WFH mom takes a Workation

Ever since becoming a mom almost 10 years ago, my career keeps taking turns. I went from working a consistent 9-5 cubicle job as a promotion producer to an all-hours high school teacher to a work-from-home freelancer.

I've been working from home going on 3 years. Part of it was my choice. Part of it is circumstance.

Either way, the last few months I've been struggling with focus. The idea of sitting at my desk for one more minute--in my house, knowing I'm behind on dishes, laundry, and who knows what else, attempting to redesign my website (which isn't going smoothly) , while figuring out how to get more clients, and writing job proposals--is making me want to just curl up and ignore the world.

I jokingly blame it on perimenopause. But, hey, who knows? Could be.

I knew that something had to break this cycle of non-productivity. I needed a break from home.

That's when I came across the idea of a workation. It was really popular during the pandemic--book a stay at a hotel, not for a vacation away from work, but a time to work away from home.

Now, I am a homebody. I'm really good at being a homebody. If I had my choice between going out to happy hour with friends or putting on my pjs and watching tv until I fell asleep--you guessed it--I'd choose home.

But . . . when you are home 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, trying not to get distracted by all the things you need to get done at home while trying to complete all the things that need to happen for work, being a homebody isn't so fun anymore.

So, right now as I type this blog post, I'm breaking the cycle of the work-from-home blues. I am loving my hotel stay at a Holiday Inn Express in Lacey, Washington. It's not too far away from where I live, but far enough that I feel "away."

The hotel is amazing. I have a great work station set up. No distractions of dishes and laundry or family interrupting at the exact moment I finally get in a work groove. Love my family, but you know what I mean.

My hotel workation work station

I feel productive. I've been figuring out my website obstacles. Writing some blog posts. Even got some exercise in at the hotel fitness center. Might try out the pool to get a break this evening.

It's not cheap. But, for me, it falls under the category of spending money to make money. Since I've been struggling to get certain things done that ultimately will contribute to my freelancing income, by taking this workation, I'm finally completing those tasks that I inevitably would keep procrastinating on at home. And, then I can start making money. Eventually making up for what I spent on this workation.

So if you're a work-from-home person like me, and being at home is starting to feel like a burden, check into a hotel and start checking off your to do list. (And, the wi-fi has been working just fine, despite complaints about hotel wi-fi that I read about online.)