When I started my home business, I had very organized ideas about how I would have a little contained work space and things would all be very efficient. In reality, there are times when my work seeps over and takes over the dining room table and the kitchen counter–not to mention the coffee table or my bedside tables in my bedroom. When a person works a traditional job, one can often leave the work at work and reserve home for home “stuff.” When one works from home, everything that get mixed up and messed up together.
I think most of us would like to have a designated space in our house just for work. My tax consultant has told me that in order to take the full tax deductions, I HAVE to have a dedicated space just for work and where I don’t do any non-work related activities. That all sounds very nice and organized, but the reality is a very different matter indeed. The reality is, my kids get on my work computer, my writing files often get tucked in the same place as my Christmas card list, and when I’m working on a big project–there is defnitely no room to sit down and have the family meal at the diningroom table.
The other problem with having the home business mess scattered about the house is that it is a constant reminder to me that I should be working more. Whether I really need to work more or not, or whether I can even handle an increased workload doesn’t seem to be the issue. The issue is that the work is always around me so I can’t get away from it! There is nothing like a stack of work on your kitchen counter to let you know that you can’t just leave work at the office! The only rememdy I have found is to try to keep things contained. I do have an assigned work space for my home business with doors that can be shut at the end of the work day. If I can only keep my work in that general vacinity, I can create a bit of balance and try to minimize the mess!
Diary of a Home Business Owner
Letting Go of Old Office Supplies