Working From Home - Organizing Your Family Life Around a Home Office
Roy Thomsitt
March 10, 2008
Working from home can be one of the most rewarding, and absolute best experiences one can have, something that many people will only dream about. While the advantages are undoubtedly plentiful, working at home often conjures fanciful images of lounging in one's pajamas while sipping flavored coffees all day while the rest of the world is out making their way through the rat race.
As someone who has made the transition from the aforementioned rat race to working for myself right from the comforts of home, I can attest to the fact that all isn't as rosy as it may first appear. Working at home requires more than just having the space and means to do so, but also the right mindset as well as the necessary motivation and support that are needed to be a success.
Adopting the Right Mindset to Work at Home
If you're one of those people who thrive on social interactions with peers and colleagues, then working at home may be a difficult transition for you to make. I've always worked best with few distractions and the lack of socialization simply made it easier for me to concentrate and get more work done.
The other part of having the right mindset is the ability to completely separate work related activities from home life. Are you the type who has no trouble closing the office door at the end of the day and forgetting about work until the next morning, or are you more of the type who never seems to know when to quit?
If you fall into the latter category, you'll want to ensure that you aren't letting work take over the rest of your life and neglecting yourself or your family in the process.
Working from home will require a high level of motivation on your part in order to keep your home life running smoothly while still being productive. Make it a point to have real dates with your spouse, set aside time to spend with the kids, remember to call your friends, and always steal a few minutes just for yourself each and every day to regroup, re-energize, and give yourself a chance to relax and unwind.
Family Support For Working From Home
Having support from your spouse and family can make a world of difference when working from home. If your mate and children are willing to help out around the house and do their part enabling you to be productive instead of worrying about what's not getting done, you'll be far more likely to succeed and have a considerably easier time avoiding stress and tension.
Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and make it crystal clear to everyone in the house, as well as friends and other family members, that while you're working, you truly are working, which requires concentration and the right type of atmosphere that's free from distraction. This means that while you're in your office or workspace, you should be considered invisible to everyone else unless there's an emergency, of course.
While it may sound harsh, particularly if you have small children, without setting and following these ground rules, you can pretty much guarantee that you won't ever get any real work done. It becomes much easier if you can have your own separate home office in the house or apartment. If space is short, a popular solution in the UK, which is worth exploring in the US too, is to set up a garden office. This really does give you a great chance to set aside your space, and make it a no go area for others during work times.
Although it does take some organization and discipline on your part, working from home and achieving a happy balance between work and home life is definitely possible and includes many rewarding benefits.
As someone who has made the transition from the aforementioned rat race to working for myself right from the comforts of home, I can attest to the fact that all isn't as rosy as it may first appear. Working at home requires more than just having the space and means to do so, but also the right mindset as well as the necessary motivation and support that are needed to be a success.
Adopting the Right Mindset to Work at Home
If you're one of those people who thrive on social interactions with peers and colleagues, then working at home may be a difficult transition for you to make. I've always worked best with few distractions and the lack of socialization simply made it easier for me to concentrate and get more work done.
The other part of having the right mindset is the ability to completely separate work related activities from home life. Are you the type who has no trouble closing the office door at the end of the day and forgetting about work until the next morning, or are you more of the type who never seems to know when to quit?
If you fall into the latter category, you'll want to ensure that you aren't letting work take over the rest of your life and neglecting yourself or your family in the process.
Working from home will require a high level of motivation on your part in order to keep your home life running smoothly while still being productive. Make it a point to have real dates with your spouse, set aside time to spend with the kids, remember to call your friends, and always steal a few minutes just for yourself each and every day to regroup, re-energize, and give yourself a chance to relax and unwind.
Family Support For Working From Home
Having support from your spouse and family can make a world of difference when working from home. If your mate and children are willing to help out around the house and do their part enabling you to be productive instead of worrying about what's not getting done, you'll be far more likely to succeed and have a considerably easier time avoiding stress and tension.
Never be afraid to ask for help when you need it, and make it crystal clear to everyone in the house, as well as friends and other family members, that while you're working, you truly are working, which requires concentration and the right type of atmosphere that's free from distraction. This means that while you're in your office or workspace, you should be considered invisible to everyone else unless there's an emergency, of course.
While it may sound harsh, particularly if you have small children, without setting and following these ground rules, you can pretty much guarantee that you won't ever get any real work done. It becomes much easier if you can have your own separate home office in the house or apartment. If space is short, a popular solution in the UK, which is worth exploring in the US too, is to set up a garden office. This really does give you a great chance to set aside your space, and make it a no go area for others during work times.
Although it does take some organization and discipline on your part, working from home and achieving a happy balance between work and home life is definitely possible and includes many rewarding benefits.
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