7 sure signs you need to get out more

I’ve been working from home on and off for many years. Sometimes it’s really tough, but most of the time it’s delightful.

So delightful, in fact, that on occasion I go awfully close to being a complete shut in.

Some of the indicators are more obvious than others, but all lead to the same conclusion: I need to get out more. A lot more!

Source: Work your way Flying Solo’s step-by-step course. View more.

Here are seven indicators I need to get out more:

1. It’s been about a week since you had a shower.
2. Your conversations with various pets (including the fish) are getting longer and far more involved.
3. You are eating food that is several years past its ‘BEST BY’ date because you can’t be bothered going out to buy new stuff.
4. You hide when someone knocks on the door and act like no one is home.
5. You ask yourself if you really need to put on pants when you’re only going to the drive-through for emergency food supplies? (The answer is of course ‘no’.)
6. When a friend comes over (which you begrudgingly allow because they are bringing food or other essential supplies) you notice the look of shock in their eyes when you open the door and they scan you from head to foot.
7. You start developing unusual compulsive and non-negotiable behaviour, like making sure all of your teaspoons are facing north and all of your forks must face south.

OK, now I’m not saying I’ve done all of that stuff (shut up damn you Nemo), or that I’m doing it now … but I do think we all have to be more aware of some of the signs that we need to get out more.

Once you’ve had that little wake-up call it’s important to then bite the bullet: have a shower, realise just how badly your clothes smell, brush your teeth and take your pale skin and sensitive eyes outside in the world.

And slowly but surely everything will get back to normal.

Not that I am speaking from experience or anything …

How do you know when you’ve reached the point that you need to get out more?