Separating Business and Pleasure When You Work from Home

I left my full-time job so I could dedicate more quality time to my two-year-old, but when my at home job began to ramp up to full-time hours, I wondered if my daughter was really reaping the benefits of having a stay at home mom. Then I read Chynna Laird’s key phrase “Write Around Life” (“Start Me Up” WOW-Women on Writing Sept. 2007). Ah-ha. Yes, the little light went on.

I admit. My laptop has been permanently parked at the kitchen table, where I was spending most of my day writing and researching, always in visual range of my daughter as she colored, danced, and scrambled pretend eggs, but never really able to interact with her. And then there was my epiphany . . . office hours. Oh I know, it sounds so simple, but as a writer who got sucked into multiple projects, the idea escaped me. If the concept seems to have escaped you too, this is what I did to realign the forces of business and pleasure in my home.

First, set limitations. How many hours do you want to dedicate to your home business? Since, my goal is to be financially self-sustaining; I am willing to dedicate 40 hours a week to my writing. Of course, it is true that all work and no play will make you a very dull writer. (After all, what will you write about—the maddening glare of your computer screen?) So, it’s important to take a couple days off each week, just like you would from any other job. That means that I needed to schedule eight office hours a day, five days a week. Beginning to sound a lot like bankers hours right? Not quite.

Next, I took Ms. Laird’s advice—Write Around Life. Now that my daughter doesn’t have to wake up at the crack of dawn for daycare, she likes to sleep in. Being a toddler, I’ve also found that she slows down in the afternoon, either taking a nap or at least resting while watching her favorite pre-school programs. Therefore, my office hours run from 5am-9am and then from 1p-5p. Perfect! I get a full 8 hours to work when my toddler needs me the least. I’ve also found I get more done without the constant refrain of “mama, mom, mama.” Win. Win. And because my husband and I actually like each other, I can take my two days off during the weekend so I can spend quality time with him, too.

Finally, create an office space. When I first started working from home, I made the mistake of setting up shop right in the middle of my living space. This is a really bad idea. Not only will it be difficult for you to separate work and home, it will be difficult for everyone else around you. Your friends and family need a clear indication of when you’re dedicating time to work and when you’re dedicating time to play.

Here are a few tricks to keep you focused:

• Keep yourself on task by using a calendar or day planner and recap with a status report. I personally love the Franklin Covey system which encourages you to ‘schedule your priorities not prioritize your schedule’ (I also highly recommend the book Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.) My husband also serves as a sounding board. At the end of each week, I give him a status report of everything that I’ve accomplished that week and what I plan on doing the next week. Verbalizing my goals helps keep me focused and has the added benefit of keeping the lines of communication open. My husband has a better understanding of what I do and how I do it (freelance writing is a mysterious profession for many people), and clarifies the deadlines I’m up against.

• Keep a little notebook handy, especially if you break up your work day like I do. Your subconscious mind continues to work on something even after you’ve set it aside. You’ll be surprised how often ideas will manifest when you least expect them. Having a notebook handy let’s you jot down a quick reminder until you go back to the office. Writing it down will give your mind the opportunity to relax, and the notes will make your office time more productive.

• Overtime is ok, but try to plan for that, too. Each night, after my daughter’s bedtime routine, I have a few hours for myself. This is when I can concentrate on school work (I’m currently finishing my master’s degree), read, watch tv, or catch up on a project that is taking a little longer than I thought. When you build your office hours, give yourself this wiggle room.

• Play, don’t exercise. You can’t stay focused if your brain is running on overload. Although exercise is great for stress, it doesn’t help if it’s another ‘task’ you’ve scheduled. Have fun. After my morning office hours, I go for a bike ride with my daughter or spend a few hours at the zoo. It’s a lot more fun then a treadmill.

• Change up your routine. On your days off, do something completely different. When you work at home, falling into a perpetual routine is far too easy. The boredom will hurt your productivity and your ideas will become stale and recycled.

• Take a vacation. Hey you’re working hard, reward yourself! After all, that’s why you decided to work at home–for the freedom and the flexibility. Don’t say you can’t afford to, you can’t afford not to.

For me, working at home is a pleasure–I don’t have to worry about finding coverage if my toddler is sick, my family can take a spontaneous three day weekend without requesting vacation time, and I can build a business based on my values and mission statement, not someone elses–scheduling office hours just makes it easier.