How to Get Out of a Work-From-Home Slump
Readers recently had a discussion in the comments on dealing with the work-from-home slump that a lot of us are facing now that we've gone past the one-year mark. (Of course, some of us have — understandably — been feeling this way for months!)
Here are a few ideas for how to get past that slump:
1. Ditch comfy clothes for work clothes — or at least structured ones. If it's a Zoom-free day and you're wearing a pink sweatshirt and PJ pants with hedgehogs on them (suspiciously specific?), get up and put some real clothes on. Not only can they improve your posture (it's not as comfortable to slouch or curl up with a blazer and “hard pants”), but they'll help you feel more in work mode.
2. Try working somewhere else for a while. If you always work in the same place at home, try a different room, a different desk/table, or another window view. If your WiFi is strong enough, work outside! Some commenters in the thread noted that going into the office one, two, or three days a week makes a big difference, so consider that if you feel safe with that option.
3. Plan your day the night before. This is especially useful for a day when you don't have any meetings or calls scheduled and you could really use some structure. Make a plan by blocking out your time for different tasks and by choosing three top-priority tasks to complete.
{related: how to turn a bad day around}
4. Take a short walk outside. Even 10 minutes can make a big difference. You'll get a little boost of energy and and a little perspective, too. (You'll also feel slightly better when you read those articles that basically say “Sitting all day WILL KILL YOU.”) If the weather's bad, get up and do a few stretches indoors.
5. Try the “Dopamine Bean.” Kat recently tried a supplement called Mucuna pruriens (here's an article about it from Byrdie) and felt that it made a noticeable difference in her productivity. It contains L-Dopa, which is the amino acid precursor of dopamine, a brain chemical that affects your mood and motivation. (Note: Make sure to ask your doctor before taking a new supplement.)
{related: how to focus when you work from home}
6. Use the Pomodoro method. We've mentioned this method several times over the years, and some people swear by it. When I was trying Pomodoro, I downloaded this cute break timer app that lets you pick the length of your work/break times and has several different alarm sounds. (I mean, who doesn't need an app with a little tiger in a tuxedo?) The app Forrest is a bit similar, and — ooh — they have a Chrome extension.
7. Find a mantra that works for you. I just came across something the other day on, uh, Facebook that seemed like it could be helpful. It read, “When things feel overwhelming, remember: One thought at a time. One task at a time. One day at a time.” Sure, that seems obvious, but sometimes I could use a reminder anyway! If you're finding your to-do list overwhelming, pick something manageable from it, clear off your desk, and focus on that one thing. When you've completed it, the sense of accomplishment will give you a mental boost.
{related: the best Spotify playlists to help you focus}
8. Categorize your tasks according to time and effort. You may have deadlines attached to your to-do tasks, and a general idea of how much time each will take, but if you're having trouble focusing on a particular day, it's helpful to be able to look at your to-do list and easily spot the things that don't need a ton of sustained brain power. On a paper list, you can use a certain symbol to denote one-minute or five-minute tasks, for example. (You can also use this system to batch tasks — make all your phone calls at the same time, run errands at the same time, and so on.)
Are you feeling a lack of motivation and general slump? What are your best tricks to get out of a work-from-home slump?
Stock photo via Stencil.
I’m so burned out and unfocused that I’m going to try this dopamine bean thing even though I don’t really think supplements like this are impactful. Worth a try at least
I just placed an order. I am willing to try anything at this point.
A resume question:
For about 4 months in 2019, I worked for a nonprofit that was pretty close to my dream job. Unfortunately, the organizational culture was very dysfunctional, and I was unceremoniously fired without explanation. The organization is well-known in our community for its history of poor management and a lot of firings. I don’t think they would have anything nice to say about me.
Everything else on my resume is in the private sector (law firms). I’m now applying for another position at a nonprofit. My experience with the previous nonprofit job is very relevant. Do I keep the previous nonprofit job on my resume even though it was only for 4 months? Or do I leave a gap on my resume and prepare an explanation?
Thank you.
I would keep it, but spin it that you were a consultant tasked for a project based assignment.
Anon, I’m so sorry about your experience with nfp #1’s subpar culture and the awk spot it’s put you in now. I have many friends (in nfps and legal nfps) with similar stories, and it seems that poor management (of human and fiscal resources) is not uncommon for nfps for countless reasons (just to name a few: insufficient capital, inadequate hiring and training of management, lack of clear operational procedures, and the propensity for blurring of professional/propriety lines in more “collegial” environments where team members wear many hats and interact with managers in a less structured and formal way). My friends have dealt w/all these issues (plus the typical “horror boss” archetype) at many nfps across virtually all industries/markets. So, you’re definitely not alone! :)
As to your query, my nfp friends have asked me the “to add or not to add” question too (for similar reasons as you!). And my advice (which is based on my law school career advisor’s “experienced grad” resume guide but works well for nfps given their commonly cross-disciplinary nature) is to consider 4 factors, similar to a SWOT analysis:
(1) relevance (i.e. how pertinent is the experience to the new role you seek or where you want your career arc to go generally?);
(2) substantiveness (i.e. was the depth and extent of the experience significant, or just minor/”entry level” with limited exposure to your desired area of work?);
(3) cohesiveness (i.e. how does the experience fit in with your resume and career arc overall – are you able to articulate a concise (or at least a clear) narrative to explain your career meanderings from nfp #1 to law back to the nfp space?); and
(4) the overall pro/con test (i.e. weighing the 3 prior factors against each other plus any likely follow up questions/considerations, is that experience more likely to work for you or against you?)
As you note that the experience is very relevant, I assume it’s also substantive – and the gray area is cohesiveness and overall pros/cons. As to cohesiveness – can you easily connect the dots between your educational background and professional experience and explain what led you to the nfp space, then to law, and back to nfps and how they all fit together? (something like “I wanted substantive background on regulatory frameworks of ___ /advocacy for ___, and working in law provided me with that”) – and articulate how each of those work experiences built on the necessary skills for the role you’re seeking? Are you able to highlight any work you did or any skills you picked up in law firms that directly relates to what you want to do in the nfp space? Or if not, can you clearly articulate how/why went from nfp to law and back to nfp (maybe something like how law gave you a different perspective of advocacy but you realized that you prefer being involved from the nfp side – or that the more flexible structure of nfps is appealing to you?) If you went to law school, did you do so to get into the nfp space from the start (as many do)? This factor is not only important for your resume, but also key for your interview and candidacy because there are countless ways to craft a seamless answer that can actually work in your favor/give you an edge as a well-rounded candidate; conversely, it can also trip you up if you don’t have a clear narrative worked out, so it helps to spend some time thinking about how to present your position.
As to pros/cons – this is obviously the toughest one and goes to the root of your question. Since you say that nfp #1’s reputation for its delightful culture is well-known in the community, it’s certainly possible that nfp #2 or another prospective nfp employer is aware of, and may be understanding of that fact (reading between the lines of your 4 month tenure at nfp #1). In addition, if you have other resume “softs” that buttress your overall career profile, that could draw some attention away from the 4 month stint at nfp #1. Are there specifics in your educational background/experience – including relevant coursework if you’ve only been out of school for a few years, volunteer work, publications, hobbies, awards, professional memberships, etc. that you can add to your resume to round out your overall story? If so, then your 4 months at nfp #1 may not stand out so much. However, you want to be prepared for the worst case scenario too: are you also able to deftly and neutrally gloss over the poor culture of nfp #1 if asked about that experience without making overt negative comments about nfp #1? Are you able to give a straight and honest answer if pressed on the 4 month stint directly? Do you have a “PC” response to a blunt question about poor culture? If asked, can you tell your interviewer that the nfp is unlikely to offer a positive reference and explain why? Do you think it’s likely that nfp #2 will want to contact nfp #1 to vet you – or is the possibility of that remote? And if you leave the 4 months off your resume – how likely is the gap to come up in conversation? Were you employed in law before nfp #1 or were you in school? Depending on the proximity to your graduation date, a 4 month gap may not be so glaring, though that may be industry specific (for example, in law, 4 months is not that long – particularly in an over-saturated market; other industries may view that differently).
If you think you have a good handle on all the caveats here, then the risks of adding nfp #1 to your resume may very well outweigh the benefits. Best of luck to you and I hope this helps a little! :)
OMG – you are a superstar for writing this great response. Thank you!
I feel like covid broke my brain
Hi Kate,
It’s been a few days since I have tried some of the tips you have mentioned, and I have to say that they have really made a difference. Wearing structured clothes really helped me get into the mindset to work. I also noticed a considerable difference in my energy level after switching rooms and tables while working. I will be trying the dopamine supplement as well and see if it goes well or not.