A community of 30,000 US Transcriptionist serving Medical Transcription Industry

Getting in a rut working from home - ever experience this?

Posted: Mar 06, 2012

Becoming pretty much inactive, get up, login and work. Get off, turn on the TV and lay down or maybe spend a few hours on your favorite website. As far as making meals, they are far and few between because you eat in between working, breaks or just grab something totally unhealthy when you get off. Can go a couple of days without showering, lounging in pajamas, maybe groom and fix up once a week to go out for errands. House hold chores suffer because of lack thereof. My bedroom is a total disaster right now. Its like I do the bare minimum other than work. There are days and times where I hate to even get dressed to leave the house. Kinda like my life is sitting at this computer typing, watching TV, or surfing the internet and thats it. I have children, they are big girls though 22, 19, and 17 and my husband is locked up at the moment. I guess maybe when he gets home, I'll have a little bit more motivation. But right now, I really need some MOTIVATION to something besides work. I'm still young, barely 40.

Get moving! - tulip

[ In Reply To ..]
First off, take a shower! That's kind of....disgusting not to take a shower every day. And get dressed. Even if it's a pair of sweats and a cute hoodie. It will make you feel better. I always get fully dressed, hair and makeup, even if I do work from home. I would feel like a slob otherwise.

Instead of surfing the web on your downtime, get some of your cleaning done. Work for 45 minutes and go do laundry, dust, vacuum, tackle your bedroom during your break. Or go outside and get some fresh air.

Schedule time to eat. There are all sorts of easy make ahead meals you could do.

Life is a gift. Don't waste it tied to the computer. You are young and healthy!

Your right except for the web thing - more of a tv junky

[ In Reply To ..]
But your right about everything else. I just need some energy, been like this for about 2 months now. Hoping its just a phase, but will take your advice.

However, I have to work a straight shift. Cant afford to punch out or be away too long or else I have to make up time and not about to be spending my entire day working. Thanks for the advice.

sounds like me - noname

[ In Reply To ..]
Wow, I could have written that post! I've been doing this job for over 10 years and watched the pounds creep on, about a pound or two a year... doesn't sound like much but think about it... after 10 years you look and say what the heck happened! So now I'm trying to make time to work out. If I get up early I do it first thing in the morning... gets me energized and gets it off my to-do list for the day (by the way, another hazard of this job is that I don't set the alarm anymore. I wake up anywhere between 6:30 and 8:00). I have workout equipment, a treadmill, a bunch of DVDs like kickboxing and kettle bell workouts, and I got myself a Kinect for Christmas. This way I can mix it up every day so it's not boring.

I've also started getting up and moving around in between batches of jobs. While they're loading I'll go throw a load in the washer or rinse the dishes and put them in the dishwasher. When I think about bigger stuff I want to get done, I keep a list, adding things as I think of them. Then on a slow day or on the weekend, I can see what I want to get done.

I'm not saying it's easy, though. I've let myself get in this rut and it's hard to get back out of it. But right now I've run out of work so I'm going to go work out for 20 minutes and then I know I'll feel better afterwards. And then I'm going to start looking at that pile of filing that needs to get done.... then again, maybe I'll take a nap instead!

Good luck! Hope you can find something to get you out of your rut!

Yes the weight gain - forgot to mention that.

[ In Reply To ..]
That has posed a problem to because of the inactivity. Going from sitting at the computer working to laying down watching TV. The only exercise I get some days is going up and down the stairs.

The laundry obviously isn't a problem, since I dont go out but a couple times a week I dont dirty many clothes and I usually make a sink full of hot soapy water and soak the dishes, then pre-wash and stick in the dishwasher. Everything else stays pretty orderlie, but my BEDROOM...I actually work in my bedroom too so spend a lot of time in here, you would think I could keep it in order, but the minute I get it cleaned up, it's right back to being a mess a few days later.

Part of the problem has been my sleep habits. I have had a tendency to suffer from insomnia off and on for years and when I dont sleep Im no good. This past week has gotten better as far as sleep schedule goes so I got up at like 4:30 this morning, worked an hour (mandatory 1hr OT) so that I can get off at a decent hour this evening, typically work 11am to 7pm but with mandatory hr extra not off till 8pm or later.

Anyway, I am rambling. Im gonna wash my hair and shower and try to pick up my room before I have to punch back in at 11am. Hopefully the rest of the week will be as productive i.e. able to sleep at night, getting up early, getting my mandatory hour extra in, and having time for other stuff.

Besides getting off at 8pm or 8:30pm tired, but unable to sleep or do anything. Sorry for rambling on...thanks for feedback.

oh yeah, the insomnia! - noname

[ In Reply To ..]
I've had that for years. Part of the reason I wanted to work at home. I hated being stuck in an office all day on 3 hours' sleep and no chance for a nap!

Now that I've hit menopause, it's gotten much worse (see what you have to look forward to!). Sometimes I will get up at 3 am and work for an hour or so, then go back to bed. Well, I see I have a job now, so back to work while I'm still wide awake!

Suggestions - WorkingAtHomeToo

[ In Reply To ..]
What about changing your shift? Sometimes, those mid-day to late evening shifts can mess up everything. If you can, see about that, too. I find early morning shifts help. I don't work this shift now, but I'm hoping to work it soon. (I work 8:30-5 now), but ideally, I would love to work from 3 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. shift, that way, I still get in plenty of sleep at night, and am also done with work early enough to get a lot done through the rest of the day. Exercise will also help you get out the rut. Also agree with writing down lists of things to do one at a time throughout the day over the week and make a goal to complete bigger tasks for the weekend. Hope this helps.

Suggestions - Thanks yes that helps, but cant - change my shift at the moment.

[ In Reply To ..]
I actually got off on time tonight because I was up at 4:30am and worked one hour to get my mandatory 1hr OT in, so finally got off at 7pm for the first time in weeks.

Feels good, think thats part of what has been contributing to my insomnia as well. The list is a good idea, I am going to do that. Maybe if I just put down one thing at a time and tackle that instead of looking at the big picture, I will get somewhere and I am speaking in terms of my bedroom; thats where my trouble lies.

And yes, the mid-day shift can put somewhat of a damper on you when it comes to getting things done, especially if they are mandating you to do an hour extra until further notice.

Thanks for all the tips guys!

Move your work area from the bedroom if you can - Happy MT Robin

[ In Reply To ..]
I know that's not always possible for people, but studies have shown that if you do anything in your sleep area other than sleep or intimacies, you are creating a pattern that you are not supposed to sleep when you are in there.

Good luck to you. This job definitely is hard on the bum and waistline. You sound like you're dealing with a little bit of depression and movement and exercise will help that tremendously. As others have said, get up and take a shower and get dressed every day and then when you take a lunch break go outside and walk around the block and get some sunshine and vitamin D. And yes, you MUST take a lunch break of at least 30 minutes, otherwise your productivity is just nil. Get yourself moving some way, some how. It will make a huge difference for you.

I never have a moment's hesitation falling - asleep at the end of the day - /sm/

[ In Reply To ..]
and my office is directly under my loft bed. If I get sleepy, I toss a No-Doz down my throat and keep on truckin. And even with all that caffeine coursing through my system, at the end of the day, all I have to do is about 10-15 minutes of "window-shopping" on eBay, and my eyelids grow heavy. Once I climb up into bed, I'm usually asleep within 10 minutes.

My only other option would be to have the office in the dining nook in the kitchen - the coldest, draftiest, noisiest room in the house, right next to my washer and dryer.

My biggest hinderance to working sometimes is all the other, more interesting stuff on the internet that I'd rather be looking at than a bunch of boring, repetitive medical reports.

Thank you, maybe not a good idea to have - work area in bedroom.

[ In Reply To ..]
Yes, I think there has been a bit of depression even though I am on medication for anxiety and depression. I have had an overwhelming amount of things going on lately. The biggest of which is loosing my hospital job of 9 years two months ago.

I am getting better and adjusting though. Starting to see myself progressing and making a bit more more than I had been in the begining. The company that acquired our dept has given me an increase with my VR rate, so that's helped quite a bit.

I was kinda freaked out at first because I have always made so much money ya know? and I just went from a nice cushiony hourly rate with incentive with cents per line. But I'm adjusting.

Thank you so much to all of you for the great feedback, I really appreciate it!

I've been in that rut lately. - meggy

[ In Reply To ..]
Don't know if it's hormones or the job/money situation or what. I feel like I don't have the energy or desire to do anything. I have PMDD and am on meds for that but I think it's getting worse, probably because I'm entering menopause (I'm 48). So I'm going to get to the doctor for a checkup and hopefully tweak my meds and hope for the best.

Nice to know I'm not alone - PMDD will do it to you too.

[ In Reply To ..]
Not in menopause yet, but suffer from PMS every month so know what thats like. Add that in with working from home, not having to leave your house, stress, strapped for cash etc. and there is the answer to your lack of motivation.

I hope all works out well for the both of us and we get back on track and be able to keep a decent rhythm and flow going. Also they have vitamins for women going through menopause if you haven't already tried those and by all means see what your doctor an do about adjusting your meds.

I have been on Lexapro on and off for about 10 years and just recently swtiched to Celexa because its cheaper like 6 months ago, I dont worry about much of anything being on that stuff, but concerns me a bit because sometimes when I should be worried I'm not. Any, yeah, talk with your doc and see what he can do..Good Luck!!

PMDD is the pits. I always knew something - meggy

[ In Reply To ..]
wasn't right with my mood swings but I didn't get diagnosed until I was 36. I'm on 15 mg Lexapro now with 150 mg Wellbutrin and had been doing fine for years until recently.

I think I'm entering menopause b/c I'm having hot flashes and night sweats and the PMDD is substantially worse, but my period unfortunately arrives like clockwork every month. I have a checkup appt scheduled for next month so I'll see if she can run some tests to see where I'm at. I'll definitely check into those vitamins, too.

I'm feeling a little bit better but I'm wondering if I might be happier working outside the home and having a steady income. I don't really want to have to worry about childcare, professional wardrobe, fuel expenses and office politics, but I'm feeling really board and unproductive these days.

Thanks so much for your input and to the OP for starting this thread, I feel much less alone! Best of luck to you as well!

HA...my record is 13 days w/o a shower/shampoo - L&L

[ In Reply To ..]
but I'm 60 and only have cats. I decided if my car breaks down, I probably won't even fix it. The Internet is kinda like Alice's Restaurant...you can get anything you want.

How long until your husband comes home? You need to find a walking buddy or a hobby. I can go to a senior center to play bridge or canasta. Do you like cards? Are there any art classes. It would depend on the size of your community.

Please get out of your rut and don't turn out like me in 20 yrs.

My husband will be home in 5 months - Thanks God and mean really.

[ In Reply To ..]
That man is my best friend and I miss him to death. I do things with my girls sometimes on my days off though. My oldest daughter came over Sunday and made dinner for everyone and she and I usually do a lot of our shopping and running around together. I do a lot with my daughters on my days off, but they have their own lives too ya know.

At any rate, I am working on getting myself together. Im so glad I started this thread, I have gotten lots of nice feedback. Your comments mean a lot to me and many good suggestions.

Yep, same here... - blondie

[ In Reply To ..]
I'm pretty inactive. I've been telling myself I need to start walking everyday or something. When I get off the computer I too just want to lay on the couch and watch TV. Also spend a lot of time on internet. I don't cook too much either, but I try to make myself cook sometimes. I totally know what you mean about lounging in pj's all day. Pretty much everything you mentioned is the same here except for the husband being locked up part.

Working at-home is hazardous to your health - wheres_my_job

[ In Reply To ..]
SO easy to sit and eat all day, from the stress of getting your lines in...I mean, cookies, candy, cake...absurd, like a 6-year-old girl at a pretend tea party, with the tiny tea cups and saucers...those porcelain tea sets when I was little...the stress...unbelievable. That is why I'm getting the h*** out of MT'ing...I'm scared shitl**, but yesterday was wonderful, I walked my MT a** off, I walked over to a park I didn't even know you could GET to by walking...and I've lived here years. And today it's supposed to be 65 degrees!

As a 50+ worker reentering "the world of work" - doesn't help to have that "MT spread" or "MT arms" - anybody hearing me? It is a great pleasure to walk one's a** off...leaving behind 15, 20 years of sitting there, stewing in your juices, listening, paying attention, focusing, concentrating...and getting paid what an Olive Garden server might get paid now!

Sign me, getting in touch with my inner streetfigher/streetwalker/kickboxer -

*end of my rant*

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