Living the digital entrepreneur lifestyle is amazing, but finding the right balance between work and family life can be a real challenge.
There’s the never-ending hamper of laundry, a sink piled with dirty dishes, and, if the kids are home, the inevitable sibling squabbles and endless “Dad, ______” interruptions.
It’s all part of life as a parent, and honestly, I don’t mind it.
While some parents might find it frustrating, I actually enjoy the chaos.
It’s a reminder of why I’m doing this in the first place.
My family.
But let’s be real—there comes a point where you have to draw the line and acknowledge that work still needs to get done.
Not just any work but quality work that demands your FULL ATTENTION.
If you try to power through with everyone home and distractions flying left and right, you’ll likely face more than just an unproductive day.
You might end up with a pounding headache and unable to recover your momentum for the rest of the week.
I’ve been there.
And I’m guessing some of you have, too.
That’s why I’ve put together a list of the best tips I’ve learned to stay productive and successful while working from home without losing my mind.
The Challenges of Working From Home
The struggle is real, and nowhere is it more obvious than when you’re working from home.
Sure, the idea of being steps away from your bed might sound appealing, but the reality of remote work comes with its own set of challenges.
And no, it’s not all about resisting the urge to take an afternoon nap.
Take distractions, for example.
Whether it’s your kids interrupting every few minutes or your spouse venting about how dinner didn’t turn out as planned, these moments can derail your workflow faster than you’d expect.
It doesn’t matter if you’re deep into a blog post or in the middle of a critical Zoom call.
Once the interruptions start, it’s hard to recover.
And let’s not forget the guilt.
Ignoring your family in favor of work can make you feel like a bad parent or partner, which only adds to the stress.
Without clear boundaries, you might feel like you’re always “on,” leaving you overwhelmed and stretched thin.
This cycle doesn’t just hurt your productivity.
It can strain your relationships, take a toll on your mental health, and leave you burned out if you don’t recognize what’s happening.
But don’t worry, there’s a way to take control.
Stick around because I’ve got the solutions you need to make working from home not just manageable but successful.
1. Create a Dedicated Workspace
If you want to be productive while balancing work and family life, separating work from play is necessary.
By “play,” I mean the time you spend with your family.
Your biggest (and often most lovable) distraction.
As much as we love our families, they can pull us away from our tasks when we least expect it.
If you don’t have a dedicated office space, don’t worry.
A small corner or a quiet section of your home can do the trick.
The key is creating a defined workspace where you can focus and distinguish between work and family time.
Also, don’t underestimate the power of noise-canceling headphones.
These can help you stay focused by blocking out household noise, and they’re great for making sure your Zoom calls are clear and distraction-free.
And if you really want to up your game, a simple “do not disturb” sign on your door or workspace can signal to the family that you’re in work mode.
It’s a little gesture that can go a long way in helping everyone understand when you’re unavailable.
2. Set CLEAR Boundaries
You can try to set boundaries all you want, but let’s be real—they won’t always work.
In fact, I’d say 99% of the time, they’ll get tested.
That’s why it’s important to create clear boundaries and stick to them.
Set specific work hours, and make sure your family knows when you’re “at work”, from this time to that time.
Everyone needs to understand that during these hours, your focus is on work.
To help keep distractions at bay, use tools like “focus mode” on your phone or apps like Forest, which help you stay in the zone and avoid those tempting notifications.
I like to play music to drown out background noise.
And yes, sometimes, I have to lock the door to keep my little critters out.
It’s not always easy, but creating that space for uninterrupted work time is key to staying productive.
3. Get the Fam Involved
As a remote worker, it’s important to understand that your family won’t always fully grasp how things work.
They might think that working from home means you can do whatever you want, work whenever you want, and basically have an easy ride.
But trust me, that’s far from the truth, and it’s something you must communicate to them.
Instead of just talking to your coworkers, have a “meeting” with your family to discuss your work hours, the schedule, and any potential issues that might come up.
It’s important for everyone to understand when you’re available and when you need to focus.
And don’t forget to give the kids something to do during work time.
It’s not about ignoring them but finding ways to keep them engaged without constant interruptions.
If the other parent is available, enlist their help to keep the household running smoothly.
I’m the one working in my household, and my wife takes care of the house.
Lucky her, right?
However, she’s also in charge of keeping the kids occupied and reminding them that Dad is busy working, which requires a lot of concentration.
It’s a team effort, and it’s just the reality of blogging and other online work that demands focus.
4. Remember to Take Care of Yourself
Just because you need to take work from home seriously does not mean you are a robot.
You’re not a robot, and you need your breaks and regular meals.
You need to recharge and clear your mind to help you be more productive.
Give yourself some time off and use it to get in shape and keep your mind sharp.
I love to golf so that’s what I do when I feel that I’ve been working a little too much.
Okay, I play golf a lot more than I should, but it definitely helps with productivity.
Don’t forget the previous tip and get your family involved.
This is a great time for walks, going to the beach, or taking them somewhere they enjoy.
Allow them to reap the benefits of working from home.
5. Embrace Flexibility
This is probably the best way for me to get work done.
Even if I have a home office or head out to one of my favorite remote working spots, I find that getting my best work done happens when I least expect it.
The minute my kids get occupied, I pull out my laptop, slump over the couch and start working.
Everyone is keeping themselves busy, and I’m getting work done.
Don’t be afraid to make any adjustments necessary.
Like right now, the kids are on winter break, so instead of being an Uber driver, I’m able to head to a coffee shop and work from there instead.
Then, I will head home when everyone wakes up, and then we can head out and do whatever they want.
As a remote worker, use all the extra time to your advantage.
If you can work or get more quality work done during a specific hour, that’s awesome.
Oftentimes, I get my best work done while waiting in line to pick up my kids from school.
If you have a similar situation, give it a shot and see how it works out.
Or not.
6. Use Tech to Stay Organized
I was never a fan of digital calendars and apps until I actually gave it a try.
I seemed to forget about them and relied a lot on the more “old school” way of staying organized.
Then, I found myself having to worry more about more than just myself.
My family.
I learned about syncing schedules and having everything in one spot, which has completely changed the way I stay organized.
Now, my wife can help me by adding any events to our synced calendars without having to sit down and discuss anything.
With all the appointments and activities that come with a family of six, the digital life has definitely helped with organization.
There are tools like TimeTree that can help with schedules and project management tools like Trello and Asana to help with specific tasks.
Don’t forget that there are other digital tools that can help with your overall life as a remote worker.
7. Remember Why You Work From Home
We all need to work, and that’s just part of life.
However, work can take over if you’re not careful.
It happened to me when I started my digital entrepreneur life with affiliate marketing, and it wasn’t pretty.
I looked like a zombie.
I wasn’t spending quality time with my family, and not everything was how everyone thought it was.
We weren’t enjoying the benefits that came with working from home.
I wasn’t spending more time with my family and I wasn’t bringing in millions of dollars, either.
That’s when I had to take a step back and remember why I decided to work from home in the first place.
So, if you’re new to the RoamBased lifestyle or you are aspiring to be a digital entrepreneur, don’t forget why you started the journey in the first place.
Conclusion – Balance Work and Family No Matter What
Working from home might be anyone’s dream, but it is not easy.
In fact, it’s probably one of the hardest “jobs” out there.
However, everything will be worth it once you start bringing in some decent money.
Just don’t forget that you must balance your work and family, or you might as well get a regular old J-O-B.
Embrace the luxury and benefits of the lifestyle, but please don’t forget that you have others who are counting on you.
If you struggle to remember these things, remember you are not alone.
People like myself and other online entrepreneurs are dealing with the same “problems.”
Until next time, how do you balance work and family life?
