Oops! I Did It Again! (that Ol' Home Business Stress)

I've had a busy couple of weeks. I updated my website, dseigned one for a client, began work on a second Internet site of my own, edited an eBook, launched a chapter of a local Moms group, put together an article syndicate... and came down with the flu. Once again, I tried to cram too many projects into too little time. I skipped meals, slept poorly and paid the cost with three days in bed. At my age, you wuold think I'd know better. And I do know better. Back in the bad old days when I was an employee, I was able to pace msyelf.

There were others with whom I could share tasks.

There were scheduled lunch breaks. There was that guaranteed weekly paycheck.

Sometimes it sounds like heaven on earth. But in actuality, my old job was a long way from Eden, especially after my daughter was born. I spnet my days obsessed with time -- mentally calculating the point when the L.A.
traffic would make it impossible to get from the office to our daycare provider before closing. And all the while, what I really longed to do was be at home and watch my little girl grow. The idea of working at home was really appealing, if only for the stress relief. Two years later, I have a growing home business -- but surprise! I am still playing Beat the Clock - only at this moment running against Megan's preschool schedule... and I am just as stressed at this moment as I was then. "How can that be?" asks my incredulous husband. For one thing, it's a different kind of stress. Experts list money problems and uncertainty among the things that cause anxiety in people, and if you really need to net x-amount of dollars from your home business, you can expect to experience both.
Losing the comfort of that weekly paycheck is a major reason more people don't choose to be entrepreneurs, and I can assure you they have a point. I begin each motnh by staring at my revenue spreadsheet, wondering if this will be the one when nothing comes in.

Then, when I have made some entries and it starts looking sort of good, I worry that the pace won't keep up -- or that the next month will be a dud. However, as nerve-wracking as that can be, if you think trapped in a situation you hate (as I was in my foremr job), feelings of helplessness can set in... and that's not only stressful, but can plummet you into depression. The anxiety I experience over money woes is more than offset by how empowered I think because I am diong something I like. I write, I publish, I design, I network, I learn new thigns every day...
and I get paid for it! (Well, most of the time.
And if the money is slow coming in, there is always things I can do to try to drum up a little bit more.) The fact that the success or failure of my home business rests entirely on my shoulders adds to my stress-level. But at the same time, it's exhilarating -- and is what drvies me and other home-based entrepreneurs to take on too many projects. My three days in bed were actually a delight.

I did not even turn on my computer and did little else but watch old movies on teelvision.

It's a shame it took a little sore thorat and fever to force me to slow down -- and at this moment that I am back on the job, I am determined not to let it happen again!

2. When work-time is over, turn off the compuetr. Don't check email!

Take a walk, go to the mall, indluge in a designer latte. 5. Pmaper yourself - Get a haircut, a massage, a manicure or buy yourself a little something special.

Do this at least once a week and like. 6. Make a playdate with your kids. 7. Make a playadte with your partner. (No, not your work partner!