Working from home - how to separate work and family

It would be impossible to write an article which covers all gender / work / family combinations, but here are two fundamental tips which should help create a healthy balance between work and family duties.

Separate Areas

It is essential to have a physical divide between your working environment, and the rest of the house. Even if your desk is squeezed into a corner of a small bedroom, you need to keep the immediate area around it free of any household junk or potential distraction.

In an ideal world, you would dedicate a room to work - but this isn't always practical these days.

Depending on your budget, you could also consider setting up a garden office to ensure you have a real physical divide between work and the home.

Routine

Equally important is the need to set a fixed routine. The beauty of working from home is that you can set your own hours. You may well work better late in the evening, or in the morning. Think about what suits you, and fit the family around these hours.

Try to keep the timetable the same each day, as it's easy for your day to descend into bedlam unless you are strict. For example, you might decide to work from 10 until 1 during the week and then devote a few hours in the afternoon to the family.

If you have school age children, chances are you'll find it easier to fit in your business time while they're out of the house. If you have pre-school children and are the sole carer during the day, you could consider part-time child care.

Whatever you decide, make sure everyone understands that you aren't to be interrupted during these hours unless there's an emergency. This not only applies to members of the household, but also to answering the front door or dealing with personal calls and interruptions.