I Love My Family…But Please Stop Bothering Me During Work Hours

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I Love My Family…But Please Stop Bothering Me During Work Hours

I don’t know of a freelancer or ecommerce pro with a family who hasn’t had to deal with this at some point. No matter how clear you are to your kids or spouse about boundaries during the workday, something will always come up eventually. One colleague tried to describe to his wife and kid that he was “invisible” until suppertime came around.
Turns out, the Invisible Man can take out the garbage and answer why the sky is blue just like everyone else.
Whether you work from home every day or just once in a while, it can be a real hassle sometimes to deal with people you otherwise cherish and adore. Here are some tips to keep you working and making money while also keeping you from disowning your family and moving to Antarctica.
Get an Office!
Seems obvious, right? But most work-from-homers don’t have a dedicated office. My Invisible Man friend only had a nice comfy recliner in the middle of the living room. Nearby, his wife was on the computer while watching TV while the kid played video games or showed him all the beautiful sketches she’d made.
And sure, that’s a lot of fun sometimes. But when it comes down to getting some serious work done, it’s tough to buckle down sometimes with so many distractions. If Mr. Invisible Man had simply designated a space with an office, it would be easier for his family to pretend he was away on business.
Why is that? Out of sight, out of mind. Your spouse and kids want to hang out with you because they love you, not because they intentionally want to distract you. So leave their line of sight but enclosing yourself in a room – even if it’s just a bedroom or, if all else fails, the bathroom.
Set Hours
One thing Mr. Invisible Man did right was try to set hours.  After disappearing for a while into your cave like office, emerge into the sunlight for a break or two! Go outside and catch some fresh air with your spouse. Heck, take an extra break – what’s the use of working from home if you can’t enjoy it?
Also, take a real lunch. It may seem like a good idea to power through it every day to reach the end of your to-do list, but force yourself to take a full hour to relax with a nice meal. If your family is home, invite them to join you. This can be a real help with everyone craving to be around you – if you give them a little time, they will hopefully leave you to your work the rest of the day. At least until suppertime rolls around.
Be Clear
The important thing is to communicate to your loved ones how crucial it is you get some real alone time with you and your work. Explain to them it has nothing to do with them, that if you had all the time and money in the world you would just spend it with them (that’s true, right?). But as it stands, you have a lot to do, and distractions only make it tougher on you to provide for them. They should understand and give you your space.
If not, lock the door and turn up the music.

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