What I Learned When I Finally Stopped Working from Home
I used to work from home full-time. It sounds ideal, right? You don’t have to commute. You can wear pajama pants. You don’t even have to brush your teeth if you don’t want to. And let’s be real, I didn’t. Shh don’t tell my dentist!
Some days I’d catch myself in the middle of an afternoon slump, still wearing my old Christmas pajamas, Frownies stuck to my forehead, staring into my fridge like something new might magically appear. I’d rotate between the fridge and pantry hoping one of them had answers. I’d sit down to work, then five minutes later I was folding laundry or reorganizing my spice rack.
Half the day would go by and I’d have nothing real to show for it. Then I’d beat myself up for not being productive. Rinse and repeat.
At some point, I got sick of myself. I knew I could do better. I wanted to take my business more seriously, but I wasn’t treating myself like a professional. It hit me that maybe the simple answer—just working from home—wasn’t actually working for me anymore.
So I tried something that felt almost silly at the time. I rented an office. Just for one day a week.
That one day changed everything.
When I walk into my office suite, something shifts. I carry myself differently. I brush my teeth. I wear actual pants. I’m not dodging pets, dishes, or distractions. I get more done in that one day than I typically do in three at home.
There’s something about the energy of being in the same building as other professionals who are also showing up and getting things done. It’s not a coffee shop with someone talking too loud at the next table. I don’t have to worry about leaving my laptop unattended to run to the bathroom. And I’ve made the space my own, with things that inspire me like plants. (Side note, if you love plants too and want to take care of the shared ones in the office, I will totally buy more.)
This space helps me shift into work mode. My brain knows what it’s here to do. Neuroscientist Andrew Huberman talks about how having a consistent environment for deep work can help your brain drop into a focused state faster. And even though I used to feel guilty spending money on an office when I had a “free” kitchen table, the return on investment is worth its weight in gold.
If you're sitting at home wondering why you're stuck, why you're not getting anything done, or why your motivation feels like it's circling the drain, maybe you just need a different space.
You don’t have to rent an office full time. Even one day a week can make a difference.
We’ve got space for that.
Curious to try it? Reach out and see if we’ve got a day with your name on it.