Working from home? How to separate work from home...

‘I work from home...'

How often can this phrase be said in an almost apologetic way, instantly devaluing and demeaning the speaker? But it's a fact that more and more people are starting to do this very thing, helped along by the present economic climate. Whether you're a one-man band, or a small group working together, this for many people (particularly parents) can be a flexible and most enjoyable way to conduct business. It can also bring with it a minefield of distractions! As someone who has been freelance half her life I am speaking from a place of knowledge and authority here - and it takes discipline and planning to maximise your time!

One of the most important things about working from home is to have an office. It is vital to have a personal space where you can do your work. I have a wonderful office in my garden where I can watch nature whilst writing and where my coaching clients can be at ease and not in my personal space ie my home.

Whilst it's not always possible to have a room outside the house, make the space inside as separate as you are able from your personal space ie DO NOT have an office in your bedroom, however big it is (believe me, one of my clients did...we changed that!)

Another tip? Get dressed to go to work! I do know people who conduct business phone calls from their office in their pyjamas! OK, no one can see you, but would you go out to work in your pyjamas? I don't think so! Dressing the part instantly puts you into a different and professional mindset. To separate home and work can be difficult if you have a break and think, ‘Oh, I'll just put the kettle on, and the washing needs to be hung to dry and, oh...'

Plan natural breaks into the day for coffee, lunch, the morning dog walk, afternoon cup of tea and finish. Structure helps tremendously otherwise the temptation is too great and what have you achieved? Probably not half the amount of work effort that you would have wished for; yes, the washing's dry, but the mindset's all mixed up. Moral? Plan your day! You couldn't put the washing out if you were in the office, after all...

Checking emails. In our fast, modern pace of life there is a propensity to check emails every other minute, JUST IN CASE... Hmmm, what on earth would happen if you didn't? Well, nothing actually. Unless you're expecting something important that needs instant attention and an answer, plan to ‘do' emails at certain times. Perhaps first thing in the morning, after lunch and immediately before you switch the computer off at the end of the day.

‘You couldn't put the washing out if you were in the office...'

Talking of which, do have a scheduled end to the day. OK, being self employed's flexible, however if the kids aren't around, sometimes it's too tempting to still be at the computer at seven at night...

I highly recommend a book by Brian Tracy called Eat That Frog! It's very amusing and extremely informative and gives great ways to stop procrastinating and get more done in less time. According to the old saying, if you eat a live frog first thing each morning you'll have the satisfaction of knowing it's probably the worst thing you'll do all day!

Using Eat That Frog! as a metaphor for tackling the day's most challenging and most prone to procrastination task, this book shows readers how to home in on the important tasks and organise their time. This means not only getting more things done, but getting the right things done.

Make a list and do the VALUABLE jobs first! Time management is control over what you do next and how you do it. So make a daily (short) list of what you would like to achieve in your work day and once you actually begin work on the most important task (the hardest part often!), you seem to be naturally motivated to continue as you know and your mind knows that you love to be busy working on the significant tasks that can really make a difference.

And the washing and the housework will still be there when you're not working - or you could always get a cleaner!

Written for Winter 2008 issue by
Annie Watsham
Forward Life Coaching
Farthings
High Street
Cranbrook
Kent TN17 3DT
01580 720559
07970 413492
E-mail:

lifecoaching@anniewatsham.com
www.kentlifecoaching.com