Working From Home - Getting Away From the Office

After putting in a long and frustrating day at workis next to impossible.
I made every effort to put the day behind me.What to do?
For me, it's not an easy task. You see, I workHere's my plan:
from my home. Of course, most of my day1. Plan and schedule my day the night before.
confines me in the "corner office", but I do roamWrite down all tasks, leaving enough time for last
from room to room just for some variation inminute requests.
my environment. Projects which require me to2. Just like any job, clock in and clock out. Set my
spread out brings me to the kitchen counter. Thehours for each day.
L-shaped counter allows me room for spreading3. Take a 15 minute mid-morning break - outside
out my bills, wrapping packages and sortingof the house.
articles.4. Use that break to get some fresh air, walk up
Sometimes I utilize my bedroom. I receive aand down the block, water the patio plants, throw
majority of calls from clients and prospectivein a load of laundry, knock on my neighbor's door
clients on my cell phone. Since I'm a Virtualto catch up on some gossip.
Assistance, I spend many hours sitting in front of5. Take my lunch break - not at my desk, but in
my computer. My cell phone and my computerthe kitchen or on the patio. Listen to some music,
DO NOT have a compatible relationship. Myread a magazine or a book.
bedroom gives me the best reception, so off I6. Mid-afternoon brain break. Just get out of the
go to the bedroom to take notes and conferenceoffice.
with my clients.7. Finish up scheduled work and begin to organize
Depending on the client and their business, I usetasks and errands for the next day.
my dining room for meetings. Sometimes it's a8. Do not go into the office after dinner. Any
breakfast or lunch appointment. Nothing makespersonal work should be done on the laptop,
for a more relaxed business meeting than theoutside of the office.
comfort of a meal in a warm and casualAfter Hours:
atmosphere. The formalness of meeting in an9. Schedule time out of the house. Movies with
actual office keeps you feeling like you're in thespouse and /or friends.
principals office. Of course, meeting at the local10. Do volunteer work for the community.
coffee shop is casual, but it's not very personal11. Gather neighbors and sit outside for juicy
and being surrounded by strangers sitting at anneighborhood gossip.
arms length away doesn't afford you any12. Write letters to out of state friends and
confidentiality! I believe that you should get tofamily.
know your client, not just as a business entity,13. Walk, ride my bike, exercise.
but you need to get to know them on a personal14. Read a good book.
level, although, to a point. There are limits and15. Rent a movie.
boundaries.16. Any thing to keep my brain relaxed and
Yes, getting away from the "office" and unwindingthinking of something else besides business.
at "home" has gotten more and more challenging.This won't be easy. My business is my life. My
Even now, as I am watching a Law and Orderadult children are all out of the house and my
re-run, I'm in my recliner, feet up, dish of coffeehusband works the swing shift, which is one
ice cream at my side and my laptop, snuggledreason why I find myself working late into the
warmly on my lap, writing this article. I'm beginningevening.
to think that maybe it IS impossible to leave myRecognizing that you have a dilemma and
business behind for a mere 4 or 5 hours. And,understanding what the causes are will help you
more than likely, I'll bring my business to bed withto make changes. Keep your changes reasonable
me as well. Phone calls to make, emails to send,and doable. Be flexible enough to see that if the
data to enter, brochures to design, webinars tochanges are not working you can bend a bit and
set up, all of this runs through my head and sleepmake some adjustments.