Splitting time & space !

[The Charm Lady]

Apologies if this has been covered before! I am new to the forum and this is a big quandry I am having

Do people who work from home have a designated space and how do you keep work confined?

I am at my worst in december when business is at it's peak and I have things everywhere! Hubby is always complaining then!

And how do you split your time?

I know it makes sense ot work when the kids are at school but again come december when I am busy I literally work non-stop and have the whole home/work balance overloaded by the guilt of doing no home!

I know I need a better balance over the year which I am going to start from monday so any tips will be most welcome!!

Doesnt help that I will use any excuse to avoid housework

[accountantpete]

Excuse me being boring Charm Lady but from a tax perspective it is better to have a designated office space in the house to claim Use of Home as Office expenses against your income - this covers gas & electricity costs relating to the part used as an office.

Don't pick a room with a nice view outside - you will never get any work done!

[The Charm Lady]

Pete - boring is good when it comes to tax! (and I am always looking at tax costs which can be claimed!) I do have a designated office but it is far too small so I am overflowing and then my overfow room overflows to another

I am considering biting the bullet and doing a real reshuffle of rooms to take over a bigger room though in all fairness the answer might be to become a more tidy worker!

But you know us creative types

[sharp end training]

The rule of thumb we use is - if the office door is shut, kids don't enter...

[Junc22]

I have two business partners plus two associates. We all work from home offices and all of us have a separate building that we work from, either a garden office or a barn or something similar. My view is that if you want to get serious work done then separate home and business (plus bonus is that I have a real short commute to work!)

[simonr]

..... and then have 'team meetings' in pubs or cafes - depending how much work we need to get done!

[The Charm Lady]

Thanks guys

Simon - that would end up in No work for me

[simonr]

Ah, we've got a Secret Weapon when it comes to being organised and getting work done.

It's called "Clare".

[coe114c]

Don't have a room allocated exclusively to your business or you will be liable to business rates. Just make sure you keep a few personal effects or the ironing board or something in your office.

[BillionaireKid]

Definitely finding a space that you can get work done with out much distractions or if you do get board and can work from a laptop or Black berry you can be mobile with your work. Try to not have a tv in the room it can get very distracting especially after lunch Damm that Jeremy Kyle