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One of the biggest benefits of franchises is the wide array of choices. Choices in type, choice in investment levels, choice in lifestyle. For many, the allure and low overhead of a home-based business are strong. Working from home fits many businesses, like home improvements, cleaning, construction, and other service-based models.
For good reason, working from home attracts many entrepreneurs who don’t want to commute or who prefer to set their own hours, have family care needs, or just don’t want to manage and pay for office locations. It can be liberating to have your job and home in one place, but it can also drive some crazy. Either we get interrupted when we are focused, or we get so focused that we forget to take care of ourselves.
Working from home is a gift of flexibility. For me, it was a decision based mostly on lifestyle. But occasionally, I need to remind myself to feed the lifestyle by staying sane while toiling at home. On those occasions, I refocus on fundamentals that add sanity and enjoyment to a workday.
Get creative. When we are solving problems for customers, and keeping track of appointments and account needs, we use our left brain to organize our thoughts and tasks. It is an amazing machine, but it needs to be stretched and exercised on the other side too. If you’ve lamented the painting or photography you once loved, use your franchise as a reason to pay attention to it, not avoid it. By switching off the “work” side of your mind and nurturing your creative, right brain, you and your business can flourish.
Planning and routines. No one is telling me when to work, but without a plan, failure is more likely. Each day’s routine can be the one I choose to foster. From morning lattes in the Jacuzzi before a slew of meetings to keeping with a strict bedtime, staying true to a plan, and revisiting it when necessary, keeps me focused. Just knowing I can work in pajamas doesn’t mean I should, so having some behavioral guidelines is wise.
Take a physical and mental break. All research supports a break to maintain high productivity. Even though it seems counter-productive, a break boosts your work quality. Do a crossword puzzle, incorporate some stretching, or simply get up and walk to the mailbox. There are free apps that will remind you to take your break if you need it too. Just give the brain a rest and get out of your chair to keep yourself healthy all over.
Change the scenery. Even the best locations get old, and our brains need something new. While I love my quiet home office with its large window, sleeping cat, and a printer within reach, sometimes it becomes a cage where emails reign and the clock speeds forward while the work sits incomplete. Setting up office in the kitchen or on the breezy covered patio works wonders for focus. Or work at your “café office” once a week if that suits you, but stay out of a rut by changing up the scenery. Your mind will thank you with peacefulness and better output.
Playtime matters. Maybe it’s a mid-day swim or a long walk in the rain with the dog, but something that gets you laughing, moving, and completely not thinking about work will keep your mind intact. If exercise or animals aren’t your style, watching your favorite comedy for an hour can refresh your mind and get you back to work with a smile.
Working at home can create feelings of isolation and mental fatigue and, well, simply drive us crazy. Don’t be a victim of your at-home franchise. Take care of yourself to produce the best work and service for yourself, your clients, and your business.
Anne Daniells is a co-owner of Enterprising Solutions, a professional services firm specializing in corporate communication and financial improvement for businesses where she shares decades of corporate and entrepreneurial experience—including franchise ownership—in her writings on business culture. She has authored hundreds of articles for publications including AllBusiness.com, TweakYourBiz.com, and MSN.com. Reach out via her website for more on where corporate culture, communication, and human architecture collide.
Originally published July 17, 2019.