One of the luxuries and benefits of having your own business is that you often can work outside of a stereotypical business office. Some entrepreneurs rent a space working alongside people who work for various companies. Others may save the rent money and camp out at a favorite coffee shop. Still others may opt to work from home. What steps can be taken so that when you are working from home, you are not living at work? Let’s see.
Designate a Place
Find an area of your house that is free from distractions and provides a quiet place to do your work. A window into your yard might add a special touch. Use furniture that is functional and aesthetically pleasing – plus comfortable when used for a day’s work. Have shelves to stash books and resources you might need, but avoid clutter. If possible, your workspace should not be in a high-trafficked area in your home. Instead, find a spot that is not a focal point during your non-working hours. Otherwise, you might feel as though you are never away from work.
Set Your Hours
It’s critical not to let your day get away from you. There’s always something to do. If you don’t put a cap on your task list, the day will quickly become evening. Because you are your own boss, you might be able to flex your hours. If you work with those in another time zone, you might want to set your work hours based on their clocks. If you prefer to work early in the morning, then start your day early and call it a day mid-afternoon. Keep track of your hours so you can see trends. If possible, make medical and dental appointments during lunch or on either side of your workday. Honor your workday like you would if you were clocking in at a traditional job. Otherwise, you might feel as though you are never away from work.
Get Out and About
It’s easy to get cemented into your chair. Be sure to take a stretch break once an hour and longer breaks every couple of hours throughout your day. For a more refreshing break, do a quick workout in another room or take the dog for a walk around the block. Take an hour for lunch and avoid eating at the keyboard. Humans are social beings, so it’s best not to spend all of your day confined to quarters. Even though your work might include connecting with people so you can see their lips move on a computer screen, it’s still advantageous to leave the workplace at some point during your day. Otherwise, you might feel as though you are never away from work.
The good news is that you can run your business from home and still connect with the world out there. In fact, you can build an online business with just a computer or a phone. Here’s how: Online Sales Pro. Using our web and mobile app, you can generate leads and build an email list, and let OSP do the work for you. Launch your business with Online Sales Pro to spend less time working from home. Get more done during your workday and then you can spend more time being at home.