Keeping a healthy level of (in)sanity with a rubber chicken
Keeping a healthy level of sanity when you’re in an office on your own all day every day takes some creative thinking.
When you get used to the idea that there isn’t a pointy-haired leader constantly checking over your shoulder to see that you’re “really working” (whatever that means) – you need to find ways to motivate and organize yourself. Many people find this one of the most challenging parts of being your own boss – or, at least, working from home away from that comfortable cube-filled environment.
Having fun things around definitely helps. I’m a big fan of the rubber chicken (thanks, Mr Ruggles, wherever you are these days). When I first saw something very, very out of place on top of his monitor in what seemed to be a very, very corporate office – I picked up said strange object (a 6 inch rubber chicken) and asked him what on earth it was about.
The reply was simple: “when I was working at <company name removed to protect the guilty>, I was so stressed out that I always kept one on my desk. No matter how crazy life gets, or how insane the project schedules are, sometimes you need to just take yourself less seriously.”
Love it. I immediately ordered two. They’re a great conversation piece when someone visits your office too – how can the ice not be broken when you have a rubber chicken on your desk, or hanging from the air conditioning vent behind you? 
