When you work at home, you don't have many built-in reward mechanisms for a day's work. There's no bonuses or free lunches on your average day, so finding ways to incentivize hard work can be tough. Similarly, major home projects can be exhausting and isolating and while completing the task at hand is a major bonus, it can leave you feeling empty.
Next time you finish a big project, reward yourself by:
1. Taking a Netflix break with a career-relevant documentary. Learning doesn't have to come through step by step processes. Sometimes, it happens through watching and listening. If you work in news, watch Page One. If you work in design, watch Helvetica. Hopefully, it will be relaxing and educational.
2. Going on a coffee date with someone in your profession. I am known for sending completely blind emails to people whose work I admire and asking them if I can buy them a cup of coffee. It's a great excuse to get to know someone better while getting out of your comfort zone.
3. Sleeping in. Honestly, is there anything better than sleeping in on a random Tuesday? If you rocked on Monday, reward yourself by showing up to the "office" a little late.
(Images: Heather and Katherine's Meant to Be Remodel and nomilknocry~oH! on Flickr, licensed under Creative Commons.)
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When you work in an office, you don't have many built-in reward mechanisms for a day's work. There's no bonuses or free lunches on your average day, so finding ways to incentivize hard work can be tough.
You also don't get to take Netflix breaks, or extended coffee breaks or sleep in on random Tuesdays.
Are we talking about a grown up doing her job here or a kindergarten student? I know I am old school but the idea of " finding ways to incentivize hard work" makes me wonder if this person is mature enough to work on her own.
Use your imagination people: The coffee machine where I work also dispenses hot chocolate - that's what helps me get through a particularly hard day or I watch a movie while I paint a wall to take my mind off how incredibly boring it is. Rewards come in many shapes and sizes.
I work from home, and when I need a break I take it, when the workload and the schedule allows that. Also, I eat my lunch far away from my computer screen and sewing machine, I think it's important to not spend your lunch checking emails and doing work-related stuff, if you can! Often enough I have to power through, though, but in general, I decide when I work and when I take my time off. That's the great thing about working on your own terms. Often enough I work through weekends and late night, but also because I love what I do!
I think this is a wonderful post. I work from home and often find that at the end of the day I am more drained than if I work a typical 9-5. I usually take a lunch break but that's it. Rewarding yourself has nothing to do with maturity, working your ass of for a promotion garners a reward as well; you don't see people like that and call them juvenile.
really...........maybe a BIG GOLD STAR.........
Wow, look at all the sour grapes in the comment section today.
Perhaps a lot of sore Romney-ites are hanging out in the comments today? Seems like a lot of grumpiness over a cute little post...
Thanks for this post. I needed it today after plowing through an admittedly small bit of work that somehow felt particularly grueling. Cheers!
Why does being an adult have to be boring, why can't you reward yourself? I personally work harder if I know there's something more in it for me other than just doing the work, it's kind of like when trying to eat healthier you often reward yourself with something nice for yourself e.g. shoes or going to a show, whatever you like. Like I always say, if it makes you happy and doesn't hurt/affect other people you go ahead and do it!
I work from home. I voted for Romney. I'm definitely an adult. I work for myself as a consultant and therefor I don't always get a paycheck on friday, or health insurance, or paid holidays, or the general validation you get from working for someone else. Be honest - how much do you enjoy getting that "atta boy" from your boss or knowing that on Friday, you will get a check to "reward" you for all your work. All the writer is saying is that you need to treat yourself to your own 'atta boy's (or girl's)" .... I totally agree.
Oh, and pedicures are a great reward!
Chartreuse, et. al., I hope you have never accepted a cup of coffee, the chance to go home an hour early on a Friday, or even a simple 'job well done' from your employers.
My biggest reward for working for myself and doing without regular income, benefits, weekends, paid holidays, etc., is the incredible flexibility with my schedule. Yesterday, a Thursday, after working very long days for more than a week with no days off, I quit early and took a youngster to a matinee. I can't enjoy taking time off like that if I haven't pushed myself very hard first. Otherwise, it just feels like I'm slacking off.
This feels like a generational thing to me. I think my parents would laugh at this kind of indulgence and consider benefits and a salary as "reward" enough.
I think this post might be referring to freelance people who work from home, rather than people who have a full time work-from-home gig. I don't see how people who work from home could take naps any more or less often than their office based colleagues.
Amazing the level of spite that is being showed towards those who self-motivate.
Lighten up, people. At least you have a job.