Creating Balance in Your Working Life | How-to Guides for running your business from Business.com

Consultants, freelancers, and other home-based business owners face a different kind of stress than traditional office-based worker bees. How can we get anything done while working from home?

Action Steps
The best contacts and resources to help you get it done

Set Boundaries

One of the biggest pitfalls to working from home is once all of the tools that we use to communicate and work efficiently are in place within easy access, the traditional concept of a nine or even ten hour workday disappears, and we find that we can easily work around-the-clock without even realizing it. One way to ensure that there's a clear demarcation between work and home life is to create a schedule that allows for and reflects all of your time commitments--both to your work and to your personal life.

I recommend: Refraining from checking email or answering your business line during the time you've set aside for yourself or your family. Sometimes even hearing the little alarm bell on your computer that announces when you have email is enough to start the adrenaline flowing, so press the mute button, if you have to. Respect the time that you've set aside for yourself, and you'll be more productive later on. See "Setting Healthy Work-Life Boundaries" for more information.

Manage Client Expectations

Once you've established a schedule, let your clients and colleagues know when and how they may reach you. A daily pre-recorded voice mail message announcing when you're planning to return missed calls, or an auto-generated email reply that directs urgent business to your cell phone are great ways to stay in touch when you're not available, and manage how and when people contact you.

I recommend: Keeping your clients informed about your availability in order to create an environment of openness and respect, which has a positive impact on other areas of your relationship. Or find more ideas about how to manage client expectations.

Stay Organized

Create a professional work space separate from the hubbub of the household that is respected by other family members as your private place to think and work.

I recommend: Setting up a nurturing, pleasing work environment . Human beings are creatures of habit, and the time, attention (and, if necessary, money) that you invest on the front-end to create a positive, professional atmosphere will pay off dividends in terms of increased productivity later on.

Prioritize Activities

Make a daily to-do list that includes both personal and professional activities. Having a comprehensive account of all of your priorities on one-page is a visual reminder of how diverse all of your commitments are. Only include items that you know you'll be able to get done, and cross off completed actions with a flourish!

I recommend: I use a software program that keeps all of my calendar appointments, contact information, and email in one place, and then a separate file contains my to-do list. If I have to carry over an activity from one day to the next, I don't need to retype it because it's already on the computer. Mind Tools offers tips on how to set goals, develop time management skills, and create prioritized to do lists.

Spend Time With Yourself

Make it a priority to relax, step away from work, and spend time with yourself on a regular basis. Those of us with growing families often tend to switch back and forth between work and kids without leaving space to just enjoy a little downtime.

I recommend: Engaging our creative senses during those times when we're not working. Visiting an art museum, reading a novel, and even taking a walk are all wonderful ways to feed our mind and spirit. Julia Cameron has written extensively on this subject, including how a creative outlook can infuse and enrich our work life.

Tips & Tactics
Helpful advice for making the most of this Guide

Remember that working from home is a messy endeavor. Even when you try to present yourself as a true professional, things happen. In the midst of an important phone call, the dog may decide to bark, or the kids may need your attention. In these circumstances, where it's patently obvious that you're at home, I've found that humor and honesty is the best approach.

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