How to Balance Work and Family When Working From Home
When you work at home it can be quite a challenge to separate work life from familylife. There are so many things pulling you in so many directions when you run a home based business. It really takes time to figure out how to balance the two and avoid becoming a workaholic. So lets explore what you can do to be successful with your work at home business but still have plenty of time for yourself and your family.
Manage your time effectively- Make sure when you are working you are spending your time wisely. Try to think about your business as if you were working in a traditional office setting. They don’t want you spending all day checking personal e-mails, chatting on the phone or updating your status constantly because it is not productive. If you treat your business the same way and do personal items outside of business time it will be a better use of your time.
Write to do lists and prioritize- Schedule how you are going to use your time and get it on paper. Write out a list of tasks for the day and go through the tasks one by one. Put the most pressing thing at the top of the list. If you don’t get all your tasks done for that day move it to the list for the next day.
Get a designated, organized work space- Set aside space that is specifically for your business away from the family space if possible. Try to get a space where you can go in the room and shut the door and not be interrupted. Organize the space so that it is easy to find what you need when you need it.
Have set work hours and set family time- Set the hours you work and plan to stick to it. Spending time with family is very important so make you don’t skimp on that time. If you are handling your time well this should not be a problem. I know it is easy especially when starting a business to get carried away with work hours. You don’t want to get burnt out and sacrifice getting to spend time with your family.
Outsource things when you can- You may find that certain tasks are consuming a lot of your time. You could save yourself time and have more time with family if you outsource some of your work. The best things to outsource are mundane tasks that are easy for other people to do or things you are not good at. You will save yourself a lot of time and frustration if you can avoid things you don’t know how to do. You can then focus your time and attention on what you are good at.
You are your boss when you work at home. The best gift you can give yourself is to learn how to manage your time effectively so you have time for yourself and your family.
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Angels,
Some great tips on becoming more organized and productive while working from home. This is an area that can make or break a person when trying to balance personal life and business.
Thanks for the great tips,
Val
Val Wilcox´s last [type] ..The Key – Your Burning Desire…
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Angela Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 8:29 pm
Very true Val! It can be a make or break situation when you are trying to have a balanced work and family life. I have found it so helpful to be more organized. Thanks for your comment!
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Great tips, Angela! My wife works from home, and very soon, we will both be working from home. We do not have a separation of our office space and our family space, though that is a goal (more space in general).
I can relate to mixing family and work times, especially as we’re starting our online businesses. Good point that it could cause burn out, though. My wife usually reminds me when we need to STOP and spend family time, which is a priority for us.
Larry Akers´s last [type] ..Leaving Your Comfort Zone May Be Easier Than You Think
Twitter: LarryAkers
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Angela Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 8:32 pm
Hey Larry! That is great that you will both be working from home soon. I think that is wonderful that you make family time a priority. Spending time with family is very important. Thanks for your comment!
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Great tips!
Balance is so Important!
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Angela Reply:
July 8th, 2010 at 8:35 pm
Thanks Maggie! I agree that balance is very important.
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ery thoughtful article. For a fresh take on building strong careers and families, check out Getting to 50/50 — on how men and women share roles with all sorts of good results — including a healthier sex life. The book also debunks some common myths that cause many moms to back away from their jobs. Authors Sharon Meers (a Goldman MD now in tech) and Joanna Strober (a private equity exec) share their often funny tales of combining work and family. Definitely a book worth checking out. http://www.gettingto5050.blogspot.com
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Angela Reply:
July 25th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Thanks for sharing this book. I will have to check it out.
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Hi Angela,
thanks for sharing your advice. The trouble with working from home on the internet is that the internet is open 24/7 . I tend to work too much, so it takes discipline to work less and according to a plan and schedule. Others need a plan in order to discipline themselves to get things done…
We shouldn’t sacrifice the biggest motivator for working from home – spending more time with our family.
Take care
Oliver
Oliver Tausend´s last [type] ..Lessons From “Think And Grow Rich” – Chapter 2 “Desire”
Twitter: luckyoliver70
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Angela Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 7:56 pm
I know where you are coming from. I LOVE what I do so I know I need to manage my time wisely so I have quality time with my family too. Thanks for your comment!
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Angela, thank you for this inspirational post. I struggle with this all the time, getting caught up in the excitement of my business and needing to remind myself why I am here. Great tips too! Take care.
-Scott
Scott Ewart´s last [type] ..See How ‘Editorial Calendar’ Revolutionizes Your Blogging!
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Angela Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 7:58 pm
It is so easy to get caught up in the excitement of your business. I have found I have to schedule time so it works. Thanks for your comment!
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Hi Angela! Awesome tips… As MOMpreneur myself I know how difficult it can be to balance work, family and life. These simple pieces of advice can benefit those of us who have families to tend to and even those who do not.
What a great post girl! Very helpful!
Jennifer May´s last [type] ..7 Essential Ingredients To Achieving TRUE Network Marketing And Online Marketing Success
Twitter: jennkmay
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Angela Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 7:59 pm
Thanks Jennifer! It can be a struggle but I hope these tips are helpful. Thanks for your comment!
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Wow, I need to start doing some of this! Thanks for the tips Angela
Rachael Macgregor
Rachael Macgregor MLM Secrets´s last [type] ..I LOVE My Video Talk!
Twitter: remacgregor
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Angela Reply:
October 1st, 2010 at 8:52 pm
Hey Rachel! No problem, hope the tips help!
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