By Dana Phillips.

If you work at home, it is so easy to get distracted by the kids, cooking, and house chores.  It is also easy to get distracted from your family life with business emergencies.  There is always one more phone call to make, an “urgent” text from a client or consultant, or a deadline to meet. I have heard from many of you that you struggle with “turning it off”.  I understand.  Perhaps reframing the way you look at your business and family life will help you get more satisfaction from all the areas of your life.

For me, one of the biggest victories I experienced was when I learned to be “present.” If you are listening to the radio station and turn it off, sometimes you keep singing the last song you hear.  Instead of “turning off” your business or family, think about changing channels in your head.  If you change the radio station you change your focus.  If you really stay engaged with your kids, you aren’t thinking about the business things that need to be done.  If you are really focused on making phone calls, get the help you need to keep the kids happy.  Managing your focus is easier than turning off a part of your life.

Here are some practical tips to aid you in keeping focused and staying present:

Use a timer.  If you want to take 30 minutes making calls, set a timer.  If you want to make a five-minute call, set a timer. You will be surprised how much housekeeping you can do in 15 minutes if you set a timer.

Don’t answer every call on your phone.  Back in the BC days (before cell phones), many direct sellers had a separate line for their business. Now many use their cell phone for business and home.  If you have trouble answering too many calls in non-business hours, consider a special ring for family.

Set a schedule. It helps to set a work schedule and stick to it as much as you can.  Many of my clients resist doing this because they say their day is too filled with interruptions.  Maybe, or maybe the “interruptions” happen because there is no focus.  Most of my clients who begin to set a schedule find they accomplish more.  See Five Ways to Control Your Calendar.

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