Does anyone else have problems switching off?

[GettingGoing]

I am working from home and though I absolutely love what I am doing and can't believe I feel so positive about it, I seem to be working every hour God sends, apart from when I am with the children. I feel I'm not focusing on them or DH enough - but scared to take my eye off the ball.

My office is in the house and I know I should set myself strict hours of work, but the school day is so short, I end up with too much to do.

Any ideas welcome!

I am also self employed and work in a home office. Unless DH helps, I get in a real mess.

Is your DH helping too? With regards to entertaining DC and the housework?

He is helping, but is about to start a job with very long hours. The children are old enough now not to need constant attention, so that is good.

It's really knowing where to draw the line between work and home life - or maybe I shouldn't.

Make sure you take at least half a day on the weekends, and at least a week in the summer! No screen time after 11 pm.

I'm not the best for taking my own advice, but the following have proved very useful.

Learn how to prioritise and how to chop tasks up into 'mouthfuls', set yourself realistic weekly goals. Have a meeting with yourself every week to assess how you are on each project. Allot non negotiable time to doing administration/tax etc every week, to keep up to, date with legislation compliance, vat etc.

Get rid of crappy clients: those who don't pay on time or in full, and those who don't do their part of the project.

Take up a non business hobby to get you out of the house. A yoga class, a daily walk.

Join a local business network and go to the events!

Enjoy yourself, I love working in my own business, and am celebrating 20 years next year!

Wow- 20 years! There are some really good ideas there, thank you. I do make sure that I am 'sort of' around for the whole week-end - but because I am a start up, I feel I am there in body if not in mind.

I still go to the gym twice a week, but for 50 mins, rather than my much longer sessions.

I need to be stricter with myself!

DH and I have both been self employed for 15 years.
We both do not work after 9pm (unless he's away and then I work late)
We do not work on Friday evenings, Saturday evenings or Sundays.
We do NOT do email on our phones.
All emails are left for several hours before responding
I do not take my phone with me into the gym.
DH turns his off when he's on site.
If the sun is shining the phones do not come up the garden with us!

My advice? Do as much interacting as you can over the phone. Amazing how much time/effort/energy we spend on one way communications like text, email. It's something I've recently re-adopted.

Thank you both . Yes, I probably need to so more on the phone & 9pm is probably a good cut off point!