Stress occurs when we are not relaxed and when our minds are not calm or settled.
When there’s too much to do, too many distractions, and too many problems.
Many people start a home-based business to avoid some of the stress that usually comes with working for someone else, or to alleviate the stress caused by financial worries.
But having a home office can also be a source of stress. The isolation, the noise, and distractions from the kids – which always seems to happen when you’re on an important call.
Concerns about where the next client will come from and whether it will materialize in time for you to meet your own obligations.
Then there’s procrastination – domestic affairs that never end even though you know you should be concentrating on your business tasks.
A stress overload is bad for your body, your emotional health, and your business. Although it can’t be completely eliminated, there are ways to reduce stress levels.
1. Organize your time. Set an agenda based on your priorities and goals. Yes, flexibility is one of the main reasons to work from home, but it’s still a good idea to have a basic daily schedule.
Decide how much time to spend each day on household chores, family and children, and your business activities. Divide the day into manageable blocks of time and write down each activity in the proper order.
That will keep you from feeling guilty when you think you should be doing something else instead of what you are doing.
2. Involve your family in the business and in the plans. Let them know what you have to do and share your plans with them. Older boys can help with household chores and, depending on their age, even in the business. Assigning tasks according to their possibilities helps them develop responsibility and feel pride in their achievements.
Arrange your schedule to work when the younger children are sleeping or busy with another activity, such as school.
Consider the possibility of having help, someone to take care of them so that you can focus on your work, especially when you have to make phone calls or when you are with a delicate task that requires a lot of concentration.
3. Develop a strong support network. We all need someone to talk to occasionally. Join networking groups, either online or traditional.
This can be an invaluable source of resources, not just for emotional support, but for tips and advice. Nothing helps more than talking to people who are or have been in the same situation you are in now.
Ask questions, give advice yourself, or just vent, that’s the goal of these groups. You can get very good ideas, both regarding the business itself and domestic affairs. In addition, they are usually an important source of business referrals.
4. Create a peaceful work environment. Even if your home office is a converted closet or corner of a room, find ways to separate it from the chaos of any home.
This helps in two ways: firstly, it helps to get her away from the background distractions of the house, and secondly, it helps her emotionally to switch gears when she “leaves” work.
If the work environment and the family are not separated, you will often find yourself preoccupied with work issues in your family time, since you will have it constantly in view.
Immediately you will have some notation to make or in the budget that you did not finish. And the same goes the other way: You’ll have a hard time concentrating on your work and being productive if you’re staring at the kitchen sink (and so many dishes to wash!) and the laundry that still needs to be folded and put away.
If you don’t have a door to close your office, use a screen or bookcase; something that creates the sensation of a physical barrier between home and work.
Make your work environment relaxing. A reproduction or photograph of a landscape or something fun so that you can take a mental mini-break when you need it.
Warm and cozy colors, and soft music in the background. But don’t overdo it, you don’t need a sleep-inducing space, just one relaxing enough to allow you to keep your stress at manageable levels so you can work comfortably and productively.
5. Avoid procrastination. This ties back to the first point – set an agenda. Stress often stems from the pressure of knowing you didn’t do what you planned or should have done.
There is no need to punish yourself, guilt is also very stressful. From time to time it will happen to you, but that’s one of the best things about working for yourself. You have the flexibility and freedom to get your schedule back on track.
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