Working at Home - How to Set Boundaries Between Work and Personal Life

The first way to set a boundary is through adequate and accurate communication. Working at home is confused with being at home, your work must be a self and a family effort. It is essential to communicate with every member of the family, specially your children and explain the boundaries of work time and space. It can be difficult for children to understand that you aren't “available” even though you're sitting right there at your desk or at the computer. It is very important that you talk with them to help them learn respect for your time and space boundaries with regard to your job. One of the best ways to do so is to communicate limitations as early as possible. Create rules and reminders, like posters or signs that might help the children understand your work needs. Spouses can also misunderstand your needs. Make sure you discuss your work hours with them so they know you are off limits during that time to run errands or help them with home tasks as well.

The second way is by setting limits for your self. You can start by setting a rigid work schedule. Not only do you need to set a work time, but you also have to stick with it without fail. It might be helpful to publicize your work hours on your website, in your newsletter, or find some other way of letting your clients and bosses know when you will and will not be working. It is also essential that your family understand your working time. You might also consider setting limits to the distractions you know you will be likely to face. Let’s say that your teenager kid is constantly playing his stereo too loudly during your work hours, set a television or stereo volumen rule during your office hours. Moreover, if you are likely to work on laundry instead of meeting your deadline, set the limit for yourself that you will not leave your office once you have entered. It might be worthwhile to have a few things on hand in your office like a mini fridge stocked with water so you won't have to leave your office to get a drink. Leaving your office might distract you from your work tasks at hand.

The best way on setting effective boundaries are setting physical and mental boundaries. The first one is to do is considering your ideal office space. If the space available at home works with this, go for it. If it does not, adapt the space. Many friends who work from home simply do not have the space for a private office. Lots of people share a common room, like a section of a bedroom, living room or another area that is used for a variety of purposes in the home. If you can't have a closed office, it is important to make the space functional for you. Some of the best home offices aren't private, but make excellent use of items like shelving, plants, and curtains to make their office space feel more like an office. If you are lucky enough to have a spare roomt to turning it into an office, be sure that it has a door. Also be sure that you set with your family that a closed door means you cannot be disturbed.

Another way to set effective boundaries is to minimize phone interruptions. You can do this by screening your calls with an answering machine, purchasing a second line or a cellular phone, or investing in a software program that helps you decide whether to terminate your dial-up connection to take a phone call.

One final way to set an effective boundary is learning to say no. If you need someone to call you back during your spare time, say so. This is also true of a client who needs something during your free time.