One of the downsides to a home-based business is that you often find yourself putting in more hours than an average worker. Growing a home-based business and making it work takes a lot of time. Even if you love what you do, it can become something that quickly overtakes you.
I have to be very deliberate about taking time off, not just on holidays but even on weekends. With a home business you don’t have someone telling you, “The office will be closed for Memorial Day.” You have to make it happen if you really want it to happen.
Even when you are sick, you may be less likely to go in if you work outside the home. But when you work from home, you settle for doing something in your pajamas. It can be a good thing, if you really want to see your business grow but it can also be a detriment.
Remember that everyone needs to take a break once-in-a-while. It’s good for your health. I know when I have been working too much or taking on too much when my mood begins to sour. I snap at my family or I find myself getting easily irritated. It is a cue that I need to step back and rethink my schedule, my workload.
The benefit of working from home in that you are available to your family can also become a detriment if you aren’t enjoying your family. What is the point of being available if you are always crabby?
But another reason to take a break is because it allows you to come back refreshed. If you were struggling with something, you may find the answers come more easily after you have taken a weekend off. New ideas begin flowing, solutions come quickly and you feel ready to take on what is before you.
Don’t let your home-based business overtake your life. It may be a huge part of your life but it shouldn’t be everything. Take time out for you. Take time out for your family.
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