How I'm Surviving His Retirement
Retiring
is a major life event. Schedules change. Routines are
swapped, warped, and tossed aside. For the most part, though,
retirement means freedom...freedom to make our own decisions all
day. No one tells us when to get up, when to begin work, or what
work to do.
But,
what if the newly retired
is married to an owner of a home-based business? This is where it
gets interesting. My husband just retired, I own a
consulting/training business, and we share the same space. What
could go wrong?
Establish and Follow a Clearly Understood Work Schedule.
For
many home-based business owners, there is no off button. We tend to
keep working, like a little windup toy
that keeps moving even after running into a wall. I'm no
different. I love what I do, so quitting time is a vague concept.
When my husband was still in servitude, quitting time was when I heard the
garage door open to announce his arrival. Now? Well, that
part is a bit fuzzy.
Fold
into this equation the fact that I love spending time with my
hubby. Besides his obvious role as husband
and best friend, he is also my business partner—now full time. Thus,
he often invades my office with business suggestions. Moreover, he
tempts me with fun errands and activities, prompting a curious mixture of
hooky-euphoria and work anxiety.
After
the first few weeks of nearly zero productivity, I had to lay down the
law. Office hours are now in place with few interruptions.
Allow for a Little Free-Time Wiggle Room.
Understanding
that spending time together is mutually enjoyable, I decided to allow for
fun-time breaks in my work schedule. After all, life is too short to
skip the whipped cream part of life. I balance these diversions by
ducking into my office on the weekends. Why not? Every
day is a weekend for my less-stressed half.
Keep the Elbowing to a Minimum When Sharing the Space.
While
not a control freak, I treasure my autonomy in the kitchen. Since
I've been in business twenty years and change, I've had free reign of the
entire house. When I want to warm my coffee or grab a piece of
fruit, no one impeded my progress—until now. Now, I must share the
space, often much longer than I wish because our kitchen is now the workplace
water cooler. Consequently, within a week of our permanent cohabitation,
we made a pact. When I'm working, it's best to allow the whirlwind
that is me to warm, grab, and go.
More
by Rebecca
The Importance of
Protecting Your Brand
5 Tips to Consider
Before Beginning that Home-Based Business
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