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Working from Home

Create a routine

I launched my first venture in a walk in closet.  I was living in Chicago and started a home based business.  My business was primarily phone based and I rarely met with clients in person.  I didn’t have a lot of structure and for the first 6 months or so; I had the cleanest apartment ever!  I would tidy up, do laundry, and before I knew it was 3:00 and I hadn’t gotten much work done and I was still in my underwear.

I had to change my mind set.  I had to trick myself into going to work each day, which isn’t easy when you work in a walk in closet.  I’d get up at a set time every morning, take a shower, get dressed and go for coffee (my early ventures may be directly responsible for the success of Starbucks).  When I returned, I was now at work.  I needed some clear indicator of the start of my work day.

Create boundaries

When we physically “Go to Work,” our family doesn’t expect to see us for 8-10 hours.  And while there may be a phone call or two during the day, there is a general understanding that you’re busy – you’re at work.  It’s important if you work at home that you create the same boundaries.  You’re are at work – even if that means you are sitting in a walk in closet or the laundry room wherever it is that you’ve carved out a little space.

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Tags: Create boundaries, create routine, home based business, Working from Home