Can't
You See I'm Working?
by C. J. Hayden
For many working parents, telecommuting or a home business may seem like
the answer to your prayers. You want to have more time with your
kids and greater flexibility, so you take the leap, install a second phone
line, and set up a computer in the dining room.
But the first thing you may discover is that working from home includes
many unexpected distractions. Children, your spouse, neighbors, and the
family dog come and go. They make loud noises, ask for your help, or
interrupt to ask a “quick question,” always just long enough to break
your concentration.
Your family and friends don't seem to understand that you're working. They
ask you to run errands, expect you to handle chores, and want to chat on
the phone. When you see the pile of laundry or stack of dishes sitting
there waiting, you may be tempted to take time out from work to clean up a
bit.
You’d like to keep your house livable and be available to the people you
care about, but it's just too much for one person to manage. When can you
get any work done?
The way out of this dilemma is to set clear boundaries on your space,
time, and responsibilities. If your office has a door, try having
"open-door" time and "closed-door" time. When your
door is open, the kids can come say hello, ask questions, or tell you
about their day. When the door is closed, it means "Do Not
Disturb."
A good way to explain this to children is to tell them you need some
private time, not just that you are busy. If your office doesn't have a
door, you need one! Try to find another place in your home where you can
create some private space for at least part of the day.
Setting regular working hours will help you manage your time better as
well as give some guidelines to your family. Build your hours around the
family activities that are important to you. If your kids get home at
2:00, for example, set up your work day from 8:30 to 2:00 and 4:00 to
6:00.
Your schedule can change each week to allow for your children’s
activities, when necessary. Choose how many work hours per week makes
sense for you, design a schedule, and post it on your office door.
Highlight the open times, and let everyone know that's when you are
available to them.
If your family expects you to run errands and handle chores during your
work day, it may be time to hold a family meeting. Explain to your
children (and remind your spouse) that it may look like mommy or daddy is
playing on the computer or chatting on the phone, but this is his or her
job, and it contributes to the family's income.
Start by listing all the jobs that need to be done for the household, and
who does them now. Instead of assigning chores, try asking each family
member to volunteer for something. If there are lots of tasks left over,
be sure to ask if they really need to be done, or done as often. (Dusting,
for example, may need to go by the wayside.) If you are doing chores
during time you could be making money, consider hiring someone else to
clean your house, service the car, or drive the kids to after-school
activities.
When one of your boundaries gets tested, learn to hold the line. If you
give in even once, don't expect the boundary to hold up. Try making the
closed door, posted schedule, or job roster the bad guy instead of
yourself.
Instead of, "I'm too busy to talk right now -- you'll have to
wait," say, "The door is closed now, would you please come back
when it's open?" When friends phone during work time, ask them to
call back after hours. And when someone doesn't do one of their chores,
don't do it for them. Serving a meal on dirty dishes may seem extreme, but
it will get the message across.
_______________
C.J. Hayden is the author of Get
Clients NOW! Thousands of business owners and salespeople have used
her simple sales and marketing system to double or triple their income.
Get a free copy of "Five Secrets to Finding All the Clients You'll
Ever Need" at http://www.getclientsnow.com
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