Setting Boundaries When Your Home is Your Studio/Office

Setting Boundaries
Clearly designate the time of day when you are at work, and do not allow family members to interfere or interrupt during that period (unless the house is on fire). Be consistent. This includes pets, children as well as spouses. Walk the dogs before getting started. Feed the cats. Give them treats, toys, the catnip sock. Chances are your pets will learn to leave you alone before the kids or your spouse will; they understand low growls and snarling. The humans may require more behavior modification, and ask “why?” Closing the door may help. Borrow your teen’s “Enter and Die” door sign. When all else fails, throw your shoes at them.(Just kidding, sort of)

Make sure the children have been fed, or have suitable snacks available. Schedule your work when the baby is asleep. Instruct them that you are “off limits” during the designated time. You will not be available to mediate spats during this time. If your spouse or partner is also home, let them supervise the kids, be in charge of dinner. Remind your spouse or partner that this is how you bring money into the family coffers. Enlist them as an ally; leave the red lipstick out on the bathroom sink as an inducement.

When friends call to chat, let the call go to voice mail. Call them back, but after work. The ones that get huffy or drop you weren’t really your friends, and you’re well rid of them now, before you hit the big time. Your neighbors are just being nosey. Explain as well as you can ahead of time to your mother and your mother-in-law, that you are conducting business during whatever time you’ve designated. Better yet if your spouse or partner is home, let them handle the calls. Try to arrange your schedule so that they are in charge of fielding social calls while you’re at work, just like if you were working outside the home.

Make sure you call your Mom or your mother in law back, after work, and explain (remind) them that this is another way that you are able to bring income in, without the added expense of driving, or baby sitters.

Establish that boundary and maintain it. Doesn’t matter if it’s different times during the week. It may help to post your schedule on the refrigerator for all to see. Good luck!

Beadbear
http://www.beadbear.com