Working,Home,Doesn,amp,#39,Hav DIY Working at Home Doesn't Have to Mean Feeling Alone

When starting a new work at home business it is very easy to become consumed by it. We spend so much time trying to get the business up and running that we may end up becoming burned out and lose our motivation. There is so much to learn and Normal 0 false false false MicrosoftInternetExplorer4 /* Style Definitions */ table.MsoNormalTable{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;mso-style-noshow:yes;mso-style-parent:"";mso-padding-alt:0in

© 2003 Vishal P. RaoOperating a home-based business may let you set your ownschedule, spend more time with your children, and earn moremoney but it does have its own set of challenges. One ofthose challenges can be a feeling of loneliness.Many home-based business workers spend all their timetrapped within the confines of their house. They eat intheir own kitchen, type email on their own computer, andsocialize with their own family once they return from theoutside world. At first, this might seem like a welcomechange from the stressful interactions in the averageworkplace, but when continued day after day, it candramatically affect your mood and your productivity.Luckily, you can combat those negative feelings and keepyour home-based business. Here are a few suggestions:1) Establish a RoutineVery often the flexibility of working at home candeteriorate into disorder and chaos, which usually leads tolonger hours and less socialization. A well-establishedroutine allows you to get your work done and have time tomingle. For example, you could set office hours from 8 am to5 pm. Once you finish working each evening, you'll be freeto unwind and interact with people for the rest of the nightwithout the distraction of your business. Plus, you'll beforced to use those time management skills which were soessential when you working for someone else.2) Take a walk with a spouse, friend, or dogIf you visit any workplace, you are bound to find peoplewalking on their lunch breaks. They don't just do this forthe calorie-burning benefits, however. It's also a good wayto release stress and to enjoy the company of other people.You can do the same thing, but you may need to schedule youroutings so they are convenient for your “walking buddy.” Ofcourse, if you opt to take your favorite canine companionalong, he or she will be available whenever the need towander strikes.3) Join a health clubExercise is an excellent stress reliever, plus it fightsagainst two other common work-at-home problems:over-indulgence in food and sedentary lifestyles. Butexercising on a stationary bike or treadmill in your bedroomwon't be enough to fight that feeling of isolation. A healthclub, on the other hand, is a perfect answer because it provides lots of exercise opportunities and a chance to meetnew people. Sure, club memberships can be pricey but your health and well-being are worth it.4) Get a hobbyOne of the bad things about owning a home-based business isthat you probably turned your hobby into your livelihoodwhich often takes a lot of the fun out of it, so now youneed a new hobby. The best choice would be something thatrequired you to get involved with other people, such as teamsports. However, most solitary activities can also be usedfor socializing. For example, if you like to read, you couldjoin a weekly book club.5) Go to the moviesChances are those people you love who spend 8-10 hours a dayin the outside world probably want to rent a DVD, microwavesome popcorn, and watch a film in the comfort of theirliving rooms instead of venturing out into the dark,crowded, and sticky-floored world of theaters. You, however,should resist the urge. Watching a movie in public with agroup of people around is the ultimate socializationexperience. Even though you don't know everyone in thetheater, you are connected for those two hours (or howeverlong the movie runs). Of course, if you can take yourspouse, your friends, your children, or even your parentsalong, you definitely should. But if they'd rather stay homeand vegetate on the couch, you can always go alone.6) Buy a laptop computerOwning a home-based business doesn't mean you are neverallowed to leave your house. Of course, you don't want tomiss out on valuable work, but you also don't want to aprisoner in your home office. If you buy a laptop, you canhave the best of both worlds. You'll stay connected to yourwork and you can actually go out into the world. You canwork while you sip coffee, relax at the park, or sit on yourfront porch. All of which will give you a much-needed chanceto reconnect with the rest of the world.7) Get a part-time jobYou probably started your own home-based business to escapethe rat race so you might be hesitant about getting back outthere. Even ten hours a week is enough to keep you sane, butshould not be enough to drive you crazy. One freelancewriter I know who works out of her home also teaches a fivehour weekly writing course to college students in order torejuvenate after hours of isolation. The class lets her besocial, do something she enjoys, and earn a reliable streamof additional income. The effects of a part-time could beequally beneficial for you.As you may have noticed, all of these ideas have one thingin common: they force you to leave your home. The reason isthat the only way to feel like you're not isolated, is tonot isolate yourself. Taking a few minutes each day to talkto your working friends on the phone, to stroll throughnature, or to spend quality time with your family is all itreally takes to keep your productive and happy.