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Comment by wincy | Hacker News Reader

I don’t know the last time I took a shower. The days are blending into one another. My house is a disaster. Every day feels exactly the same. I work from home on my laptop which is next to my bed. I often don’t get out of bed to go downstairs until past noon. I take several naps throughout the day, but never feel well rested. My wife is losing her mind, my kids are acting like wild animals. I don’t know how this happened. I have no energy and just want to sleep. I wish I could go back to the office.

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I was working from home about 2 or 3 days a week before the pandemic. I always found that the key to success is to maintain as much of my standard "going to the office" routine as possible.

- I wake up at the same time every day.

- I eat breakfast and have my morning coffee at the same time every day.

- I shower and dress the same way as if I were heading into the office every day.

- I have a dedicated place in my home that I work from every day.

- I stop working around the same time every day.

It is essential for me to do all of these things. Just because I'm not heading to an office doesn't mean that I can start my day any later. Just because I'm home and my work can be done from home doesn't mean that I should continue working any longer than I would in the office.

Maintain your schedule and routine to... maintain your schedule and routine.

Hey man.. you sound maybe depressed? There's a lot going on right now and I feel some similarity. It's not just remote work. Things closed, oh and a global pandemic to worry about.

I don't have any solutions except I try to get outside and I know I feel a bit better when we exercise, get enough sleep, or get out of the house and do something.

Good luck

It is anecdotal and not everyone has same opportunities, but evening or morning bike rides worked for me and my family. We also decided to take a little more risk and get an Airbnb for a week at a pool property to get a vacation feel (even though we stayed indoors and worked a few days). Also, we started playing more board/card games at home and started a vegetable garden (just to keep busy).

I hope you find something that works and it gets better for you and your family.

I found that having a half an hour run first thing in the morning does wonders. Not only the benefits of a physical exercise but it actually puts a structure to your day, feels like going somewhere and you take shower after that. I would also change the route a bit everyday, so I would build memories of a different morning every day. Otherwise, as you said, the days bleed into another.

If your circumstances were more stable prior to the pandemic, I speculate you could be could be experiencing this due to...

1. seasonal affective disorder.

2. messed up sleep cycle (see also: circadian rhythm, pineal gland, melatonin).

3. vitamin D deficiency.

4. lack of physical activity.

1, 2 and 3 are often caused by lack of exposure to natural light. Try to get a vitamin D supplement and walk outside during the day every now and then.

Feel that. My job used to be 100-120 days/year on the road, now reduced to 3 so far since mid-March. My life was adapted to it with two kids and a wife, and now it's gone to hell. Having a very tough time adjusting and I see no return to normalcy in 2020.

Hey, if you need someone to talk to about anything please reach out I'm a good listener.

Maybe the office is helping you hide a life that needs changes.

Hey, if you need someone to talk to about anything please reach out I'm a good listener.

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