one of the only times that I feel like I have a real job. I have meetings every day and I actually have a real schedule that I have to keep. I also have to wear dress clothes! People acknowledge ThinkComputers and what I do, that gives me so much more motivation then talking to someone over e-mail. If there is a convention for the industry that you are in definitely check it out, it will be worth the trip.

Meetups
Another great way to meet new people and gain motivation is to check out some local meetups in your area. Check out Meetup.com and see if there are any meetups that might interest you in your area. If you are a Twitter user tweetups are becoming popular, they are basically a meetup of twitter users. Meetups are really cool because you can explain what you do to other people and if they are interested in it that gives you motivation.

Blog!
One of the easiest ways to escape from your normal work is to start a blog. You will be surprised how many people you will meet through blogging. Just like when you meet people out in the real word if people are interested in what you do that will give you motivation to work hard and make your business better.

Related posts:

  1. Motivation From CES
  2. Working from Panera Bread
  3. Working a Day Ahead
  4. Motivation: Movies
  5. Are You Working Hard?
  • http://www.cohawk.com Cohawk

    I had the same problem. I now have an office about 15 minutes away… and that worked out really well.

  • http://whoisgarybailey.com Gary Bailey

    I have some very specific goals in mind for me and my family – and I find the best way to get motivated is to focus on those! So I keep reminders around me – photos, car brochures, etc – just as long as reading the car brochure doesn’t become an excuse for not working, 5 minutes getting back into my reasons for working from home usually does the trick!

  • http://www.thomasdemaesschalck.com Thomas De Maesschalck

    I know the feeling, it’s sometimes pretty hard to keep focused when you work at home. The economic downturn is also troubling me, it’s not easy to remain optimistic about the future when my income drops month after month.

    Are you hit by the economic downturn?

  • http://www.tyleringram.com Tyler

    I work 3 days a week at home. The view from my desk shows me the surrounding local ski mountains, the ocean and the buildings in the neighbourhood. Now if I could only get my employer to let me work 4-5 days a week at home and not just 3 :)

  • http://www.davidlithman.com David Lithman

    Solid post. I think meetups are a great thing to attend, just need to find out if there are any in Jacksonville.

  • jSpin

    I also know this feeling. However, I think this happens with anything you do. I’ve had the ‘normal 9-5 office job’. It was cool at first but I eventually realized it wasn’t a fit for me. There’s also some specific reasons as to why it didn’t work out but, overall, the style didn’t match me. I see cohawk mentioned getting an office pretty close to his house, I’ve too thought about this. I think it would be a nice change from the monotonous style and familiarity of my house. Also, it would allow a space without any distractions besides the ones I bring in. Lack of motivation might also mean you’re working too hard, take a day or two off. Just don’t get too comfortable with doing nothing ;p

  • http://www.moremoneytospend.com/blog Asher Awesome

    Hi Bob, you probably reached a stage where money isn’t that much of a motivating factor for you anymore. I personally feel that interaction with other people is a good way to get motivated because when we can’t find the inner motivation, listening to other people or chatting with others is a great way to get motivated too! No? =)

    Asher

  • Melissa Emmett

    Bob, I’m glad conventions pump you up man! I’m a Publisher Manager at ML — You should definitely look into coming to IZEAfest in sunny Florida! In the mean time, let me know if I can help you with anything affiliate marketing related. Take care.

  • http://www.netage.co.za/development/ Ruby Web

    Blogging and changing your workplace are the most refreshing, even though you’re still on your computer with both, but it does refresh your mind somehow. Thank you for this post, I’ll be working from home soon and the above challenge is one I’ll still have to face in the near future, thanks for giving me a heads up.

  • http://www.fortheloveofbeads.com/ Abalone Beads

    Big problem with the last one. Imagine your work IS a blog. All you can do all day is write up about other people’s crap and your own life. The actual work you do amounts to nothing but making content for others to enjoy. SEO, and all the other crap that requires little to no brain power to do. Slowly rots the mind.

  • http://www.bobbuskirk.com Bob Buskirk

    Yeah I love conventions! I missed IZEAfest this year, hopefully I can make it this year!

  • http://www.bobbuskirk.com Bob Buskirk

    Yes it seems like I’m always changing things around to give myself that refreshed feeling!

  • http://www.peiprofit.com Make Money Online

    Your last advice is definitely the best one. I have never regretted starting a blog and I have met so many friends and learnt so much from there..

    Ben

  • http://mp3amore.com/ Sarah

    Although working at home to me looks fun. But I can imagine how difficult when you experience lack of motivation. Meeting people maybe is the best solution for it. You don’t meet a lot of people when working at home.

  • http://www.bobbuskirk.com Bob Buskirk

    Yeah that’s why I try to venture out once a week to starbucks and panera and work from there, you always meet people that way

  • http://wassupblog.com/ Sire

    I reckon that interaction with other blogs may also provide some inspiration. Whilst I am self employed and work outside the home I would love having a job that would enable me to do both.

  • http://www.femaleshopper.co.uk Women’s Clothes

    I’ve been working from home a couple of years now myself and I see where you are coming from but I’m still motivated by that the money I earn is up to me so the sky is the limit.

  • Matthew

    I am about to start working from home. Just 2 weeks left till I “retire” from the 9-5. I am excited as it’s taken just shy of 3 years to build up to the point where I can do this.

    One thing that is on my mind is making sure I do not loose motivation and that I keep a decent sleep pattern so I can wake early and get cracking on with the most important things of the day first. I’ll let you know how it goes in a few months time :)

  • http://www.netage.co.za/development/ Ruby Web

    Keeping our minds active and interested in new things seem to be the key to success here. When there isn’t somebody standing over you and cracking the wqhhip it is difficult to get motivated sometimes. I am longing for that freedom though! Soon!

  • http://www.pinkyarcade.com Play Games Win Prizes

    I totally lack motivation when I’m working online. It’s just one of those things you can’t help because you’re on the INTERNET. I mean, come on! :D

    -Mike

  • http://www.recovery.pl Odzyskiwanie Danych

    Several times I tried to work at home, simply can not. There is a lack of people with whom you can talk and draw the energy

  • http://www.fortheloveofbeads.com/bead-store/mother-of-pearl-beads.html Mother of Pearl Beads

    no motivation because you are not exactly in a desired workplace, specially if its not conducive.

  • http://www.valtorc.com Ball Valves

    I find it easier to work outdoors or at a coffee shop or some nature. It gives the mentally image of NOT being home, but also the thought that I should be working.
    .-= Ball Valves´s last blog ..Valves, Acutators & Automation Packages =-.

  • http://www.nomow.co.uk/ artificial grass

    Ok so I have no motivation. I’ve been depressed a long while now, and just can’t seem to motivate myself to do anything. Its like I could care less and just lack any motivation. How can I become motivated to do things? Like…get help, and change my ways? How can I make myself care about anything and get motivated? My life is heading towards rock-bottom, and I know this and yet still cannot change. What do I do?

  • http://www.webuytextbooks.com/ Sell Textbooks

    I have been dealing with this as well.  It is hard to stay motivated sometimes when working from home.  There are so many distractions and it’s easy to just turn on the tube and forget about work all together.