One of the biggest pitfalls of working from home is knowing when to take a break! While those who do not work at home often don't understand that when you're working you're not just "sitting at home", it's important that you realize that setting regular break times is crucial to your overall success.
What can breaks accomplish?
For most of us the opportunity to get up from our desks, stretch our legs and get out from in front of our computers allows us to put things back in perspective. Taking a break when working from home is not much different from a break in a brick and mortar office, with one big exception: your co-workers are not there to urge you to do it!
What are some of the ways I can remember to take a break?
Pets: Many of us who work at home have a pet! Pets are a perfect way to take a break when you are working from home! Whether it's a dog or a cat (or other pets you might own) they provide the perfect "excuse" to take a break! Cats need food, love and play time, dogs need walk time, food and play time as well. Taking care of a pet is the perfect way to take a break when you're working from home! (I am not suggesting if you don't have a pet to go and get one!)
Take a walk: This sounds so simple doesn't it? The fact of the matter is that if you plan to take a walk once a day, this will provide you with the perfect opportunity to take a break when working from home. Not only will a walk help clear your mind and get you prepared for work later, it will also contribute to your sense of well being.
Set Boundaries: We all have clients who want us to be available from dawn to dusk. Set boundaries with your clients. Set up appropriate times for chatting, emailing or telephone calls. Make sure that your clients know that if you don't take a break from your daily routine that you're going to be less effective.
Set a Schedule: Breaks should be planned just like your work is planned! If you work a standard 9 to 5 schedule (and for those of us who work at home this is highly unlikely) plan your breaks out over your work day. If you make a break a part of your work at home schedule, you'll eventually get into the habit of taking a break at the same time every day.
Set a timer: If you're like me, you sit at your computer and before you know it five or six hours have elapsed and you didn't even budge from your chair. Set an alarm clock, a timer or some other audio que for yourself to remind you to take a break. There are even some pretty neat free software programs such as Sirrocco's Take a Break that you can set to pop up on your computer screen to remind you to take a break!
Summary
If you were working in a traditional brick and mortar establishment, your co-workers would likely urge you to join them for a break. Just because you work at home doesn't mean that you shouldn't be setting up regular breaks for yourself. These quick tips will provide a basis for making sure that you find ways to take a break when working from home.