Feb 12
22
Methods To Manage Breaks As A Work-at-home Business Owner
Recently during a training session, one of my clients shared her continuing struggle with managing “breaks” during the day. Whenever she felt the need to get up from her desk and stretch her legs, she found herself in the kitchen.
As a result of this habit, she is now 20 pounds heavier, terribly uncomfortable and highly disappointed with herself.
Unfortunately this phenomenon is extremely common among entrepreneurs who transition from the outside work world to working at home.
Home-based business presents challenges not typically experienced while working in the corporate or “outside” world and handling breaks is a huge one.
When you're employed outside the home, a break could be spent by a water cooler, in a lunchroom, or outside on a bench talking with a work mate. When you do spend your break in the company lunchroom, you barely find an absolutely stocked refrigerator and cupboards packed with food at your command.
When you work from home, your break locations are not quite as in depth and because it's totally improbable you would spend this time sitting in a bedroom or talking to oneself in the bathroom mirror, the kitchen is the most logical destination.
How you spend your breaks at home needs a little creativity and A Large amount of discipline. By giving yourself options, setting limits, and creating healthy habits, it will not take long for you to re-direct yourself when you find yourself drifting toward the kitchen.
Here are 7 easy options to get you started:
1. Grab your remote fone, head outside for a lawn lounger and call a friend. This not only addresses the “break” issue but also combats the sensations of isolation that often affect work at home business owners. The important thing to recollect here is set limits for yourself. Institute a 15-minute break rule and impose it, or you can lose a complete afternoon.
2. Pick up your mail. Whether the mailbox is at the end of your drive or merely down the road, this is the ideal opportunity for you to stretch your legs and get some clean air.
3. Play your fave CD and listen to song that takes your intelligence completely off your work. Enjoy a cool class of juice or a flavorful mug of tea while you submerge yourself in the music. If you are feeling a little slow, pop an energetic tune into your boom box and kick up your heels! There’s no better energy boost than a good boogie!
4. Take a hike around the block. Take your little puppy with you and light two candles with one flame. Start to know your neighbors, keep your pet healthy, and revel in the great out of doors.
5. Meditate. There's nothing like a midday meditation to free your intellect and relax the body. The advantages are immense and impact all areas of your life and business.
6. Set kitchen hours. Establish set times throughout the day when the kitchen is off limits and stick to them.
7. Sweep the entryway or vacuum the front room. It might not be exciting nonetheless it will give your mind the break it needs , and will save you time elsewhere so you can spend it with friends and family. 1 or 2 small cleaning breaks during the day really add up.
What other ideas spring to mind for you?
Your success and well-ness all come down to discipline, creative thinking, and being gentle with yourself. Don’t beat yourself up if you've created habits that are counter-productive. Instead , seek solutions and take acceptable action.
It is about developing structures and processes and when you realize you have got the power to create your own activities, you may create dazzling results for yourself.
Alan Wilson is actively involved in the work from home industry. While the technology used to conduct this sort of business has changed very in that time, the elements behind creating and operating a successful home business remain the same. You can learn more by going to the Work From Home Australia Opportunities business directory.
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