Working From Home: How to Make it Work

I mostly work from home, and lately, have been overdoing it on the computer. Too much time spent in the fluorescent glow of its screen and too few breaks. My brain has suffered and so have other areas of my life, including my home environment.

After taking a "time out" this weekend from work and the computer, I have come back refreshed. I am realizing how unhealthy it is to work for hours and hours on end without taking significant breaks.

So here's my new strategy: when I work from home (most of the time), I will work in short spurts of 30-50 minutes. In between each work session, I will get up for 5-20 minutes and clean something in the house or tidy up. I'm hoping this new strategy will keep my brain fresh and sharp and my house clean and tidy. I'll let you know what happens.

When All Else Fails, Reboot.

I try not to pay too much attention to the fact that "Mercury is in Retrograde" at the moment, but it's hard to ignore.

Perhaps the problems I've been having of late with e-mail, cell phone and other communication vias are not planetary -- who knows? -- but I'm over them. Obstacles be gone!

Genie in a Bottle...

...of Beaujolais.

This is a guest post from our Friday guest blogger, Marina, from Le Petit Cafe, in Bloomington, In.

One of my favorite ramblings after, let’s say, a frustrating shift is to imagine a little Genie appearing out of my bottle of wine. There is always a bottle of wine after a frustrating shift and today it happened to be a Beaujolais.

-Mistress, the Genie cried, you have freed me and I will grant you one wish: you can make one change in the American legislation!

I can imagine your surprise: what kind of wish is that? Maybe you do not know Beaujolais does not age for very long therefore there is no reason the Genie should be excessively grateful.

My first thought went to Universal Healthcare but I then realized this issue will probably end up being solved by this wonderful new President we have. I might as well ask for something that has NO chance to ever happen, right?

Every American citizen from age 18 to 25 (I gave some thought to the particulars too) should accomplish a 6 month mandatory service as a waiter in a restaurant!

Try to imagine how much more considerate, patient, tolerant and generous our society would be! This new well-being would of course trickle down on many sensitive issues: for instance, being happier, we would be healthier; being loved and respected by other nations, there might be fewer conflicts in the world. A perfect plan.

Sometimes I just do not know what I am doing here, rambling in my kitchen, instead of being out there helping solve some major crisis. If you happen to know anyone who works for the Government, forward this idea to that person please…

The List

"Tips for a Better Life"

1. Take a 10-30 minutes walk every day. And while you walk, smile.
2. Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day.
3. Sleep for 7 hours.
4. Live with the 3 E's -- Energy, Enthusiasm, and Empathy.
5. Play more games.
6. Read more books than you did the previous year.
7. Make time to practice meditation, yoga, and prayer. They provide us with daily fuel for our busy lives.
8. Spend time with people over the age of 70 & under the age of 6.
9. Dream more while you are awake.
10. Eat more foods that grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
11. Drink plenty of water.
12. Try to make at least three people smile each day.
13. Don't waste your precious energy on gossip.
14. Forget issues of the past. Don't remind your partner with his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
15. Don't have negative thoughts or things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
16. Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn. Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
17. Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
18. Smile and laugh more.
19. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don't hate others.
20. Don't take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
21. You don't have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.
22. Make peace with your past so it won't spoil the present.
23. Don't compare your life to others'. You have no idea what their journey is all about. Don't compare your partner with others.
24. No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
25. Forgive everyone for everything.
26. What other people think of you is none of your business.
27. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
28. Your job won't take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.
29. Get rid of anything that isn't useful, beautiful or joyful.
30. Jealousy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
31. The best is yet to come.
32. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
33. Do the right thing!
34. Call your family often.
35. Your inner most (?) is always happy. So be happy.
36. Each day give something good to others.
37. Don't over do. Keep your limits.
38. Share this with someone you care about.

-Source: e-mail and facebook chain message