Isolation, prevarication, office chaos - take Peppermint!
Purely Peppermint is a home and office organising expert specialising in individuals who work from home. We can help you find success in your home and work life, by becoming more organised. And we can help you take back control over your clutter to give you the home you have been longing for.
For business and career success, we will help you establish effective and efficient work routines to increase your productivity. We can help you deal with any working from home problem, such as time management, work/life balance, dealing with isolation, setting goals and much, much more.
On a regular basis Purely Peppermint will guide you through some of the issues that arise when you are based at home. The guidance will come with straightforward advice. And once implemented it will bring about a positive change and brilliant results.
If you have any questions on a working from home issue you are struggling with, don’t forget to ask live/work’s very own expert Purely Peppermint.
your problems solved!
But for today, we’ll start by answering one of your questions:
My beloved does not understand that I cannot do my job properly if s/he stands next to me talking about cars/shopping/the price of xxx when I am trying to [insert description of delicate task in hand]. How do I get him/her out of my work space without resorting to harsh words?
I regularly hear this complaint from my clients. It seems when you are based at home certain friends or family do not fully understand that you are ‘really working’. The only way for a situation like this to improve is through setting boundaries and communication.
Set boundaries
You need to set boundaries. Step one to establish the type of boundaries that will allow your career or business to flourish is understanding the type of work environment that brings out your best.
This is one of the great benefits of working from home. No longer do you need to stick to the traditional 9-5 office/work mentality; you can create the atmosphere and set up your work space, perfectly suited to you.
Once you know your perfect work environment it is time to set boundaries and make sure they are enforced through regular communication with family, colleague, clients, customers and friends.
I always recommend having what I call a ‘family business meeting’ to deal with any issues that have or could become a problem.
Gather everyone who will be using the house at the same time (age permitting). Let each person have the chance to view their opinion, then let the family know what your needs are so that you can work effectively. Make sure you show respect for everyone at the meeting.
It should not be a case of you railroading every decision in your favour. After hearing all the information, you need to find solutions to any of the problems mentioned and implement the changes necessary.
If friends or other family members regularly drop in interrupting your time, you may need to put your food down and gently let them know you are working and not available for visits. You could try: “I am busy right now, but what if we meet up on such and such day?”. They can then leave with their dignity intact.
It is always better to communicate your boundaries either before the situation arises or at a moment when you can very calmly get your point across.
Reacting in the heat of the moment or when your patience has been exhausted means you risk creating a negative atmosphere in your own workspace. This is serious – it could be detrimental to your health, wealth and general wellbeing.
Remember, decide your ideal work environment, establish boundaries and communicate your needs
If you need a consultation to successfully work from home, then email us at office@purelypeppermint.com For further information please visit us for our Working-From-Home Success Secrets and to sign up for Purely Peppermint’s regular Working from Home newsletter.
