Creating Home Office Boundaries

A few years ago, I stopped in at a corner store in a small town while on a business trip to Montreal from Toronto. I like to visit mom and pop establishments when I find them and throw a little business their way as a means of buoying up a way of life that has been disappearing for some time now.

As I looked through the usual selection of treats, magazines, and knickknacks for sale, my reflections were interrupted by the reverberating bass typical of R&B hip hop music. At first I thought that the noise must be coming from some hoodlum wannabe out in the parking lot, but the music did not fade, grow louder, or stop. Instead, it continued on at the same volume. I realized what was going on when the lady behind the counter saw me looking around and disappeared into a room off of the side of the building. A few minutes later the music stopped. Unfortunately, the peace was interrupted by a scream in the shattering tones of an affronted teenage girl; 'Happy NOW?'

The store keeper reappeared, a bit red in the face. I resisted the urge to tell her that perhaps what she needed was a good nanny. Oakville, where I come from, has places where one can look for authority figures who can keep even teenagers under control. Instead of making any comments, however, I purchased a bird feeder and a Coke, smiled at the harried mother/store owner, and exited.

The scenario got me to thinking about the many hazards that exist for the people who combine business and family, in the same location. It does not have to be a store front doubling as a residence, either. Many people have home offices, and these offices are constantly surrounded by family members and visitors who might not respect the fact that it is a place of business. Whether a business operator lives in a single family, spacious dwelling in Bennington Heights Toronto, Ontario or in a more restricted environment, it can be hard to have boundaries around the work space.

This series of articles is dedicated to those of us who operate an office from the home, and have some trouble convincing family members in particular that what you are doing is important. There are many different reasons why kids and spouses might take your work space for granted and stage 'invasions' on a frequent basis. You might live in cramped quarters Toronto condos have less room than a house in the suburbs), or your family might not be used to sharing your attention while you are home. Whatever the reason, you need to be able to set some boundaries around your home office so that you can earn the money you need to while at home.

Fortunately, once you get pointed in the right direction, you will find that getting others to respect your work boundaries is not the impossible task it could otherwise be. Whether you sell used wood working tools online or have an in home accounting practice, the information in our articles will help you and your family separate family time from business time. The results will be heightened productivity for your business, guaranteed.

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