Get It Done When You're Depressed Read Online Free PDF

that you’d do better if your desk were different or you had more cabinets for your files. And when you have work to do at home, you can feel like moving furniture or buying something new so you can work more effectively. In fact, there’s a chance you won’t feel comfortable working anywhere.

Choices
    Only you know what helps you get things done. Is it a totally clutter-free desk? Do you need music to work by or complete silence? Does it need to be cold or warm? If you can’t focus on anything when you need to work, you have to locate yourself someplace where you are able to focus. Look at your choices, pick a place, and most importantly, stick to it. When you want to get up, remind yourself, This is where I’m working. It might never feel 100 percent right, but you have to stay put and get your work done.
    It’s important that you create a work space that accommodates your depression. You have to set up this space on your good days so when you’re not having a good day, you can sit down and do what you need to do without worrying about the location or the feel of where you work. Knowing what works for you is the first step; the next is creating the space. The final step is sticking to the space when you need to get something done.
    Do you have any of these work space worries?
    • Stuck in a cubicle.
    • Working from home, which can make you feel isolated and lonely.
    • Too many distractions.
    • You work in an office and would much prefer to work at home.
    • Wrong size chair and table.
    • Not enough space.
    • Work space is too messy.
    It’s important that you learn to distinguish between what is truly a work space problem and what uncomfortable feelings are simply a result of depression. When you decide this, you can find a space that really works for you.
Milo’s Story
    I’ve worked with computers all my professional life. I always liked the work, but I really hated going in to the office. On the days I felt down, I had to drag myself in on a time schedule that didn’t fit my sleep cycle. I was constantly tired and frustrated. I worked in a small cubicle that was more like a box with no windows. I felt like I was going to scream some days.
    I actually do better when I have work choices, especially on the days when I don’t feel up to meeting people. Asking to telecommute was one of the smartest things I did. I still have to do the same amount of software engineering work, but it’s in my home office and on my schedule. I get to look out on my backyard, and I always feel better when I see my trees and hammock. Plus, my dog keeps me company.
My Story
    When I’m well, I can pretty much sit and work anywhere. But when I’m depressed, I’m constantly trying to find a comfortable work space. I don’t like to write at home, because I feel too isolated. I have trouble at coffee shops simply because I have too many papers to spread out, and I feel guilty for being there too long when I only have one cup of coffee. I’ve rented office space, gone to the library, and tried to find a group where I can sit and work with other people, but I’ve never found anything permanent. My main problem is loneliness while I work. I can handle noise, but it’s the quiet I don’t like.
    I’m still searching. I wrote part of this book in a nice space with brick walls and interesting pictures on the wall, but I felt like I was in a void without human contact. At the library, I feel that I’m isolated because all around me people are reading or studying in small groups and I’m writing alone.
    What I do now:
    • I face the fact that I simply cannot write if I have access to my e-mail. I have to work in a place with no Internet connection. This is getting harder and harder due to wireless.
    • I know that I’m never really comfortable anywhere when I’m not feeling my best, so I have to forget the idea that there is one perfect workspace for me out there and the notion that I’ll find it if I just keep looking!