Maybe you don’t have a home office, yet. That’s okay. Tuck this article away until you do.
I’ve been working for myself full-time for just over three years. I converted a 2.5 car garage into a studio, but my office is in my home. I spend 8-10 hours a day in that office, sometimes more.
Employers are bound by law to provide breaks and lunch periods and most even provide a separate break area. How many of us ignore this kind of self-care and munch on a quick lunch while continuing to work, or fail to eat at all? How many of us only stop working to take a bathroom break and other than those quick breaks, we hunch over our computer for the remainder of the day?
This phenomenon has become even more noticeable to me since I quit smoking several months ago. I used to at least dash outside every few hours for a quick smoke break, but now that I no longer have that excuse for a break, I rarely leave my desk.
Recently I’ve discovered the importance of taking care of my “self,” and in the quest to do so, I’ve revamped my office to include a corner area for relaxation. A place where I can sit and drink my coffee, catch up on my issues of “Professional Photographer”, do a little research in my software manuals or just journal for a few minutes. I brought my favorite chair into the office as well as some photos and gifts I’d received that make me smile.
I challenge you to do the same. Grab a comfy chair, stick it in a corner and make sure you sit in it at least 15 minutes a day. Your “self” will be grateful. 🙂
