9 Ways to Avoid Interruptions When You Work At Home

If you’re a stay-at-home parent who needs a career with flexibility, a home-based job could work for you. Cottage businesses and remote jobs give you the flexibility you need. You set your own schedule and eliminate commute time and expenses.

But then again, home is where your family hangs out! You'll have to do something about that.

Career flexibility, but...

You'll enjoy working at home. Every day can be a dress down day. You can even work in your pajamas if you choose. Working at home is a viable option for many men and women, but be warned. If you want to thrive in a home-based career, you’ll have to get your family under control.

Just say "NO" to friends 

Remote work helps you keep workplace mayhem at a distance but your children and spouse are still right there... calling your name, asking for stuff.

Then there's that brain anomaly that causes friends and family to interpret working at home as not working at all.

They phone you. They knock on your door.They stop by just to sip coffee, chatter and socialize.

Even my mom, bless her soul, would call and ask, "Are you working today?" It was my mom so I couldn't get snarky with her.

Stop the interruptions!

It’s up to you to reject friends and family so you can do your job. Ok, reject is not a nice word, but that’s what you have to do.

It's not an easy task, especially when your children, spouse, and friends don’t see themselves as an interruption. Because it's your work life that's at stake, it's your job to get them in line with one of three options:

1. Let interruptions set the pace for your work day.
2. Get a job outside your home.
3. Establish “workplace” guidelines. Demand full compliance from everyone, even you.

Option number three is best if you truly want to work at home, but you'll have to put some honest effort into it.

Your workplace rules should not sound like "Mommy said so"

If you’ve ever worked for someone else, you know the drill. The boss makes the rules and everybody else follows them. Or else.

Your guidelines should be clear and easy to follow. They can be a mix of hardline workplace dictates and grandpa's folksy wisdom but they should never sound like Mommy. Here are a few examples.

1. Work like the boss is watching

Bosses expect you to arrive on time, work a full day and go home when the clock says it’s time. They demand that you stay on task and keep distractions to a minimum.

When interruptions occur in the office, you feel pressured to keep working anyway. Why? The boss is always watching. That’s the perfect mindset for working at home.

2. Set a schedule and stick to it

Set your alarm clock and rise early. Begin working on time and keep at it until you’ve accomplished a goal or reached a scheduled break.

Make a commitment to work at least the same number of hours you would if you worked outside the home. Remember you're the boss and the boss is watching.

3. Establish boundaries with a closed door policy

You may have worked for a boss with an “open door” policy, but he didn’t really mean it. You can’t get much work done with people coming and going all the time.

It’s the same when you work at home. You must establish boundaries with your family and stick to them. If that means shutting the door to get your work done, just do it.

4. Let your family do their own thing

The time you spend working at home is precious. Teach family and friends to treat it that way.

Go ahead and let your older children fend for themselves. Let your spouse cook dinner and care for the young children. You won’t be abandoning your family. You’ll be a few steps away if they need you.

5. Put it in writing and post it on your door

Reinforce your closed door policy with a sign that establishes your territory: “Please Do Not Enter When the Door is Closed – In Case of Emergency, Knock!” Go for a straight out "Do Not Disturb" or "No Trespassing" brushoff. Or try a sign that simply says "NO"

A sign might not always stop spouse and child interruptions, but your family will realize you are serious and they will think twice before invading your workspace.

6. Get help caring for young children

Infants and toddlers have their own special set of interruption issues, but you can still make your home venture work for you. I found that out first hand back when I was still a corporate clone.

I worked out of my home, called in twice a day, and reported to the office once a week. I loved the professional flexibility, but my kids were two and six back then and the responsibility was overwhelming.

If you have children too young to care for themselves, you'll spend more time tending to their business than yours. You have several options:

• Work-while-the-baby-sleeps, 
• Hire an in-house babysitter or nanny
• Day-care outside the home. 

Each childcare option comes with financial and emotional costs...and a side of guilt. Each has a list of benefits and drawbacks you'll have to weigh for yourself.

When I first started working at home, I set my own schedule, making calls from home and hitting the road on appointments. I had a lot to do, so while my oldest was in elementary school, I put my youngest in daycare.

I was always working, no time for self-indulgences. Still, I felt the pangs of motherhood guilt for abandoning my child to daycare.

Motherhood guilt is powerful. It's simply another interruption you have to manage.

7. Take regular breaks

Working non-stop from morning until night may sound like a productive idea, but that doesn’t mean you should. Everybody needs a little down time during the work day.







Regular planned breaks help keep you sharp and efficient. You'll be less likely to drop everything when your friend calls to gossip or comes knocking at your door.

8. Get your phone under control

If you still have both a landline and a cell, it can mean twice as many phone interruptions when you’re trying to get things done. How can you avoid non-work calls?

• Get a dedicated work line – The cost of a separate cell or landline for business is minimal compared to the benefits. And remember, don't answer the other line.

• Rely on Caller ID – It’s okay to screen calls and ignore unnecessary interruptions, whether you're working or not working. 

9. Set up your office with a view

When you work at home with nobody to talk to, at times you can feel like a prison inmate in isolation. If you set up your office with a view, you can arrange momentary self-directed escapes to help you power through the interruptions.

• Place your desk in front of a window. 
• Look out at trees, birds and the sky. 
• Open the window and smell the fresh air.
• Hear the sounds of birds, traffic, and children playing.

You can make it work

If you want a home-based career or business. You can make it work, with a little cooperation from your family and a little help from your friends.

Carol

Copyright CRucker 2017 Based on a Carol Rucker article originally published on YahooVoices.