This guest post is brought to you by Outright.com, the simplest way to manage your small business finances online!

Summertime is great for going to the beach, grilling in the backyard, and relaxing with the kids at dusk while you watch fireflies. What it’s NOT great for is trying to get work done during the day when everyone’s home and they want your time and attention!

Every business owner who is also a parent goes through this, even if they don’t work from home. There’s always a struggle between spending more time with your family versus staying at the office/store a little longer. When you work from home, though, work/life balance is constantly in your face – literally.

So how do you figure out the proper ratio between work and home life? Our suggestion: less of a “balance” and more of a “separation.”

Create a Visual Separation

Usually when you work from home you have a dedicated office you can enter. It doesn’t matter if it has a door or not; when you cross the threshold, you’re now in your office room.

Use this to your advantage. Tell your kids, wife, roommate, or whoever that when you’re in that office, you’re at work. You’re not to be bothered unless something comes up that’s impossible to solve without your aid. After all, if you don’t make money, you can’t afford to have nice things like a room just for an office, right?

When work is done, and you exit that room, now it’s family time. Try not to pop into the office unless absolutely necessary – again, only if something is unsolvable without your presence. This is also true if you’re just popping out for lunch; try to make that time just for your loved ones.

Other Methods

Obviously adults will understand the room distinction easier than kids (unless you have one of THOSE roommates). Also not every business owner has a dedicated office room, meaning you must work out among your home’s general population. In this case you might have to come up with new ways to let your kids give you time to work.

Remember, they’re more than likely interrupting you because they want you to hang out with them. It’s not like they’re doing it to be rude! So if you interact with them a little, they’ll probably leave you be.

For example, before you officially start work, spend a little time playing and watching Dora with them. Wake up half an hour early if you need to. If they don’t go the whole day craving your attention, they should at least last through lunch.

Try to take little (scheduled) breaks throughout the day as well. This breaks up the day, so instead of going crazy for dad or mom for 8 hours they only have to go 2 or 3 at a time.

Again when the time comes break off from work and concentrate on home life. Go outside and grill, visit the beach, and enjoy the summertime. Separating your two lives as much as possible can eventually make for a nice balance in your home.

This post was brought to you by Outright.com, the simplest way to manage your business finances online… so you have more time to play with your kids!