Working From Home Without Losing Your Mind

Working from home sounds like the dream… until it’s week two and you’re sitting in the same spot again, feeling flat, distracted, and a bit alone.

In this episode, I share the real story of how KunsHuis started (dining-room desk, pay-as-you-go internet, all of it) — and what actually helped me climb out of that early working-from-home slump. We’re talking dedicated space, routine, boundaries, staying connected, and the small things that make freelancing sustainable.

→ Show notes, 🖤, and links mentioned are waiting for you:  https://kunshuis.com/2026/03/06/working-from-home/

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Transcript

Working from home is a blessing and a challenge

SPEAKER_00 0:27

Hi creative, welcome back to Beyond Design. If you're new here, I'm Nolate. Designer, freelancer, business owner. Freelancing isn't difficult. It's small things done right consistently. Today we're talking about working from home. Because yes, it's a blessing, and yes, it can also be very isolating. And if you're doing it on your own, it can get in your head if you don't build structure around it. And I'm not talking from theory, I'm talking from a lived experience. So how it started in my mom's dining room with a laptop. And that laptop wasn't a casual purchase. I saved for almost two years to buy it. And the internet was pay as you go, and that was about April 2010. And then life happened quickly. A month later, in May 2010, I got married and Kinseys officially started in my husband's family home, the one we eventually owned. So when people romanticize working from home, I always smile a bit because I remember the real version. I remember building something from scratch in a home with real life happening all around it. And I want to say this very clearly. Working for yourself is a blessing, but it comes with challenges. And if you're a solo entrepreneur, the isolation is part and can sneak up on you. Here's what I didn't expect. I thought working from home would feel like freedom, creativity, excitement. And then by week two, it was the same quiet space every day, same chair, same walls, same voice, my own. And I didn't have kids back then, so that quiet was quiet. Not a busy house quiet, just silence. And I got depressed, like properly depressed, hopeless. And then I did the thing I know some of you will relate to. I started watching TV during the day. Not for fun, but because it was like people. But it wasn't a connection, it was distraction. And then I felt guilty because now I'm behind and I still felt flat. By month three, clients started growing. That's when honestly the thought had no one is coming to help me out of this. This work, eat, sleep, reset thing in the same space won't change unless I change something about it. That was my turning point. Working from home forced me to learn things I didn't learn at an agency. How to keep myself professional in the homely environment. How to get work done without someone watching me, how to set boundaries, how to manage clients while living at home, and how to separate home life and work life. And every season of life brought a new version of that lesson. Some seasons you're energized, some seasons you're tired, some seasons you're on fire creatively, and some seasons you're just trying to survive this week. So I want to share what helped me. Not in a perfect routine way, but in a real way, because for the first three years I worked between the living room and the spare bedroom, and when Kinsey's grew, I needed a proper space. Still at home but separate. So we built the outside studio, and that's the studio you can see here in the background if you're watching on YouTube. So what I'm sharing with you is what kept me going for the long run. It's what helped me stay inspired for the last 16 years working from home. This is what made it sustainable for me. So the four things that changed everything. I'm going to keep this very simple and practical. There are only four things. It's my environment, my schedule, my boundaries and connection. So number one, first, creating a dedicated space. Even if it's small, a desk in a bedroom, a dining room corner, a spare room, but you need a place you can go like an office. I worked in the spare bedroom for many years and what helped me was the door. I could close the door in the end of the day, can open it, and that kind of signaled my brain today was this is when we start it and this is when we end for the day. And then you make that space pretty, not for Instagram, for you. Stationer you love, a deskpad, a calendar on the wall, fresh flowers if that's your thing. Make it feel like a space where you want to show up. And here's the big thing for me. Separate workspace from your home space where possible. Because if you don't, you start feeling down, you start feeling uninspired, you start feeling like you're living at work. So this is what I did. I moved my workspace out of the lounge and into the guest bedroom. And suddenly my brain was happier because there was a door. When I'm in the room, I'm at work. When I close that door, I'm at home. I'll be honest with you, I even locked the door, not because I'm dramatic, but because my brain needed a signal, workday is done. This is one change that helped me breathe again. Number two, your schedule. It's tempting to start late and just flow for the day, but you didn't start a business to wing it every day. You have a responsibility to your talent and your clients. So my routine became basic. Get up, coffee, get dressed and start. And no, it doesn't mean full makeup and fancy outfits. If I don't have a meeting, I'm not going to do the whole thing. But I do get dressed in something that makes me feel ready. My go-to would be jeans, nice stop, and mascara. That's enough to tell my brain we're working and ready for the day. And then a planner, a physical one or a digital one, write down your deadlines and your work list because seeing it on paper or on screen changes absolutely everything. But I love working on paper and I love ticking things off. And that little tick does something very good to your brain. It gives you momentum. So boundaries are the third one because people will test them. Home-based work is often seen as free time. People pop in for coffee, they call for a chat, they assume you're available. So you'll have to set your work hours and communicate them to your clients, your friends, and your family. No open door policy during work hours. You have to be the example because unexpected visitors will also happen. And when they do, you don't want to be caught in pajamas, Netflixing and just chilling. Not because you need to prove anything to anyone, but because you deserve to honor what you're building. You're a professional. Be proud of it. Show up like you mean it. And number four, keeping connected. This is your lifeline truly. Solo work can be isolating and it can take effort to stay in the loop. So do it in two ways. Number one, socially. Coffee diets, after work drinks, catch up with someone in your industry. Follow businesses and creatives. Join email lists, read magazines, read websites, stay curious. Because when workshops or events pop up, you want to know and you want to show up. Not for networking pressure, for energy, for learning, for feeling part of something again. Staying inspired because you're responsible for your own growth now. Let's talk about inspiration a bit. I'm a lifelong learner. I believe in education, I believe in self-improvement. And I need you to hear this in a friendly way, not in a harsh way. It's your responsibility to stay up to date. Industries change, technologies change, trends change, and if you're working alone, you can't wait for the office to train you. It can be something like online courses, paid or free, podcasts, books, magazines, I'm a magazine addict, design industry, interior design, lifestyle, spiritual craft, car magazines, housing magazines, across different industries. I'm there for them. That curiosity keeps your work fresh, it keeps you excited, it keeps your ideas energy again. Let's do tools quickly because tools matter when you're working from home. My old favorites are WhatsApp, Desktop, fast, easy client communication, Adobe, obviously, Notion. I love Notion, it's free, it looks good, it's easy to work with. Pick what actually helps you. You don't have to use all the tools in the box, only use what you need. You started to work from home for personal reasons, so make the day your own. Listen to others, yes, listen from others, try tips, but don't force someone else's routine onto your life. Working for yourself is a responsibility, but it can be your version of success. Design an environment that helps you focus, create discipline, limit distractions. Because you owe it to yourself to make your business work in your style. Last thing, and this is a big one, the most crucial ritual I found is daily work on body, mind and spirit. Because that combination keeps you inspired, keeps you positive, healthy, educated, calm when things get stormy. Some days it's a full workout and quiet time and learning. Some days it's a walk, a podcast and prayer in the car. But just do something for yourself. Because when you work from home, you're the engine and the driver. So you have to look after your whole system. If you're feeling low, working from home, do one of these today. Move your workspace and create a work zone. Decide your start time for tomorrow and stick to it. Book one movement session this week even if it's just doing groceries. Message one person in your industry and set the coffee date or just a email. One thing, then another and then another tomorrow. Alright mine, create a friend. If this episode made you feel seen, I'm very happy, that's the point. Working from home is a blessing, but it needs structure, boundaries, connection and care. And if you're in the early stages, in the quiet, in the weirdness, it doesn't mean you're failing. It just means you're learning how to lead yourself. Enjoy the journey. It's an exhilarating ride, even when it's messy. So thanks for being here. You're not alone in this. Design your life and your space wherever you are. Talk again soon. Bye.