If you work from home, you’ll understand what I mean when I say “don’t let your family affect your work”.
We love our family members, there is no doubt about that.
Consequently, their smallest actions sometimes leave behind prolonged
shadows. An argument with a spouse is a lot more draining than an
argument with a colleague in the office. Your child’s behavior may leave
you totally shattered when you are in the midst of drafting an
important document. Even a single remark from your boyfriend or
girlfriend can shatter your entire schedule.
When you go to office you normally leave your home behind. It is a
completely new world where, although you are surrounded by people you
know, they actually don’t matter to you as much as your family members
do. If they say something to you or if they do something that is not
agreeable you will be simply angry or enraged; there is a very little
chance that you will be heartbroken. This is because you are not
emotionally attached to those people. To family members you are. They
can hurt you like no one else.
Since you are working from home you are always exposed to their
capricious ways. Sometimes they forget that you need harmonious
environment to be productive and to deliver your projects on time. They
don’t even think twice before starting an argument, dumping on you
everything that weighs them down, and hurling upon you all those small,
nagging things that totally put you off. Sometimes it feels like it’s
only you who are concerned about the financial security of the family.
Concentrating on your work can be quite challenging during these
times. In some way or the other and you have to figure out how to draw a
line between your personal life and your professional life. Here are a
few things you can do:
Talk to them
Mostly it is just a lack of understanding. Unless you are yourself in
a position you cannot understand what the other person is going
through. So you have to make all your family members sit together and
have a heart-to-heart talk with them. Tell your spouse or your
girlfriend or boyfriend how important piece of mind is for you. Tell
your children not to barge into your room all the time demanding your
attention. Holding the baby might be the most wonderful thing in the
world and it may make you your spouse’s “darling” – but it can also
totally distract you while you’re trying to create a web design layout
or number crunching report (although I’m sure some would say they feel
more creative and focused during such conditions).
Draw definitive boundaries
Make it clear that during certain hours you are out of reach unless
it is a matter of life and death. It may seem drastic but if you are not
strict about this timing thing before you know it you will be working
with your entire family practically settled upon your work table. Tell
them that you are always there for them but in order to keep doing that
you need some space to earn money for the family.
Work in a separate room (if possible)
Working from home does not mean that you must have your office in
your bedroom or the sitting room or in the lawn where the entire
neighborhood can greet you and chat with you all day. It is another
matter if there is no extra room in the house but if it can be arranged
then do arrange it. You will feel a marked difference once start working
in a separate room. Then even people in the family will start taking
your work seriously.
Resolve the issue there and then
Don’t let small issues and arguments simmer in the pan of your rage.
Resolve the issue and come back to your workplace with a clear mind. Say
what you want to say or accept your fault if you are at fault. This way
you won’t waste time arguing inside your head.
Learn to detach yourself
If nothing else works, for the love of your family, learn to detach
yourself and learn to work under the conditions that are not going to
change. This is not as hard as it seems. You will have to make some
lifestyle changes but hey, that’s life all about. When you don’t find a
path you have to hew your own path. My favorite is listening to music
through a headphone or earplugs. Avoid songs because then you want to
sing along. Select some orchestral pieces or the recordings of
instrumental music; anything that is soothing and that eliminates the
background noise and that helps you focus back after the recurring
disturbances.
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