Finding Balance When You Work from Home

There are more and more people who work from home these days. Some people are telecommuting to a regular job, but a growing number are self employed. The home is becoming the workplace for many people. But a funny thing happens to people when they work from home. The balance is lost and they lose sight of themselves and their family.

When you work away from home you generally have set hours. You go to work at a certain time and return home eight to ten hours later. There are breaks and a lunch built into your day and you probably have plenty of opportunities to stand up and walk around. So why is it when people work from home they don’t have the same kind of structure in their day?

The reason is time is money. When you work for yourself you aren’t paid by the clock.  As a result you don’t take breaks or stop at a certain time. Time is money and the more time you put into the job the more money you can make – right? That may be true, but is it worth sacrificing your family and your health for a few extra dollars?

If you are working from home and find yourself in a rut of all work and no rest, listen up! All the time and effort you put into your work will do you no good if you work yourself into an early grave. It is time to find some balance.

The first step to bringing balance into your home business is to take a look at what you have to accomplish each day. Figure the amount of time it takes you to complete each task. That is the amount of time you have to work each day. Now add some time for unexpected problems, extra work, etc. You should have enough time for your required tasks and the extra that comes up.

Since you have figured out how much time it takes you to do your job each day, make a schedule. Determine a start and end time as well as breaks and lunch. Think of your home business as a job you go to every day. You have your work time and your home time, even if you are working at home.

Find times during your work day that you can stand up and stretch or go for a short walk.  These little breaks will give your muscles a rest and allow you to mentally recharge.  In addition, don’t eat your lunch at your desk. Go into the kitchen or out on the patio and enjoy your lunch away from work. You have to give your brain a break throughout the day.

When your workday is done, really end it. If you have a home office, shut the door and don’t think about it again until the next day.  You have to learn to make the distinction between work time and home time. If you don’t, both work and home will suffer.

It is possible to work effectively from home and still have a family life. You just need to plan your day and allow yourself to leave work and be a part of your family. It is all about balance.

Piper is a freelance writer who enjoys fitness and the outdoors. She loves to use a stainless steel juicer to make great, fresh squeezed juice. She enjoys nature, reading and fitness. She uses her juice maker daily to give her family the most healthy food she can!