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Don't Be a Slave to Your Home Business
Although the expressed reasons for mom wanting to work from home are many and varied, most
home-based business owners cite the ability to set their own hours and spend more time with their children
as the major factors in their decision to work at home. However, many moms that have work-at-home
businesses often fall into a trap that flies directly in the face of their stated desire for time flexibility.
The strong growth in home-based business activity continues and,according to the Small Business
Administration's Office of Advocacy, fifty-two percent of ALL small businesses are home-based.
Some home-based business owners have been known to become "workaholics" because their office is so
accessible. Don't become a slave to your business...get out of your home office regularly to renew and
revitalize yourself.
Close the door to your office or otherwise remove yourself from your designated "work area" and go into
your "home" area to live your personal life with your family. If your business involves the use of the
telephone and you find it difficult to ignore a ringing phone in the office, simply turn the ringer off and turn the
volume on the answering machine way down. If your business is Internet-based, just turn off your
computer (or at least get away from the monitor and keyboard). Sometimes, just checking emails can
become an obsession, so try to designate a few specific times during the day to scope out your InBox.
As a work-at-home business entrepreneur, you certainly aren't required to be available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week just because your business is located in your home. After all, your office or workspace is just
an area in your home...its not your home itself! Working and living under the same roof has a host of
advantages, but it can present some challenges (in addition to the workaholic syndrome mentioned above)
and stress factors.
Here are five ways to create a less stressful home business environment:
Remember why you wanted to become involved with a home-based business (i.e. more time
for family, work schedule flexibility, etc.)
Have discussions with your family members and get their input about the working
arrangements and the amount of time they want with you.
Use good time management techniques. Keep a list of tasks by order of importance. There are
many low cost and effective "day planners" or "organizers" readily available today.
When dishing out time for your family members and housework, be sure to reserve some for
yourself. Personal time (not working) is important.
ALWAYS take a little time to "smell the roses".
While you will not experience many of the disadvantages common to a corporate office working
environment, the home-based business mom owners may occasionally experience stresses and
frustrations that are unique to working at home. Networking with other home-based and small business mom
owners provides an opportunity to connect with others who may be experiencing the same
stresses/frustrations that you are. Sharing stressful and/or frustrating issues with someone else in the
same situation can relieve your stress and may bring you good advice from a different point of view.
As a final note, remember to observe Home-Based Business Week each year (it is always the week of
October that includes the second Tuesday).
About the Author: Kirk Bannerman operates his own successful home based business and also
coaches others seeking to start their own home based business. For more information visit his website at
http://www.home-based-business-team.com
Although the expressed reasons for mom wanting to work from home are many and varied, most
home-based business owners cite the ability to set their own hours and spend more time with their children
as the major factors in their decision to work at home. However, many moms that have work-at-home
businesses often fall into a trap that flies directly in the face of their stated desire for time flexibility.
The strong growth in home-based business activity continues and,according to the Small Business
Administration's Office of Advocacy, fifty-two percent of ALL small businesses are home-based.
Some home-based business owners have been known to become "workaholics" because their office is so
accessible. Don't become a slave to your business...get out of your home office regularly to renew and
revitalize yourself.
Close the door to your office or otherwise remove yourself from your designated "work area" and go into
your "home" area to live your personal life with your family. If your business involves the use of the
telephone and you find it difficult to ignore a ringing phone in the office, simply turn the ringer off and turn the
volume on the answering machine way down. If your business is Internet-based, just turn off your
computer (or at least get away from the monitor and keyboard). Sometimes, just checking emails can
become an obsession, so try to designate a few specific times during the day to scope out your InBox.
As a work-at-home business entrepreneur, you certainly aren't required to be available 24 hours a day, 7
days a week just because your business is located in your home. After all, your office or workspace is just
an area in your home...its not your home itself! Working and living under the same roof has a host of
advantages, but it can present some challenges (in addition to the workaholic syndrome mentioned above)
and stress factors.
Here are five ways to create a less stressful home business environment:
Remember why you wanted to become involved with a home-based business (i.e. more time
for family, work schedule flexibility, etc.)
Have discussions with your family members and get their input about the working
arrangements and the amount of time they want with you.
Use good time management techniques. Keep a list of tasks by order of importance. There are
many low cost and effective "day planners" or "organizers" readily available today.
When dishing out time for your family members and housework, be sure to reserve some for
yourself. Personal time (not working) is important.
ALWAYS take a little time to "smell the roses".
While you will not experience many of the disadvantages common to a corporate office working
environment, the home-based business mom owners may occasionally experience stresses and
frustrations that are unique to working at home. Networking with other home-based and small business mom
owners provides an opportunity to connect with others who may be experiencing the same
stresses/frustrations that you are. Sharing stressful and/or frustrating issues with someone else in the
same situation can relieve your stress and may bring you good advice from a different point of view.
As a final note, remember to observe Home-Based Business Week each year (it is always the week of
October that includes the second Tuesday).
About the Author: Kirk Bannerman operates his own successful home based business and also
coaches others seeking to start their own home based business. For more information visit his website at
http://www.home-based-business-team.com