Business Management

We all know that time is precious. Time with our family, time with our pets, time for ourselves. How do we juggle all that and work too??
That’s a huge question for everyone that runs a household and goes to work. It gets even more interesting when one works from home.
Susan the friend across the street comes by for coffee right in the middle of an important call from a client. Little Annie is chasing the dog around the house after coming in from a mud wrestling match and that call you’ve been waiting for all week has just come in, and you had to put your significant other on hold to take it, followed by Joe who comes in from playing basketball screaming at the top of his lungs that he’s broken his ankle, he’s dying please help. The last straw has taken its place……….right on your unorganized desk.
How do you get the one’s you love to understand that you are not just “playing on the computer” all day, but running a business, the same business that feeds and clothes them and puts a roof over their heads?
It’s been a problem of mine from the start of my freelance career years ago, and I must admit that there are days when I can’t seem to get anything done no matter how hard I try. We’ve all had days like that, when you have not had a minute’s peace all day and done nothing but work and take care of others and have nothing to show for it. Not another design finished, not another article written, no dinner made or calls returned.
You can “go to work” without interruption if you “put your foot down”, and follow a few simple rules.
Decide on what hours are your “office hours”. Include 15 minute breaks, 1 hour lunches, the whole thing. Do not let anyone sway you from the routine unless it is an absolute emergency. Tell your family and friends that from 9:00 to 3:00 or whatever time you work you are off limits. They wouldn’t call you, or walk into your office, or scream when you are on the phone if you were in a “real” office. You would get fired, and they know it would be there fault.
Sit down and make a list of rules. Make copies for everyone that is bothering you while you work. Sit them down one by one and tell them in a very nice manner that you are now “going to work” and explain how that works. Tell them you are available on the phone during your lunch hour. Or they may come over for gossip for 15 minutes.
Give them their copy of the rules. Tell them how much you appreciate their understanding, then let it go. Yes let it go, this is the scary part. Do not go against your rules. If someone tries to break one of the rules just tell them “remember, I’m at work now. I would be happy to discuss this, or do this, or whatever it is when I get off work.” This will work if you keep at it. Don’t give an inch. This isn’t to say if Patty is sick and needs to come home from school, you don’t go and get her. You would do that if you had a “real” job too. Just use common sense and see how much easier your days are.
One more thing. When your work day is over, it is over!! Do not take calls or do other business unless it is an appointment you have made in advance. That is like taking your work home with you, and no one likes to do that. Make time for you and your family during your “off” hours.
This takes some practice, but don’t feel guilty, it will take away a good deal of the “work at home” stress and make your life a lot easier