How To Adjust To Working Full Time At Home

Being the boss of your own home based business as opposed to having a job are really two extremes.  When I decided to quit my 9 to 5 job and develop my web income generating business into a full time work at home business, I gave a lot of thought to what I would be giving up and what I would be gaining.  This can be quite an eye opening exercise and the pros and cons will vary with each person. 

There are the obvious things like giving up the security of a salary and the other benefits and perks one receives in a job, but after calculating carefully, you will know if you can afford to forfeit these.   Be sure you have some money saved up and that you are earning enough from different streams of income.  Do not rely on one stream of income just in case something goes wrong.   If you really enjoy the interaction with work colleagues on a daily basis you may find working at home rather lonely.  You may need to find ways of compensating for not having people around you by building into your daily schedule some time to see friends, or perhaps take up tennis or go to the gym with friends.  If you long to be boss free then having your own business is the answer.  Being able to reschedule your day, go shopping, go away for a few days, or for that matter do anything you want, without having to ask permission is total freedom.

To be successful with your own home based business requires discipline. 

Generating income from the web takes time, persistence, dedication and discipline.  I started working on the internet when I still worked 9 to 5 in my day job.  This meant early to rise and late to bed.  I used to rise early so that I could spend 2 hours on my internet business prior to leaving for work.  Once I got home in the evenings it was back to my internet business for at least 4 to 5 hours. This will sound familiar to those who are also striving to build an internet business that will enable them to quit their day jobs. 

Having worked like this for a couple of years I was very disciplined, but I knew I had to maintain or even increase that discipline once I quit my job and started working full time at home, in order to maintain the momentum that I had built up with my online business.  When I made the transition, I decided I did not have to get up so early but I still set my alarm clock for 6am to maintain the discipline.  I now have more hours in the day to attend to my internet business and therefore do not need to deprive myself of sleep.

It is important to get some exercise as one can become glued to the computer screen for hours when involved in something that requires a lot of concentration, like designing a web site for example.  My daily plan ensures that I take my dog, Zoe, for a walk twice a day, mid morning and evening.  It keeps her happy and gives me exercise as well as the well needed break from sitting in front of the computer.  Remember your eyes need a break too.

There are outside influences one needs to take care of as well, such as letting your friends know that working at home does not mean that they can call on you any time of the day and sit for a couple of hours chatting over coffee.  I found that if you do allow this to happen it breaks the working routine and very little gets done!   

One of my hobbies is gardening and I have had to set aside specific times for this otherwise I would be wondering outside into the garden every hour or so and find myself getting totally sidetracked.  

It does take a couple of weeks to settle down into a new routine, but they say it only takes 21 days to form a new habit.  It is great not having to commute to the office and answer to a boss.  I can now spend my days doing what I love doing, and that is working for myself from home.