Balancing home office and family

Start by setting rules for your family to live with and a work schedule for you to live with.

Business hours encourage family and friends to respect your office. A closed office door can be a visible reminder to family members that you're working. It can also keep you from wanting to enter the office after hours -- like nights and weekends.

Even a "Do Not Disturb" sign that will tell family when you want privacy. On the other side of that sign, you might print, "Do not enter -- if this isn't work time" as a reminder to yourself.