The Desk of Doom

My desk tends to stare at me.

Seriously, that’s what it feels like. I could have finished work hours ago, turned on the TV, and it would still be watching me from across the room. Taunting me with tomorrow’s tasks, reminding me of what I should’ve accomplished today.

And to make matters worse, I also love using that same desk for my hobbies. When writing and drawing get thrown into the mix, I can be in the same seat all day. Those things bring me joy. But when my creative time shares the same chair and screens as my workday, everything starts blending together.

Suddenly, I’m glued to this one spot in my home. Then, on busy workdays, I end up resenting the extra work (read: hobbies) that wait for me afterward. Not a great feeling, especially considering my hobbies are supposed to be my reset.

Trapped in the (Home) Office

I’m a homebody, so my favorite things already live in my space. As an introvert, being able to do everything from home was made just for me. It was an ideal situation built for me — at least, I thought it was.

But the routine slowly became suffocating: rest, eat, work, eat, work, hobbies, rest, repeat.

All in the same place, never a change in scenery. It was supposed to be comfortable, a dream I could now live in. However, the dream became a consistent reality with no changes.

I didn’t have to leave the house. There was nothing different on my schedule for a change.

Home was looking less like a sanctuary and more like a container. Why get on the bus without a reason, a destination? Why talk to people when I already have weekly meetings?

I kept telling myself that I was fine, I didn’t need to go outside. Deep down, I was exhausted. I was tired of the same old routine. It was me and my three screens, taking hermit mode to the absolute extreme.

Take Your Homebody Outside

Days began to blend. Staying indoors made me lose track of time. Every day looks the same, which eventually causes boredom, burnout, and a lack of motivation.

So I’ve taken time to go outside, get some daylight. Even thirty minutes on the terrace before my workday changes my mood and sharpens my focus. There’s a difference in my creative juices when I step out of the container.

On weekends, I take myself on solo dates — museums, paint ‘n sips, long walks, or wandering in well-known areas in town. I don’t need a plan, just the push to exist outside of my desk.

Working from home has pushed me to go outside more. It’s taught me that going outdoors is not a privilege, but a need. Even for the happiest person who enjoys staying inside.

I have to feel like a human first, before I can work like one.

It Was Never Locked

Working from home doesn’t mean I have to be at home all the time. If anything, it gives me more freedom to leave, and I owe it to myself to use that freedom. Home becomes a layered place: workspace, resting, hobbies, and living. It may feel like the most efficient situation — but when everything I need is in one place, I tend to crave a shift in my schedule.

That shift shouldn’t be a chore or require extensive planning. Sometimes the simplest reset is stepping outside, hearing other people, and remembering that life exists beyond my laptop.

Being around other people is great, even if we’re not interacting. It lessens the feeling of isolation. New scenery wakes me up, sparking new ideas for my personal projects. These little changes also make me a better employee.

And since I have time on my hands, why not take advantage of it?

Yes, I am a homebody. I also need sunlight, interaction, excitement, learning, and inspiration that cannot be found in my home. I am not an island, and I don’t have to isolate myself.

Besides, leaving home makes me appreciate the life I’ve built much more. And that will always be worth it.

Have a cozy workday, dear.