And separate home space from work space
Oct 10, 2008 - 10:38 AM
By Melissa Mancini
DURHAM -- While Alexandria Durrell works, her three-year-old daughter Story isn't in daycare or at a babysitter's.
She is playing in the same room. Ms. Durrell is one of many small business owners who is a work-from-home mom. In 2000, about 50 per cent of the self-employed did some or all of their work from home, says Statistics Canada.
With a toddler running around the house, it's not always easy to create and market the accessories, like barrettes and soother clips, that Ms. Durrell's business, Clippopotamus, sells.
But Ms. Durrell makes time boundaries -- instead of spatial ones -- between business and personal life.
"I play with my daughter every morning until nap time, then I have to be really productive in the afternoon when she's sleeping," Ms. Durrell said.
She also has a work station in her daughter's playroom where she can work while still keeping a close eye on Story, she said.
Although Ms. Durrell said she finds she can work close to her toddler, experts say small business owners who work from home should try to have their work space separate from their home lives.
"Dedicate space in your home to working; don't work at your dining room table," said Brian Caldwell, senior marketing product manager for Brother Canada. Mr. Caldwell works with small business owners to find the right equipment for their home offices.
A low traffic space, preferably one with a door that closes, is best for a home office, Mr. Caldwell said.
Mr. Caldwell also suggests setting mental boundaries and getting your family to set boundaries of what is work time and what is family time.
Ms. Durrell agrees. She said she makes sure she has family time with her husband and child that doesn't involve work. That can be difficult because her husband helps run the website.
Another issue that small business owners can face is isolation.
Carol Ann Walker, executive director of Business Advisory Centre Durham (BACD) said a way to keep in touch with the outside world when your home is also your office is to take advantage of community organizations that exist to help small business owners.
"We encourage home entrepreneurs to visit the BACD to get out from the four walls that surround them," Ms. Walker said. The BACD offers services like seminars and one-on-one consultations for business owners.
Ms. Durrell has another suggestion for small business owners who work from home but want to keep in touch with the outside world: network. Ms. Durrell said her online network of others in similar situations to hers helps her feel connected.
For more information about Ms. Durrell's products visit: www.clippo.ca.
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