Ahh… the life of the entrepreneur… Many imagine that working from home is like being a Hollywood superstar: working quietly in your pajamas, eating chocolates and cashing the checks you write.
yourself. While running your own business may be a lifelong dream, your business can also take over your life if you let it. Here are some tips on how to overcome the biggest challenges of working from home.
== ARE YOU A WORKADHIC? ==
When you work from home, it can be hard to STOP working. Temptations like your company phone ringing, the constant stream of emails, and piles of paperwork can easily lure you into work mode if you let them.
TIPS FOR CONQUERING WORK-A-HOLISM
a) Establish a regular schedule for work and home. Make a deliberate effort to stop working on time. When you are done with work, turn off the computer and mentally turn off work.
b) Locate your office in a separate area of the house. Having your office out of sight can help you forget about work.
c) Enjoy your free time. Pamper yourself! Schedule regular vacations yourself! Take some time to relax! Spend time doing the things you love the most. If you started working from home to spend more time with your family, then make sure you are actually DOING
that. Schedule day trips with your children. Take time to visit a friend with whom you have lost touch.
== ARE YOU EASILY DISTRACTED? ==
Are you distracted by the sound of Nickelodeon, the allure of cookies in the pantry, and the beautiful sunny weather?
TIPS TO HELP YOU STAY FOCUSED:
a) Do not tolerate distractions in your life. Find sources of distraction and remove them from your work environment. If you can’t eliminate it completely, try coming up with a “job-to-
round” which will allow you to function.
b) Make a daily list of tasks and priorities, putting the 3-5 most important tasks at the top. Put all other “tasks” at the bottom. Try to spend your time on the items that will do the most to move your business forward.
== DO YOU FEEL LONELY? ==
Do you miss birthday lunch celebrations, water cooler talks, and co-worker friendships? Are you turning into a bear in your “work at home cave”?
TIPS TO AVOID ISOLATION:
a volunteer. Sign up to help with a Girl Scout troop, church or local library.
b) Join a group. There are many local women’s business breakfast groups. You can also find a local gaming group or church group to join.
c) Take a class. This is the perfect opportunity to learn a new business skill or indulge in a personal interest like pottery, art, or scrapbooking.
d) Spend time with friends and family. Have lunch, call an old friend, make a date with your spouse, or send a personal email to a family member. Take some time to connect with the important people in your life.
e) Build a personal support network. Whether you are a business coach or a fellow entrepreneur, you will need someone to encourage you, listen to you, and guide you. Find a mentor who is very successful at what he wants to do and ask him what her secrets to success are!
d) Participate in an online community. There are many online communities for entrepreneurs and work-at-home parents. Here you can network, meet friends and promote your business.
== DO YOU NEED HEALTH INSURANCE? ==
Insurance is a common perk of working in the corporate world. When you go “solo,” you’ll find yourself without the crucial coverage you need.
TIPS TO MAKE SURE:
a) If your spouse has a corporate job, check to see if it can be covered by your insurance plan.
b) With family insurance coverage costs ranging from $7000 to $10,000 per year, it really pays to shop around.
Here are some websites where you can get free health insurance quotes from various leading companies and easily compare many policies to choose the best one for you.
– http://www.ehealthinsurance.com/
– http://www.InsureCom.com
– http://www.seguros.com/
– http://www.quotescout.com/
– http://www.localinsurance.com
c) If you recently quit your corporate job, COBRA will allow you to purchase health insurance from your former corporate employer for up to 18 months.
d) Ask your insurance agent about opening a Medical Savings Account (MSA). An MSA is a combination-type account from which you can draw funds to pay for your medical expenses and the remaining funds grow as a tax-deferred retirement fund.
== DO YOU MISS REGULAR PAYCHECKS? ==
Do you have trouble writing regular paychecks for yourself?
TIPS TO REGULATE YOUR INCOME:
a) Build reserves. When you have a good month, save it for those slow business periods. Stock up by working more during the winter, so you can take some time off in the summer.
b) Develop an “automatic” source of income. Some options include writing and selling an eBook and acting as a reseller for services that complement your offerings.
== DO FAMILY AND FRIENDS VIOLATE YOUR BOUNDARIES? ==
Do your friends, relatives call you during your work time? Do your clients call during your family time?
TIPS FOR SETTING LIMITS:
a) Communicate with your customers early on to let them know your policies, your hours of work, and what they can expect.
b) Inform the family what your work schedule is. Ask them not to call you with a personal chat until your “home” hours begin.
c) Caller ID can help you identify calls to see if they are from family, friends or annoying salespeople.
The bottom line is to determine your boundaries, set them in stone, communicate them, and protect and defend them!
== SUMMARY ==
While working from home is the new American Dream, it can sometimes present some real challenges. Smart business owners work hard to maintain balance, practice extreme self-care, and regulate their income. By overcoming these obstacles, you will experience renewed energy, focus, and stability in both your personal and business lives.
