Separate Work from Home

To successfully manage a home and a business some people find it helpful to implement effective separation strategies, especially if your business is home based. You can define your work hours and your home hours and try to keep to these times as much as possible. That means that you don’t even think about the dishes, washing, unmade beds or ironing during your work hours – unless the place resembles a pigsty and a client is due any minute. If the business telephone is ringing during home hours on a Sunday morning, decide whether you really need to answer it or if it is acceptable to let it go through to the answering machine. It helps also if you have a defined work area, preferably a room with a door, or a separate shed or garage. This way you can close the door and ‘go home’ at the end of your working day.

That is the easy bit. The hard part is trying to get it through to others – friends, family and customers – that you have work time and home time and never the two shall meet. Don’t feel bad for not spending all day sitting on the telephone chatting with friends. If you have trouble ending the call, just be honest with them. Tell them that you would love to talk but you have a tonne of work to get through today, or an important deadline to meet. Can you call them back this evening or at the weekend? If you make a time to call them, don’t forget. If you don’t call back when you say you will you are only encouraging them to telephone when you are trying to work.

Alternatively, if you don’t really want or need to speak with someone, consider sending an email. This is not to suggest email messages should entirely take the place of voice conversations, but in many cases such as quick questions or general “hello’s” they can save a lot of time. If you have a piece of news you would like to share with a number of people, you can send one message to everyone. This can save heaps of money on telephone calls, too.

While these simple strategies are a Godsend for many people, others find it easier to blend work and family life as necessary on a day-to-day basis. This is often better-suited to people who are reasonably well disciplined and able to prioritise tasks. The main thing is for you to try both methods to discover which one works best FOR YOU.

Transforming from Home to Business

Many businesses today can be successfully operated from home. This may be a suitable option for you, and it will help reduce expenses in the early days of your business. But remember, it takes a special person to be able to work from home – successfully.

Are you disciplined enough to work from home? Do you have the necessary space?  What about your family? If your partner is a shift worker, they may not appreciate the telephone ringing all day. Will you have staff or customers visiting your home? If so, is your home likely to always be presentable to clients and associates?

If working from home is an option for you, you should ask yourself the following questions:

• Do the terms of my tenancy agreement or mortgage allow me to operate this business from home?

• Will my local council permit me to operate this business from home?

• Is my home easily accessible, and is there sufficient parking and facilities such as toilets and washbasins for my customers and staff?

• What modifications will be required?

• Will I be employing staff, and if so, will Health and Safety regulations and council permit this?

• Will I need to store any valuable or dangerous goods or chemicals?

• How will my present insurance policies be affected?

• Will my business cause excessive noise, dirt or smell?

• Is operating this business from my home likely to upset any of my neighbours?

• Can my storage and waste disposal requirements be met?

When you operate your business from home, some people may expect service 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Ensure you have clear signs stating your hours of operation – and stick to them. Similarly, friends and family may call or drop in anytime. You should be strict with them – and yourself – and explain that you must continue working.

Isolation can also be a challenge. To overcome this, try to network with other business people as often as you can. This is also a great way to promote your business.

Additionally, try to break the isolation by getting outside at least once a day, even if only to take the kids to and from school, go for a walk, check the post box or do the banking.

There is much to consider, but a home-based business can work if operated properly.

Some golden rules to remember include:

• Endeavour to have a real office and / or work area, not just part of the dining table and the kitchen bench.

• Always sound and look professional.

• To help avoid procrastination keep focusing on your goals. Creating deadlines for those tasks that don’t currently have deadlines can also help, as can keeping copies of bills on your notice board!