Your Home Based Business Can Be A Real Time Trap

The reasons people express for wanting to work from home are 
many and varied, but most home based business owners cite the 
ability to set their own hours as a major factor in their 
decision to work at home. However, many people 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. 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). 

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 four 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. 

-ALWAYS take a little time to "smell the roses". 



While not experiencing the negatives common to a corporate office 
working environment, the home-based business owner may 
occasionally experience stresses and frustrations that are unique 
to working at home. 

Networking with other home-based and small business 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).