Working from home - tips to avoid isolation

As technological advances and work practices enable it, more and more small business owners are deciding to work from home. Fears of an economic downturn are also turning people away from signing up to expensive serviced office contracts and choosing to set up shop at home.

On the surface of it, homeworking sounds like bliss - you can work the hours that suit you, you can fit in household chores round your work schedule, you're also saving money and travel time.

On the flip-side, many business owners find that you need to be disciplined and ensure that you are not distracted from your work, and that you don't feel isolated by working from home.

Here are some tips to help you find the right work-life balance.

Tips to avoid isolation

1) Variety - Sometimes working at the same spot each day can become tedious. Why not venture out to your nearest internet cafe once a week for a few hours. Alternatively, there's always the ubiquitous Starbucks if you have a laptop. If you sign up to Google Mail, you can take your "bookmarks" with you, and web-based mail is everywhere these days.

2) Hot Desking - If internet cafes simply won't provide you with the environment you need to get away from your home office, why not try hot desking. Often available with few contractual ties, you can book professional office space by the day (or half day). This is also handy if you need to meet clients, as most business centres will also provide access to meeting rooms for a fee.

3) Fresh Air - It is essential that you get out for a walk or other exercise every day. Without the structure of a traditional working environment, it is easy to work way into the night, and even skip meals.

4) Work Space - Make sure you have a clearly defined space to work in. Ensure it is clutter free, and if you are working from a bedroom, try to separate the sleeping and work areas.

5) Network - With the rapid increase in homeworking, there are thousands of other small business owners in the same boat. Find out if there are any business groups in your local area you can join. If you attend trade shows, you will also find further networking opportunities. Try our essential guide to the key networking groups for more ideas.

6) Interaction - As the web continues to take over every part of our working lives, it can become quite easy to run a business with virtually no face-to-face interaction with clients. Not only can this make homeworkers feel isolated, it also removes an important element of the business process. Building "real" relationships with clients can only be good in the long run. The same goes with everyday communications - try using the phone rather than email sometimes. A lot more can be achieved in a phone call than a day's worth of emails.

7) Family - Many small business owners will know how easy it is to be distracted if you have young children at home. It is essential to have routines. You can try to fit your work around the nursery schedule, or if your partner is caring for young children while you are working from home - ensure that there are boundaries (both in a physical and a time sense).