MANAGING YOUR TIME BETWEEN WORK & HOME

MANAGING YOUR TIME BETWEEN WORK & HOME

When you first begin your business, everything is fine and dandy. It's

like bringing home the new baby from the hospital. Everyone visits to

see the new baby. Everyone thinks the baby is cute and wants to hold

it. Everyone "oohs" and "awes." After a few months though, the

newness wears off. Now it's time to get down to raising this new baby

and preparing him or her to be successful for their role in life.

A new business suffers about the same type of beginning. You talk the

decision over with your family and involve them in hearing your initial

business plans. Everyone gets excited and tells you to "go for it."

Everyone agrees to help out and the whole house is buzzing about

with visions of big bank deposits dancing in their heads. After a few

months though, the newness wears off. Since you probably haven't

made any money, family members may grow tired and discouraged.

They begin degrading your motives for opening the business in the

first place. They may even embarrass you and make you feel like a

total failure without even realizing it.

Eventually, if you stay with the business and exclude the family, they

will begin feeling rejected. A spouse may be upset because you don't

go to bed the same time you used to. He or she may pressure you into

spending more time with them and the children. You love your family

and don't want to hurt them but you don't want to hurt your business

either. You are torn between two decisions, and sometimes this

decision is extremely difficult to make.

What are you supposed to do? It's only common sense, if your spouse

gets ill and you have to take care of him or her, that this situation

would demand more attention than your business. But, most situations

are not this severe.

Often times, family pressures only come from the fact that the family

member feels left out and rejected. Naturally, when you are building

your business, your time is occupied in this field much more than

when you didn't have a business. Your spouse may be used to falling

asleep with you while watching television. You can still do this! Just

take a break and watch television with your spouse until he or she falls

asleep. In turn, he or she should have the understanding that you will

probably be working on your business for a few hours while they are

sleeping. Give a little!

If the children are used to you spending more time with them, try and

involve them in some aspect of your business. Take them to the post

office with you to pick up your mail. Talk with them about school or

other things that interest them while you're both in the car. Ask them to

drop the mail in the mailbox while you are cleaning out your post office

box. Even a small amount of responsibility in your business builds up

a respect for your work and they will give you more space when you

need to take time away from them.

If your children are young take a nap when they are asleep and work

longer hours after they go to bed at night. If you work a full-time job,

take some lunches by yourself and study your business-related

materials. You'd be amazed how much research and new ideas you

can come up with in 1 hour at lunch undisturbed over a peanut-butter

sandwich. Save money too! Carry a mini-cassette recorder or pad of

paper with you every place you go. Write down ideas that come into

your mind and review these ideas while eating supper or watching

television. I'm sure you can find time to build your business it just

takes a little thought. It may not always be the amount of time you want

and need but you can squeeze some time in somewhere. Just find out

"what" method works the best for you!

There are a lot of excellent books on the market about managing your

time successfully. Find one and read it. Your family, friends and other

human relationships are very, very important to your mental attitude.

Don't alienate them completely. Just find ways you can enjoy the best

of both worlds and everyone will be happy including you and your

business.