One of the fantastic things about a home-based business is that we can arrange our work time to accommodate our family and other obligations. But, in taking time off or working more flexible hours during this hectic holiday season—we still need to take into account meeting the needs and expectations of our clients and customers AND we need to make sure we let them know what we are doing!
I really appreciate it when people I work with on a regular basis let me know what their hours will be for the holiday season. If you are planning to take off from work the entire week of December 25th, or planning travel—let your customers and clients know. A reminder as the date nears, asking them if there will be anything they need before you close your doors for the holidays is a nice touch too.
There is nothing wrong with flexible hours or even lightening your work load during this month (or any other)—you just need to make sure that people know what you’re doing. The same goes for the flip side of the coin—your family and friends should understand when you are working and respect the parameters you set around your work schedule this time of the year. Some people have a tendency to think that since we work at home, we are more available to run errands, stand in line at the post office, or close up shop at a moment’s notice. Let house guests, family, friends, neighbors, etc. know when you are working and when you are not so there won’t be any confusion and you won’t end up trying to juggle too much. If you set clear expectations and share your work hours with everyone, you might also be more likely to stick to some healthy boundaries during this hectic holiday season!
Also: Why I Can’t Work Every Single Day