Turning part of your home into an office sounds like a great idea — but the reality of starting a business from home can be discouraging. When I launched my business, I converted my small NYC apartment into an office to save money and time. It’s a lot easier to wake up and walk two feet to my office to send out a package or finish assembling a creative mood board for our next prototype. However, it’s equally challenging to ignore the dirty dishes in the sink or the laundry piling up behind me.
Especially for those who are setting out to launch a new venture on their own. There are already so many other things begging for your attention and working from home should be the least of your worries. To create a balance and remain productive, it’s absolutely essential to set boundaries and a routine.
Set Up a Dedicated Time for Cleaning and Organizing
Unless you have a full-time housekeeper, there will always be something non-work related you could be doing in your home. I found it easiest to set aside a 20-minute window each day to take care of housework. I don’t schedule the 20 minutes, but instead know that when I start doing housework, I have a set amount of time before I need to get back to my “real job.” Giving yourself the time, but limiting it to a reasonable amount, allows you take care of what needs to be done in your home without allowing it to distract you from your other work.
Section Off Your Work Area When Possible
I use my dining room table as my desk, my living room as my office, and my bedroom for storage. There is no space in my apartment that feels like a home anymore, which can be emotionally challenging at times. The importance of work-life balance has been stressed time and time again in today’s formal workplaces. When work and home become one, it can be difficult, and sometimes impossible, to turn off at the end of the day and enjoy any downtime. It is especially challenging to find any time to relax when launching a business and your mind is hyper focused on your brand — that’s often all you can see when you are home.
If your home has the space, I would recommend dedicating a specific area as an “office,” and leaving work there as soon as you step outside of the space. If your office isn’t in a dedicated room, then you might consider using a screen to divide it from the rest of your home. It’s important to keep your “home” and “office” at least somewhat separated for your peace of mind and overall well-being. It is almost futile to sit at your table for dinner and attempt to not think about all the work you have to do when there’s paperwork sitting right next to you.
Create a Head-Space Boosting Ritual
Before founding my company, I was so used to leaving home to get to school or work, giving myself some time to prepare for my day. I found it challenging to get into the right head-space when I went directly from brushing my teeth to sitting down for the workday. Taking a walk in the morning serves two purposes. First and foremost, it requires that you get dressed. This alone helps me mentally feel like I am about to do something important. Second, it gives you time to wake up, move around a bit, and get ready for your day. I have a dog, so this morning walk is already necessary — I just make the strolls last a little longer.
For founders, this might be the only time during the day you can really clear your head and energize yourself. It’s not like you get a “lunch break” or a 15-minute coffee break when you are starting a company. Putting into practice one activity a day that allows you to step away from your desk (especially in the early days, when that’s where you spend 98% of your day) can be revitalizing. It doesn’t have to be walking, but find something small to do (whether it be meditation, a quick workout, or calling a friend or family member) and turn it into a ritual.
Get Your Socializing “Fix” In
Working from home can be a lonely experience. While other people get to talk to office mates and hear chatter throughout the day, I only have my dog to talk to (and she doesn’t have a whole lot to say in return!). Yes, I have a lot of meetings that allow me to leave the house, but there are some days where I work from home the whole day through. On those days, it is so important for me to schedule drinks with a friend or cook and invite people over. My best piece of advice is to look at your schedule for the week every Sunday night, figure out what days you’ll be spending at home, and schedule social activities during lunch or evenings when you can. That way you don’t have to worry about coordinating something during your workday and you’ll have something to look forward to.
Working from home can be the best or worst thing you do when starting a company. If you can be strategic and create rituals that enable you to get your work done, while making sure you still have a place that feels like “home,” working from where you live can save you time, money, and might even inspire you.
