Separation of Work and Home: A Home Office Lesson

As a virtual assistant, I work from my own home office. I have everything I would have at my disposal in a regular office, two computers, a fax machine, a copy machine, printer, etc..  When I first started my company, I decided the best location for my office was a corner of my bedroom since I live in a small two level apartment with my two children.  It was away from the hub bub of the household and had the necessary dsl and phone hookups as well.  It worked well during the start up phase of the business. More recently however, I found out why locating your office in your bedroom is not a good idea.

One, the temptation to work when I’m not supposed to be working was too great. I might be reading, watching tv or getting ready to go to sleep when suddenly I thought of something that needed to be done the next day. Only I didn’t wait until the next day. Too often I got up and worked on it right then.  And once I showered and grabbed a cup of coffee in the morning, there I’d be, no matter how early, working because it was there.

Two, there was no escape from work. Your bedroom is supposed to be a relaxing sanctuary. With my office there, it was anything but. In fact it was a constant reminder of just what I still needed to accomplish.

And three, every time there was a delivery or overnight pickup I had to rush down the stairs to the door, many times to have to call out to the retreating courier.

So yesterday, in an effort to start my year off on a good note, I took down the Christmas trees and moved my office.  It has been relocated from the corner in my bedroom to a corner in my dining room.  Working today felt different. More professional, more in touch with the outside world. And last night, in my office free bedroom, I was no longer haunted by what was undone.