One of the biggest challenges to working from home is time management. Unfortunately, family and friends can make it more difficult. (and I personally find this most true during the holiday season) I’m sure you’ve heard it said at least once, and probably a million times, “Well, you’re at home anyway…..” and then fill in the blank with what they want or expect you to do.

Here’s some ideas for getting your family and friends to honor your work-from-home time…..

Create a separate workspace

It’s much easier to bother you if you’re working at your kitchen table. However, if you’re working in your home office it’s more obvious that you’re working. Additionally, when you have a separate workspace you can close the door. This is a definite signal to others that you’re hard at work.

Set established working hours and stick to them

When you set boundaries and hold to them, your friends and family will quickly learn your limits. However, if you say “I’m working” and then proceed to talk on the phone or visit for thirty minutes, you’re sending the wrong message.

Express gratitude

When your friends and family do respect your work-from-home time, express your gratitude. Let them know how grateful you are that they support your business.

Dedicate time to spend with your friends and family

If you’re always working, you’re going to have some disgruntled friends and family. However, if you spend dedicated time away from work with your friends and family it’ll be easier for them to support you. It’s also a good way to stay balanced.

Use helpful devices and reminders

Consider using a sign on your door that says something like “work in session.” This is a quick and easy way to let people know you don’t want to be disturbed.

Get a designated work phone number

Don’t give your work number to your friends, unless they’re marketing for you. Ask your friends and family to call you on your home or cell number. When you’re working, don’t answer your home or cell phone. Only answer your business line. If you get caller ID then you also know when to answer the phone and when to ignore it.

Set business hours that make sense

Sometimes you don’t have a lot of control over your working hours. However, by and large you get to set your own schedule. Set your working hours for when your family and friends are busy. For example when children are at school and friends and family are at their own jobs. Other work-from-home business owners work very early in the morning or late in the evening. These are times when others are busy and not likely to need your attention.

Working from home offers a number of benefits. It also has a few challenges. One of the biggest challenges is being productive. Setting clear wishes and boundaries with your friends and family will help you manage this challenge successfully. Remember, don’t be afraid to say “NO” to them when the time comes!

To Your Success,

The year is coming to a close and it’s time to re-evaluate what you’re doing in your business. I’ve been going over the things I’ve done this year and starting to make plans and set goals for 2011.

Having goals and a general outline of what I want to accomplish from month to month has really helped keep me focused in my business this year, but you might be surprised at what the most important and powerful thing I’ve done this year was…

It wasn’t the nifty software I purchased in the spring.

It wasn’t the new client I won over in the fall.

It wasn’t even the release of my transcription business starting information product earlier this year.

In fact, the most important and powerful thing I did for my business doesn’t have anything to do with my business at all in the technical sense and it’s something I’ve only just recently done. I outsourced the major housecleaning and I have someone coming in once a week to scrub and clean.

How is that helping my business? you might ask.

Well, it helps me out in a few ways. One, that’s more time I have to focus on what I’m doing and get more work done during the week. Two, it lets me relax a little when I’m not working because the cleaning is already done. Three, it relieved a ton of stress I didn’t even realize my husband and I had over the household chores.

See, a messy house doesn’t really bother me much at all, I do have four boys after all. But, internally I was feeling a little neglectful of not being able to get everything done that I wanted to get done. Quietly, my husband was feeling the same way. With both of us working full time there just wasn’t a lot of time for the usual household stuff. It was silent underlying stress trigger for both of us and we didn’t even realize it until it was no longer an issue. Weird how that sometimes happens with stress, you don’t even know it’s there until it’s already gone.

Why is this important?

I’m going to be blunt and honest with you here, because this is not something to mess around with. Stress can be very serious. It effects your health silently and sometimes unknowingly in many different ways. It can literally make you sick.

Have you ever mentioned a recurring problem to your doctor? Something like a headache, a rash, hives, an unexplained pain or annoying feeling, upset stomach for no obvious reason? One of the first thing your doctor probably asks is if you’re under any stress at work or at home. Most of the time we say no, things are fine, good, or even great. Because we don’t realize that we do have stress, it’s quietly hiding in the back of my mind waiting for the right time to pounce on us.

So, while you’re evaluating your business and setting your goals take a few moments to think about what might be causing you undo stress in your life, then take care of i as soon as possible, for your health and your success.

Kind Regards,

Where would you be without your customers? You’d be knocking on doors trying to get new customers, right? One of the keys to business success is to take great care of your customers for without them, you wouldn’t have a business. The holidays are the perfect time to express your gratitude and to show your appreciation. It’s easy to do and sometimes a little token of your gratitude can go a long way toward creating a lifelong business relationship.

Here’s how to show your appreciation to customers during the holidays.

#1 Gifts.

One of the most common ways to show a customer you appreciation is to give them a holiday gift. Many businesses go the way of the marketing device. They give away pens, notebooks, calendars, magnets with their company logo and contact information on them. Small items that have value and can be used to simultaneously market your business. These are nice ideas. They don’t cost too much and they’re an easy way to say thank you.

However, they can also be a bit unimaginative. If you want to be unique, and be remembered for your thoughtful gift, consider stepping away from the marketing gadget. Consider giving something that’s related to your business or your customer’s needs.

For example, if you own an information site on the niche topic of office organizing, you could send labels or a storage box to your customers. A pet niche could send a sample of pet food, personally wrapped pet treats or even a grooming tool. If you’re in the fitness or health niche you could send a water bottle or a few hand wrapped energy bars. The thought you put into your holiday gift can go a long way toward endearing your customer to you. And it’s just a nice way to say thank you! Read the rest of this entry