How to Leave the House
even if it means I have to wash my hair
I’ve been working from home for 13 years and when I first began working from home my children were still, well children, and there were things that forced me to leave the house daily and weekly - school drop off and pickup, sports events, clubs, more errands. Without noticing, as I became an empty nester, I started leaving the house less. Entire days can now go by without leaving the house. And though I talk to coworkers and clients, might text a friend, chat with my husband each day, I’ve realized that I am missing more human connection on a daily basis.
So, what’s an introvert who works from home to do? My list will certainly be different than yours might be, but I’ve started to more intentionally leave the house. If you have fallen into the same sinkhole, I hope these ideas spark some of your own. Let me know!
Go Swimming
I’m part of a masters swim team and even though I LOVE swimming, it’s very easy to talk myself out of going.
Pros: health benefits, community, time outside in the sun
Cons: I have to wash my hair? I know this is a ridiculous reason to not do something I enjoy - I’m working on it.
Run an Errand
In the name of efficiency, I often batch my errands together on one day. I once had a very boring office job, so boring that if I had three pieces of paper (do offices still use paper?) that needed to go to another department I would take one at a time. It wasn’t efficient, but it did get me up and out of my chair more often. I’ve started doing this with my errands. Why do I have to be efficient in my own life?
Go to the Library
Libby is great; I’m a fan. But I’m realizing how much I’m missing by not going to the library anymore. When my children were small we went every week and carried home stacks of books for them and for me. And up until 2020, I still regularly went myself. But with many things about daily life that changed with the pandemic, this habit fell by the wayside. What am I missing by not going to the library? The joy of walking through stacks of books and finding something that I wasn’t looking for. I’ve found some of my favorite books and authors this way.
Go for a Walk
I’m not going to explain how good walking is for you; we’ve all read one million articles and books on this topic. (Though on another day I probably WILL explain how much I love walking.) For the purposes of this list though, going for a walk is just about the simplest way to leave the house. And HUGE pro - I don’t have to wash my hair.