What To Do When Your Spouse Is A Distraction At Work

I tend to do my best work from 10pm to 6am, luckily this is also the time my girlfriend likes to sleep. So I spend most of the afternoon and night with her, wait till she goes to bed, then get some quality working time in :)

For a spouse who is distracting me while I am working I have found that redirection is key. Usually the reason he is distracting me is that he wants to get involved in what I am doing. The solution is to find something for him to do in the business but that is seperate from the work I am currently doing. As my husband is great at website updating and design, that is my usual go to task. That will keep him busy, he is helpful and is contributing to what I am doing. It's a win/win!

Lately, I've had to get a little strong in my wording, and even in my use of the English language, when it comes to this topic.

Since I have a home office, I've had to resort to saying this, when I'm working;

"I am closing my door for 2 hours. No interruptions. No phone calls from our home phone. Nothing. Don't bother me. Thanks!"

GET A NEW SPOUSE! Years ago (and during a prior marriage) a business consultant asked me "if your business grew to the size that it would require your wife quitting her job/career to help you, would she?" He added that it wouldn't necessarily be necessary, but the answer to this question tests the "buy in" of a spouse. I answered "no". He replied "then I can't help you." I did get a new wife!

The answer to this question depends on a scale from 1 to 10. Minor distraction? or major?

I work from my home office and my husband works from our 'real' office. However, if there's something that he needs me to do and I'm busy, I simply tell him to email it to me. This works well for two reasons. I don't have to stop what I'm doing and lose momentum and it sits in my email as a reminder until I can get it accomplished. Both parties' needs are fulfilled and all is right with the world.

We work together (though with different responsibilities) - that way at least all distractions are relevant ones!

Chant, write, post, sing - do whatever it takes to include your spouse in the act of setting boundaries for your space, time, and soul. Clearly establish times when you are not available to be interrupted or to even be with him. Let him know the times you can give him the attention he obviously wants with his demanding behavior. This is vital. Include him in making joint decisions about home, recreation, family, while continuing to alert him to established boundaries. Have fun but be firm.

My wife is now a full partner in my business. In this way she has both a vested interest and brings a fresh perspective that I would miss. Now a 'distraction' saves time, energy and money.

If your spouse is distracting you, talk to him or her. NOW! Listen to all the concerns that s/he has and address them ASAP. Maybe they feel neglected or feel like they can and want to be part of your big dream...Think about whether you can find a role for them in your organization and let them know accordingly...

Okay, the title is misleading. I'm hoping she'll stop reading after seeing that. Look, there's no way around it. If you're at home and he or she is at home, there will always be a little potentially annoying interaction.

My solution? I decided that distraction was an inevitable part of working at home. Instead of fighting against it, I decided to accept it. The decrease in tension (and the opportunity to interact with my wife) more than make up for any potential loss of efficiency.

Spouses may be distracting and bothersome. One way to reduce this distraction is to set 30 minutes aside daily just for him or her. Give your full attention and take an interest in what is going on in your spouse's life. This investment of time really has a high rate of return. Additionally, have a monthly date lunch or date night again with the focus on the two of you. This strategy also works well with children.

The one thing I do to manage a distracting spouse is to get out and go to a place where I can have solitude - AWAY from the house, or wherever we are together. That may mean camping out at a Starbucks, Joe Muggs, or any quiet place with Wi-fi. I turn off the phones and get things done.

Rather than being passive (not saying anything and being annoyed), aggressive (letting them "have it") or passive aggressive (saying "It's FINE" when it really isn't), be assertive (stand up for your needs while being respectful). Tell your spouse you need time to get work done. Find out what your partner wants (to feel valued, for example) and then determine together how you can both get your needs met. What a happy (and productive!) couple you will be.

As a Mom-Entrepreneur, we are trying to juggle kids, business and our relationship with spouse. Instead of 'mom guilt' we can experience 'wife guilt' too. So, my husband & I actually schedule OUR time together - may not seem personal or romantic, but it actually is. We look forward to it & it Avoids distractions during work time. We also have family dinner together so that we all have time to catch up on the day before 'mom' works at night. Scheduling = Avioding Distractions!

I've been doing this for nearly 10 years and my savior has been establishing personal vs business boundaries. Once my husband (and children) accepted the reality that what I was doing put food on the table and clothes on their backs they gave me more space and time. I believe this is especially important for work-at-home business owners.

Example: Yesterday while he and the Junior Apprentice combed the farmer's market for produce I ran around polling my target audience on the best of 3 titles to use for my latest book. When we came together again, he was livid that I would change the title AGAIN! So when I saw his frustration I asked him how I should respond to the powerful feedback I had gotten. It took a while for him to see that I would not choose without him. Once he felt safe, you should have seen him flowing with ideas!

In marriage and business there must be good communication and a delineation of responsibilities. Follow the saying: "Live together like brothers, do business like strangers."

Put your office in a separate building. When I started my business 20 years ago, I had it in the den for a very short time. Between the TV, appliances, cats and the distraction of someone else always in the area, I found that the "home office" seldom works well with only one person on the job.
Since then, I built a separate room inside the garage and I get up, go to work, and come home, bringing structure and boundaries to the business day.
Oh, yes. The photo is the view from my office.

To be successful, you need the support of family and especially your spouse. Sit down and agree on who will do what household tasks, discuss how things will change with you starting a business -especially from home and what you'll need from everyone to make it work for you. Everyone has to agree and then abide the agreement.

Open communication, appreciation and thanks will go a long way towards keeping a supportive spouce.

When I was married and had kids at home, we used a simple but effective system for lessening distractions. All I did was close the door to my studio, which told everyone I was "at work" as opposed to being "at home." Everyone understood that when the door was closed, I wasn't to be disturbed. As soon as I opened the door and stepped out for whatever reason, everyone knew I was available and happy to interact with them, but when the door closed again, I had "gone back to work."

Think before you speak. If I expect my spouse not to interrupt me every 10 minutes, then I have to have the same courtesy for him. Is it really necessary to ask that question now, or could you make a note of it and ask 3 or 4 questions all at once later?

Make time to connect. Set aside 15 minutes in the morning (before you dig into your emails!) so that you can have a face to face conversation. If mornings don’t work, connect in the evening. Do what it takes to get that face time in.

My husband & I have fairly flexible schedules. We have an understanding for when either of us are on a time sensitive project so feelings don't get involved. We acknowledge whichever one of us is providing the distraction & express exactly what we are dealing with time wise. We then set a time after the project is completed to address whatever has come up. Sometimes it's popping out to dinner or a movie, sometimes it's clearing a block of time to do something out of the ordinary or just talk.

Business is business - marriage is marriage. I found that setting some 'agreements' well ahead of time, to include having an agreement on how all business decisions will be made, will help eliminate the 'distracting spouse', not to mention the stress involved when business leaks into the marriage. Ground rules can include 'do not disturb' hours, telephone etiquette, visiting hours, and more. Btw, it can be wonderful including the spouse in the business as long as each party knows the agreements.

All I have to do when my spouse tries to distract me from my business is show him some kind of profit. Whether it is handing him a $50 bill from a cash sale or showing him progress with our google analytics traffic to our website... anything that screams "SHOW ME THE MONEY" gets him to quickly back off.

I am fortunate to have an incredibly supportive husband, and without his understanding and patience, I don't know that I would have been able to get my company where it is today. But very early on, we created some rules too. He is respectful of my work time versus my personal time, and leaves me alone when it's time to focus on business. I, in turn, have tried to make sure that our time together is not interrupted by business as well. It's not perfect, but talking about it up front helps tons.

Make sure to share the current challenges and goals you are dealing with in your business. By making your spouse a 'partner' in the issues you face, they are informed and involved. Often, a spouse simply wants to know that he/she is still important to you (i.e., more important than your business)!

For 20 yrs I have been shackled to "The One Who Must Always Be Obeyed" and let me tell you the 1st 5 yrs was like having glass in your jocks!"you never have time for me anymore" was my greeting at the door. Until one day I woke up & started getting her involved in what I was doing, asking her advice in decisions,planing & keeping her informed. Suddenly hell turned into heaven and she started giving input that I could really use - TIP Involve your spouse & keep her informed about what you do.

Spouses and business partners for 23 years, we each manage our own set of tasks and responsibilities. Instead of considering the other's immediate needs and requests as distractions, we recognize that the intensity of our priorities varies. Our ability to help each other when called upon is key to our successful 24/7 relationship.

For the mate who distracts,find a party going on and send him or her to it. Also, just as you keep pacifiers nearby for the difficult child, keep intellectual, physical or emotional pacifiers nearby for the distractor. What (apart from alcohol) will put him in a carousing mood? What tasks will capture her attention? What television show can keep him occupied? If all else fails, draw up a contract telling when you need utter silence. Reward her with (kept) promises of spousal arousal.

Just like your business issues, you have to compartmentalize your spouse. I find that creating time for them that is exclusively theirs helps to keep them from getting in your way.

Make sure you share your business plans and schedule with them so they know when and why to leave you alone. When you pay attention to them daily and keep them informed about your business and time needs, they will flourish - and so will your business!

Put on the sparring gear and have at it! (My wife and I are both martial artists!) Actually, this is for those who work with a spouse which will, inevitably be distracting at times. My wife and I run two businesses together. Distractions usually take the form of carrying over unresolved personal or “behind the scenes” business issues to the floor. You’ve got to honor clear rules about keeping the professional part of your lives free from personal distractions.

I write everything in my day timer, when I have to write a blog post, doing social networking, gym workouts, making dinner. So when my spouse is a distraction and I am trying to work, I tell him I have a scheduled meeting and I close my door. When you tell your spouse you have a deadline and must get something done, they leave you alone. Make sure to take a coffee break or spend a little time with them when your task is done, and when your break is over - back to scheduled appointments!

I have a demanding spouse so I have to be on top of my game. Her time is valuable so I make sure I get as much done when she is not around that I can. I know her favorites television programs and when they come on I just Stop In The Name Of Show.

If my spouse is distracting whilst I am working it is generally because I have failed to provide the information he needs to manage our household & especially care for our children. He does this to support my entrepreneurial venture in addition to his own work, therefore my tip is every Sunday share your plans for the week, every evening in the last 10 minutes of the day, double check preparations for the following day & ensure you communicate the details with your spouse - they need time too!

If your home is your office and your spouse is distracting you, take your show on the road! Hit a local wifi spot for some uninterrupted work time, you'll get twice as much done in half the time. Make sure to tell your spouse where you're going and what you'll be doing, and when you'll be home to give them your undivided attention.

My hubby is Coast Guard, so there's not a lot of work he brings home with him as you can imagine. Me, on the other hand--I work when I need to and am "on call" when clients need me. If I just say, "I need to work", he feels neglected and looks pitiful. If on the other hand, I am specific--ie Mrs. Smith turned her ankle exploring in Cancun and needs me to fax a copy of her travel insurance info, he is much more on board. He becomes his patient and supportive self when he has the facts!

Sit down with your spouse and explain the type of support that you need. Set boundaries and rules and then explain the benefit to following. For example, "If my door is closed, please do not interrupt. I am either on a client call or working on something that requires deep concentration." You could go on to say that the more interruptions you have, the harder it is for you to complete your work, which then cuts into personal time. To your success!

I believe if you consider your spouse a distraction you might be doomed from the start. Being an entrepreneur is different that having a job. Your work style will never be simply 9-5. Therefore, your family will have to be part of what you do, or at least understand it. With each of my entreprenuerial endeavors, my wife has been extremely helpful and a key contributor to new ideas, organization, and often...getting me back on track. You both share a common goal, so work together!

I work from home and focus on work even when I'm away from my computer...brainstorming, noodling on a challenge, planning a project. Spouse thought that being away from the computer meant I was available, even though I tried numerous times to "educate" him. Finally I gave up and sequestered myself in one room of the house. It is my "no interruption" zone and if I am in there, I'm not to be talked to no matter what I'm doing. I only venture out if he is elsewhere!

If you are a middle class working guy that breaks out with a huge business idea that will take betting the mortgage and retirement you had better have your spouse 100% onside. I have done just that and of course there are no investors in sight and the product is just so tantalizingly close to being market ready that I need to keep on going. So I figured that I give her half. Done. Now I need her help to she does the book keeping, legal, banking and logistical stuff I don't have time to do.

As the adage goes "If you can't beat them then join them". Involve your spouse to be part of your entrepreneurship. Know their strength and use it for mutual gains. You will be surprised at the results they generate. Spouses are very good at Viral marketing, Customer service and financial and/or administration work. Who else can do better then them.

Caution! Allow them to work at their own pace. Handover a reward/salary check at the end of the month.

No worries on attrition, I hope.

You can only get distracted by others if they have a way of getting in touch with you. If you normally work from home, find a back-up workplace for crunch times. If you are working at the office, lock the door and keep the phone in a silent mode. As a thoughtful partner, you will of course have discussed these strategies with your family well in advance of implementing them.

I work with my spouse and we have the same work ethic, which is fantastic! I've met too many couples where the spouse is unsupportive or down-right problematic and this usually leads to the distruction of the business or the relationship. If your spouse does not trully support you, then you need to fire them. If that is not an option then you must set specific paramiters on what times belong to work and what times belong to family. This tactic is less fullfilling and retirement will be the end.

When you are an entrepreneur it's really easy to not keep a schedule. After all, that's one of the reasons we do it in the first place, right? However, if your spouse has a day job he/she may not understand that your flexible schedule still is WORK. Instead, establish working hours where you cannot be disturbed unless there is an emergency. No phone calls, no nothing during that time.

OK -- just kidding about the title!

This is not just about spouses/significant others, but if you work at home and/or are single, it affects the latter. Kindly remind them that you've got a job to do and clients that depend on you to act professionally and work on deadline. Sometimes they forget, and they think they can ask you to do household tasks and errands during the workday. Hopefully they'll respect your answer when you say you're not available.

Many times a spouse simple wants to be involved some how in the mix of things. Give your spouse a simple but important task that will free you to do more important things for your business. This will reward you with more time and your spouse with a sense of belonging. It's a win-win situation.

Just like any job you have to make time for yourself and your spouse/family. I make sure that my family comes first and I plan quality time away from working. As a business owner it is easy to work 14 hour days, but I have to remind myself that just like any job you have to take some time off.

Everyone wants attention when I'm working. I give him actual work to do for me, this usually deters him from poking in every five minutes or hanging around. If you're gonna be in my space I'm gonna put you to work. Sometime he buys into it other times he wants nothing to do with it - either way it works to my advantage.

Got spousal distraction? Then find a way to get their actions committed and loyal to the mission and vision. Specifically discuss how his/her talents and positive energies may be utilized in and for the benefit of the business. The very same leadership abilities you display in your business are even more necessary at home! Spousal alignment is key to success and happiness; without it, focus is constantly pulled from the business and that can’t be your recipe for business success and growth.

CEO partnerships between spouse's are tough to manage, and in many instances can divide a marriage. Both husband and wife must have clear roles defined for both their professional and personal lives. Although, I'm not married. As a TPE, my finance is also our office manager. She has a clear role in the business and when we leave the office the work stays at the office. Love hard, work harder, and then leave the crap in the office.

If your spouse is distracting you from your business, find out why. Is someone else paying her/him too much attention while you're busy? Distracting messages are telling you something, but you're trying not to notice due to your busy schedule. Be nice. Acknowledge the messages, then flip the script. Explain why you need time to run your business but you don't want to stand in anyone's way which shows even more understanding. Freedom does wonders for the soul & puts things in perspective.

Distract back. Make an immediate and direct plea for specific help with a task. "Honey, could you please...make this phone call for me, run this errand, etc." Make them feel their help is invaluable to your business. Better than waiting for interruptions and distractions: make a daily or weekly list of tasks they could do to support your business (which supports both of you) and get their consent and buy in.

When I first started working full-time on my publishing and marketing business from my home office, at first my husband and everyone in my family seemed to think that since I was home, I must "not" be busy.

I would get all kinds of "to do" items and "how are you" phone calls when I had work to do--especially in the early stages of my business.

Ultimately, I had to teach people that having a home-based business did not equal loafing, and I established hours that I was not to be disturbed.

When developing schedules for book & music projects, I always include as part of the schedule time with my wife. That way I don't have to try to "squeeze" in time; it's already built into the process & seems to work. Whether it's watching a TV program, video, going out to dinner, or whatever, it's a part of the project schedule.

Having recently lost 50 pounds, I'm trying to do the same thing with an exercise program, though that's proving to be a bit more difficult.

You could say I am pretty experienced on this topic having been an entrepreneur for the past 25 years and married to my husband for 24 of those years. So yes,I was pretty green when I pulled my corporate husband (30 years now with the same company) into my crazy entrepreneurial world. There are times when I thought he was going to blow a blood vessel when I shared a new business idea with him. I have unnerved him to no end - but love has always prevailed having him by side at the end of the day!

Having my spouse home can be a real challenge if I happen to be working. We do try to take time off together, but that doesn't always happen. The key is to get him out of the office. I let him know he CAN go out and have fun. Go see that gory movie I've been dreading. Head out to play golf with some buddies. Often they feel guilty that you're working, but once you let them know it's AOK with you and you'd prefer it, it works! Best yet, you get the work done you need and then can go play.

Have your spouse as your business partner. In every business there are areas of expertise where everyone can contribute, so don't keep it to yourself, share it.

Distractions, what distractions?

Nobody will give you the respect you deserve is you are not taken seriously. Sometimes there must be guidelines or tactics set in place to keep the perspective needed for the space and time to do the work for the business. That could be closing doors or setting an hourly stay away time. There must be communication that will bring the desired effects. This can be done tactfully and still make a point.

Like any part of a healthy relationship dealing with your business requires open, honest, and respectful communication. If your spouse is part of the business you need to have meetings-like any other business partners. If they aren't, then you need to NICELY explain your needs for work time, space and quiet. Resist the urge to "manage" your spouse. After all, would you want to feel you were being "managed" by your darling?

Distracting questions from my husband have usually connected in some way with the needs of our three children. While becoming young adults and teenagers, they've trained me well to anticipate their needs. It keeps questions from my husband down to a minimum.

When working from a home office spouses can be your advocate or can be a distraction. Set up one room in the house that is ONLY your office and nothing more and put a business signage on the door. Dress as if you are going out the door to an office every day. Have one final rule - ALL family members must knock on the door before entering even if the door is open.

Think positive. What feels like a distraction to you is likely about a spouse feeling out of the loop or ignored. Have a good discussion inquiring about their feelings, and then brainstorm together for solutions (i.e., a weekly lunch meeting to stay connected and to catch up on the business together). The ultimate goal is for you to put in place alternative behaviors that meet the relationship needs in a productive and positive way, and eliminate the need for distracting attention getters.

Since I work at home and live with my significant other, I cannot help but see her on an everyday basis. However, as a writer, I do need my quiet time to work. So we made a compromise. She will go out for so many hours in the day. The next day I will take my laptop and go to the library or Starbucks and give her time to be alone. It works great for the both of us.

Distraction time is break time for spouse. Make it - it saves your marriage and you! You can either schedule times for it in between your email processing, or set aside 10 minutes at the top of every hour, or give yourself 10 minutes after every 30 minutes of focused work. At all other times I just put on the headphones with no music. And do my work, uninterrupted!

Powerful and effective! Oh yea buying lunch helps.

You're ready to close a big deal; you just got the right wording for that email; you're concentrating on all those spreadsheet numbers. And here comes trouble! "The janitorial crew didn't take out the trash," Ah jeez, you gotta deal with it then start all over again. Best thing to do is set boundaries. Establish a quiet time say between 10:00 and noon (or how about 9 to 5!) where you are not available. Ask your spouse to respect this time slot.

Now that my husband and I work from home, we sometimes need to come up with a way to avoiding the "distracting spouse" - in our small apartment. I think we've come to a pretty good solution using barriers and blocks. Basically, we either get into separate rooms and close the door or we put on headphones. If the door is closed, it pretty much says that we don't want to be disturbed. If the headphones are on, it's safe to assume that they're on so we can block out whatever is going on around us.

I have learned that working from home has its many distractions. One of those is when your spouse has been laid off and cannot find work of his/her own. I am lucky enough to have a door to my office so I can easily close it and ignore all that goes on the other side of it. However, sometimes the door isn't enough. When that happens, I leave and take my work to the bookstore or somewhere with free WIFI and if all else fails, I tell him to "Go Clean Something".

My husband & I have fairly flexible schedules. We have an understanding for when either of us are on a time sensitive project so feelings don't get involved. We acknowledge whichever one of us is providing the distraction & express exactly what we are dealing with time wise. We then set a time after the project is completed to address whatever has come up. Sometimes it's popping out to dinner or a movie, sometimes it's clearing a block of time to do something out of the ordinary or just talk.

As they say 'treat how you want to be treated' so, first respect her professional aspirations & commitments & don't distract her so that she can see the reason & behavior to reciprocate.

Strike the happy medium where you set time aside to spend with her, keep her in loop about your hours, plans & other important commitments.

It is very easy if you know how to set the expectations at a level you would always meet, & then occasionally exceed to WOW her.

Ladies: Copy the same + Dinner!

You spouse could be a great distraction especially when you are working from your home and can effect your productivity. The best way to get rid of it is to have a separate workplace in your home, where no one is allowed to disturb you during your working hours.

This may sound like an impossible task. It did to me, so I got a divorce. You must have agreement with your spouse.

How can you sell anything if you can't convince your own spouse? Great leaders always look at self first. Are you motivating others?

If your spouse serves hateraid for breakfast, it's time for a real "come to Jesus" meeting about goals and values. Avoiding is never the answer.

If you are distracted with flirting and googoo eyes, like I am now...what was the question?

1. Set clear, firm boundaries about work space, work time, and allocation of your personal and professional resources.
2. Create a calendar and schedule regular time for him/her that doesn't interfere with or take you away from work.
3. Emphasize and practice flexibility - for both of you.
4. Hire 'em. Explore ways they can help you, i.e. tech expertise, marketing, research.
5. Make a list of what’s in it for each of you, both of you and for your future; keep it posted in plain view.

Everyone has something they can bring to a new or existing business venture. If your spouse is a distraction in your business, it usually just means they want to be involved. So sit down and figure out a way to work together and get them involved in an area of your work that might not be your favorite, if possible. If your spouse has a background in finance or accounting, let them help with your books. It makes them feel included and saves you time and energy. Everyone wins!

My husband is my biggest fan and many of his ideas are really great. Some of them have been used. Add to it that he is the one footing the bill until the business floats. His input is important. The number one strategy is not answering the phone. He is in a different country at the moment and calls whenever he gets an idea. If I am working on an important project, I don't accept calls. He never writes them down, and we might miss a couple of gems. Still, it works for us.

To manage my distracting spouse I simply stop what I'm doing and turn my attention toward him. That's all people really want is you to acknowledge they are important and so what's 5 minutes away from the computer for one of the most important people in your life? That or I grab my laptop and head to Starbucks as he won't step foot inside so no worry of him following me.

If you don't ask you don't get!

Your mate is your biggest advocate, tell them what you need to succeed. Ask them to not call or to call or to text or to stop in or not stop it.

The key is to ASK...your way may not work for your mate, find a way that works for both of you.

If you don't ask for what you want you won't get it!

Have your spouse as your business partner. In every business there are areas of expertise where everyone can contribute, so don't keep it to yourself, share it.

Distractions, what distractions?

The old adages like "honesty is the best policy" come to mind at times. Tell your spouse that you're fighting a deadline, almost finished with what you're working on, need just a few more minutes (an honest estimate) or having difficulty focusing and ask them if it's alright to get back with them at ______ time. You can soften this approach by telling him/her "I really want to hear your news (whatever he/she has to say) and I don't want to be distracted by what I'm working on now.

My husband and I have worked together exclusively for the past six years and part-time for years before that. If one of us is "distracting" the other, it's because we need something. We respect each other's time and space, but also agree that our marriage is more important than just about anything. So if one of us needs something, the other takes care of it.

So far, it's working. We celebrate our 25th wedding anniversary next month.

For the record, the same goes for our six amazing kids.

There are many ups and downs of starting a business, but we persevere. I have been working at this for a 1 1/2 years and periodically I have a "session" with my husband. The uncertainty kills him, ok it kills me too. What I have learned to do is offer real news that is positive as often as I can. I give speculative news with lots of caution, and bad news only when I have to. It does mean I keep lots to myself, that I normally wouldn't, but it does help to keep the peace.

When you are an entrepreneur, not only do you "bring your work home," your work lives at home. Consequently, it is very difficult to confine working hours to conventional 9-5 office hours. This means early mornings, evenings, weekends. To combat resentment and resistance from my spouse, I try to engage him as much as possible, making him feel like an integral player on the team. I seek his counsel and ideas which are more often than not spot on and constructive.

When your spouse distracts you at work, focus on the reason why he/she is distracting you and act on changing the reason. If you never identify the reason, the distractions will keep coming. Once identified, you can re-focus your spouse. Communication is key here. Ask, listen, learn and lead a life in a distraction free workplace.

Because I work from home whenever I am not flying all over the country, and because my home office happens to be my formal dining area with no door and only pillars separating it from the rest of the house. We have made a rule, that if I am in my "office" that this is just like him being at work and to only talk to me if there is an emergency. Otherwise he understands this area is the same as him being at work, only I don't have the luxury of an actual office as he does.

Working from home and around your family, spouses included has been a challenge for many that run their own business. My suggestion is to SET specific times for family, business and personal.

When you stay to a "Business Time" it allows you to focus on business and gives your family the understanding that you will give them "family" time as well. Also makes a smooth environment for everyone involved.

One of us has to leave. Either him to a movie or me to a coffee shop. Really, if the closed door doesn't work, I usually pack up and head to Barnes and Noble or a local coffee shop.

Make appointments for phone calls, meetings, etc. as you would with any other relationship AND DON'T WORK AT HOME!!!