Creating Balance is Key to Work from Home Success

Tips for Creating the Perfect Work-Life Balance

Work-from-home professionals face a unique challenge when it comes to creating balance – separating work time from home time is hard when your work is in your home! A good work-life balance is important for any business professional, but keeping this balance in check when working from home can be difficult but possible. Here are some tips to keep work life and family life in balance when working out of a home office.

Creating a Defined Work Space in the Home is Important

One of the first steps to creating and maintaining a healthy work-life balance is defining a workspace. Whether this space in an entire room or just a desk in the dining room, even more important than defining the space is keeping it strictly an area where business gets accomplished. Make sure to eliminate any personal clutter such as bills or mail and only use that area for working – personal items of this nature can be extremely distracting and will continue to blur the lines between “work” and “home.”

Keep Strict, Consistent Working Hours

Setting work hours is also essential in creating a good balance when working from a home office. Set hours are a great way to define boundaries for when clients can and cannot contact you and allows for time throughout the week for family. Setting up automatic replies outside of working hours helps minimize interruptions during family time, and letting loved ones know no to disturb excessively during working hours can help allow for more productivity with work.

Enjoy Family Time!

Just like 9 to 5 business professionals enjoy weekends off, so should work-from-home professionals. Although the temptation to work during this time will always be there, it is important to remember that personal time is just as important as work. If powering down the computer and cell phone is what needs to be done to help stay off them during free time that is what you need to do! Taking the time to create a work-life balance will mean nothing if family and fun is constantly being interrupted by work.

Just because you do not work in an office with set hours every week does not mean that you need to be working all the time! Although work-from-home professionals sometimes face challenges creating balance in their lives, it is possible to achieve by setting boundaries and making sure that work does not encompass their whole lives. A good work-life balance is essential in achieving both professional and personal goals.

Need more tips on how to work from home? Perhaps a business mentor can help you get organized and on the road  to success! If you would like to contact Stacy O'Quinn to see how he can help you, click here.

*Photo Courtesy of _gee_ via Creative Commons License

Tired of Interviewing? Become Your Own Boss!

Job interviews can be intimidating, scary, and even overwhelming. Many people feel uncomfortable even thinking about the prospect of interviewing. If you are one of the millions of people out of work in this country, interviewing has become a way of life but that does not make it more pleasant. Anyone who has had it with suits, resumes, and trying to prove him or herself to an interviewer should consider taking control by starting a business.

After telling countless interviewers what you can do, it is time to prove it. Explore work from home opportunities and select some that align with your skills, experience, and interests. Review each opportunity carefully to ensure that it is legitimate. Though we are warned not to pay to work at home the truth is that every home-based business opportunity requires some money out of pocket. Explore the three options for working from home and decide which is most appealing.

Working at home for an established company is the least expensive of the three choices. Few companies allow employees to work at home because it requires an increased level of oversight in terms of productivity checks. Some companies allow telecommuting for certain positions but may decrease pay or benefits or increase workload in exchange. The employee may be required to provide the computer equipment, Internet connection, and telephone service needed to perform the job. This arrangement is often unsuccessful when an individual is trying to increase the level of freedom and earn more money.

Becoming an independent contractor or a distributor is an alternative. Real estate or insurance agents, some outside sales representatives, and network marketing consultants fall into these categories. Freedom is an inherent benefit of these careers but the work usually requires traveling to appointments and fees for professional licenses or registrations.

These individuals are typically expected to meet sales or productivity quotas and compensation may be tied to this. Being an independent contractor has many tax implications and eliminates perks such as paid time off, employer-provided health insurance, and other paid benefits. In essence, this individual pays a company a fee for the ability to work at home but is still subject to oversight that may affect income.

The final alternative is to become self-employed and this is the most attractive option. By selling a desirable product or service, income potential is almost unlimited and so is the level of freedom. While there are costs involved with product development or becoming a product wholesaler these are mainly incurred up front. The ability to promote offerings online keeps advertising expenses in check and training is also affordable.

Self-employed individuals receive payment directly from their customers or clients, allowing them to retain more profit. They have the freedom to create their own schedules so work can be scheduled around family commitments, vacations, and other obligations without any penalty. If the venture is successful, the individual can bring on others who value freedom and want to increase their earning potential, creating a business of like-minded individuals ready to succeed.

*Photo Courtesy of Mitch Barrie via Creative Commons License

Stop Living In Fear

One societal tragedy seems to follow another these days, causing many people to live in a constant state of fear. In the last year alone, we have seen shootings in schools, malls, and movie theaters, public bombings, and several accidents of a deadly nature. It is no wonder that fear has become part of many of our lives. Though fear is an important survival instinct it is also much more and we must be careful not to let it control our lives.

According to researchers, fear can short circuit our brains, making it difficult for us to cope with events that affect us. Just ask residents of the Boston area whose neighborhoods were invaded by military helicopters, SWAT teams, and law enforcement agencies from all over the country for several days during the manhunt for the marathon bombers. Quiet, rural neighborhoods were transformed into war zones making many people afraid to step foot outside.

When tragedies like the Boston bombing or school shootings occur, scared parents must do their best to calm petrified children. Youngsters grow up knowing that bombs can detonate in public places and preparing themselves for school shootings. Though this is far from an idyllic childhood, it has become necessary. Unfortunately, fear is one of the consequences for even children untouched by such tragedies.

Though evildoers are mainly responsible for inducing panic and fear, the media also plays a role. Media coverage constantly replays images and audio of horrific events, maximizing their impact. This causes the threat to remain real and alive in the minds of observers. A sustained response to threat is the natural reaction, causing people to remain fearful long after the immediate danger is gone.

What most people do not realize is that feeding fear only causes it to increase. Fear can wipe out confidence, affect the ability to make decisions, and prevent us from living our lives. In fact, fear is often the only barrier to achieving what we want in life. It can prevent us from committing to a loving relationship, achieving a successful career, or starting a work at home business. All of these great things lie beyond our fear making it important for us to overcome this obstacle.

At some point, fear stops each of us in our tracks. It may be as small as a nagging thought or as prominent as a physical reaction such as shallow breathing or a speeding heartbeat. Fear can cause us to alter our daily routines and may even prevent us from resuming life as we once knew it. When we are born, we have adventurous spirits and are not afraid to take risks. Fear destroys this and affects our enthusiasm, determination, and faith.

What we should not do is let our fears control us. We must nurture the positive feelings that contribute to success. Belief, action, and faith can overcome fears that try to stop us in our tracks. Whether we have been personally touched by a tragic event or worry that we may be, we should not let fear destroy our lives.

Change Your Work Environment To Improve Your Income

For many people, work is something that pays the bills. These folks show up, put in their time, and go home, all the while avoiding any level of involvement. Even the least engaged employees are affected by the environment in which they work. Whether a workplace is laid back or stressful, it impacts people operating within it. Work environments affect everything from how employees interact with each other to how much they and the company earn.

Walk into a business and you can immediately tell whether people are happy to be working there. Satisfied workers sport smiles and are friendly to everyone they encounter including strangers. They carry themselves proudly and are respectful to others. Believe it or not, these people actually enjoy what they do. This atmosphere is encouraging to workers, visitors, and customers. A positive internal working environment translates to a positive external environment with customers and prospects.

This workplace is much different from the typical environment because it makes people fall in love with going to work. Everyone feels good and this contributes to positive corporate morale. This is much different from the typical work environment where employees either slack off or trample each other to climb the corporate ladder. Each of these groups cannot relate to the other so there is no sense of camaraderie or even cohesiveness.

Despite appearances to the contrary, most employers do not want their workers to fail. The boss is not out to get everyone in the department. Bosses believe in their workers and want them to succeed. If this were not the case, they never would have hired their staff. Unfortunately, many bosses do not communicate their faith in employees and the desire for  happy workforce. When employees are happy, they create a positive environment and this impacts clients in a positive way. As more customers do business with the company, profits flow.

What is the secret to a positive work environment? Each and every employee must create it. Rather than wishing that we worked in a positive atmosphere, we must develop it. Whether we are part of a work at home business or spend our days in the headquarters of a large corporation, we bear the responsibility of creating the type of environment that we want to work in for over the long-term. 

We choose to create a workplace that tolerates slackers and people who are in it for themselves or we choose to develop a work atmosphere that fosters collaboration, celebrates achievements, and makes people want to return each day. Making this choice is the easy part…creating the desired work atmosphere is another story. It takes hard work and determination that begins by inspiring everyone to work together.

Become an influencer in your workplace to help the environment change for the better. In the process, others will take notice and provide opportunities for advancement. As you become more prominent within the organization, there will be additional opportunities to exert a positive influence on the work atmosphere. Make the workplace somewhere that everyone wants to be!

Think About What Is Important

When a major disaster like hurricane Sandy occurs, many people take stock of their lives. They stop worrying about little things and focus on what really matters. These are the times that many folks decide to make life-altering changes. Some decide to be kinder to others and some commit to finally getting themselves out of debt. A brave few even decide to make a career change they have been thinking about for years but have never explored. Now is the time for change!

Take a minute to think about what is important to you. Have you lost faith in mankind or yourself? Do you want to stop living from one paycheck to the next? Do you wish that you could get that promotion you have been working towards for years? All of these goals are valid and also achievable with the right approach. In most cases, it is simply a matter of knowing what to do and the best advice comes from an expert.

Look around to identify someone modeling behavior that you wish to incorporate. A spiritual leader in the community is a good mentor for those who wish to increase their faith. Someone who is proficient with managing a household budget can help another get out of debt. If career mobility is a goal, perhaps a friend or neighbor can show you how to work from home by creating a lucrative business because he or she has done the same.

Some people have difficulty determining what is important. Making a list may help, so take pen to paper (or hands to keyboard) and start today. Think about what matters and determine whether you have achieved your goals in these areas. There is no time like the present to make changes in areas where you have fallen short. Begin by setting small goals that feed into larger ones.

Never be embarrassed to ask another person for help with something. Each of us has different strengths and weaknesses. Find someone who is skilled in money management and ask for help getting debt under control. It may be as simple as reducing expenses and developing an affordable budget. Changes like purchasing groceries in bulk or buying generic instead of brand names can make a huge difference.

Some of us have experienced unexpected setbacks that took our lives off course. Realize that it is never too late to get back on track. People who are out of work can find new careers doing something they never expected. Starting a business is one way they can regain control of their lives. If they choose the right line of work, they could make more money than they ever imagined.

Take a few moments today to think about what is important to you. Whether it involves faith, family, or finances, take steps to keep it high on the priority list. Find someone who can help and do what this person recommends. The result may be a life-changing experience that opens many doors and creates a lifestyle of your dreams.