Workshifting is a benefit; that fact can't be denied. To be able to work when and where you want, or to get your job done on the road, is one of the best things to happen in the computer age, freeing us from the constraints of the cubicle.

There is a dark side to workshifting, though. People who, like me, have made a career out of working from a home office, or people new to telecommuting and workshifting in general know what that dark side is: bleeding time.

What can happen when you workshift is a tendency to be "always on". Because you take your office with you, it becomes difficult to separate time for you from time for your work. When you toss in the heavy amounts of travel time that come with speaking gigs and client on-site days, it's easy to see your free time dwindle.

If you don't get a handle on this time bleed quickly, it can consume your life. This can have adverse affects on your personal life, not to mention the quality of your work. For me, a sure sign that I need to reevaluate my work schedule and travel time is writer's block. The first time I can't think of something to write, I know it is time to take a day off, even if I think I can't squeeze one in. It's a signal that my workshifting life and my personal life have gotten out of whack, and my brain is letting me know.

Everyone has a different signal. Yours may not be writer's block - that's very particular to me, as I spend half of my time writing about technology and social media and the other half of my time helping companies learn to use it and speaking about it.  Figure out what your signals are. Ask your friends and family to let you know what they see happening when you spend too much time "on" without a little time for yourself.

Down time keeps you fresh. Don't be afraid to unplug once in a while. If you need help scheduling it in, don't be embarrassed - a lot of workshifters do. Consider hiring a secretary part time, or a Virtual Assistant. They can help you with the details like scheduling that can consume you, and keep you focused on the tasks at hand.  A little time for you keeps your mind fresh and agile and makes your work that much better.

Photo by: Dr. Hemmert