Today we have a guest post from Camille Preston, PhD. Camille is the founder and CEO of AIM Leadership, one of the country's premier organizational and leadership development firms. She is a pioneer in the field of Virtual Effectiveness and the author of Rewired: How to Work Smarter, Live Better, and Be Purposefully Productive in an Overwired World. For more information, please visit www.aimleadership.com.

Workshifters enjoy great advantages over our office counterparts, but even we can get caught up in an "overwired" lifestyle. Overwired means moving at lightning speed - all day, every day - with our plates piled high and little time to pause, reflect and focus properly. Wouldn't it be great to work with better purpose and clarity? With renewed vigor and focus? Wouldn't it be great to rewire ourselves so that we work smarter, live better and be more productive in the New Year?

Yes, it would. This year, I am urging all of my clients to make one big resolution: to rewire their overwired lives. In my new book, Rewired: How to Work Smarter, Live Better and Be Purposefully Productive in an Overwired World, I explain what's got us so overwired, why we must unwire and then how to rewire. Here are 4 tips to get started on rewiring for wellness:

1. Stop running full out. Start recharging regularly

In order to rewire ourselves, we first have to stop the madness of going full tilt 24/7 so that we can unwire and recharge ourselves on a regular basis. The good news is that we don't have to go on a retreat; we can unwire in small but meaningful ways throughout the day:

• Start your day unwired. Have coffee before checking your smartphone or email.
• Before diving into your email and phone calls, take 5 minutes to review your schedule, look at the day and think things through.
• Have phone-free lunches. Do you really need to be available?
• Take a walk at lunch rather than surf the web as you eat at your desk.
• Unplug for 10 minutes or so every hour. Get up from your desk, stretch, walk around, step outside, etc. And leave your phone behind.

A few minutes here and there may not sound like a lot, but it all adds up. You will be amazed at the impact even these short periods of unwired time have on your rejuvenation.

2. Stop letting technology use you. Start using technology

Because the wired world is always at our fingertips, we have conditioned ourselves to always be available to it. We can sometimes feel like technology is using us, instead of the other way around. But the great thing about technology is that we can use it to our advantage. The 2 most common complaints I hear from my clients are email overload and smartphone overexposure. Let's tackle email first:

• It's your inbox -- take control of it!
• Before opening anything, scroll through and delete all non-essential messages.
• Use your spam filter!
• Get off all those email lists. Unsubscribe and don't sign up in the first place.
• Create a separate email address just for junk mail, RSS feeds, newsletters, etc.
• Establish a clear protocol with clients and colleagues about when to cc so you don't get unnecessary emails.
• Train yourself not to respond every time you see the new email icon. Better yet, turn off that function. Even better, pick 2 or 3 times a day when you will open, read and respond to emails.

The smartphone is a bit trickier, as for many workshifters it is the only phone we own. You can't very well just turn it off or ignore it. But you can:

• Be liberal with caller ID.
• Let calls go to voicemail.
• Let callers know what your office hours are and when you will return calls.

By using technology properly, we can prevent it from using us.

3. Stop shifting clutter. Start organizing and simplifying

Clutter is distracting - really distracting. In fact, researchers at Princeton's Neuroscience Institute reported last March that clutter actually inhibits the brain's ability to focus and process information because it vies for our energy and attention. Just like when computers slow down when too many programs are open, we slow down when we have too much stuff demanding our attention. This is critical for workshifters! So, to think and perform better, get rid of the clutter and get organized:

• Take a look at your office or work area. Is it well organized or cluttered? Can you find what you need?
• Develop a system where you touch a paper or email only once. Throw out or file papers you don't need.
• Organize your supplies and files so you can find them.

Something draining or distracting you? Hide it or get rid of it. You want to create an energizing environment that helps you stay productive and focused, not distracted with clutter.

4. Stop worrying about work-life balance. Start doing more of what energizes you and less of what depletes you

Work-life balance is a tricky thing, especially for workshifters, where work and life occupy the same physical space. Instead of worrying about achieving work-life balance (whatever that is!), we should focus instead on doing the things we love and being with the people who energize us, avoiding the things that deplete us in the process.

Of course, there will always be things we don't want to do but have to, and there will always be people with whom we must interact, whether we want to or not. But try to think of your time as precious (it is!) and, as much as possible, be critical and judicious with the things and people who take up your time and attention:

• Who are the people who are draining your time and attention?
• If you have to deal with them, how can you do so on your own terms?
• What are the commitments you do not enjoy and that you could give up?
• Who do you love to be with? Who brings out the best in you?
• What do you love to do?

As much as possible, fill your life with the people and things that fulfill you, engage you and inspire you. Choose them, and you'll never worry about work-life balance again.

Resolving to rewire means making small but significant changes that can add up to profound productivity and personal fulfillment. Little tweaks here and there, consistently employed, can lead to big results.

Photo Credit: jaxxon

Becoming a workshifter often means a significant lifestyle change. You go from spending 2 hours a day commuting to suddenly having that time back. Where once you had a cafeteria to serve you fresh, hot meals for lunch, you now have to make do with your own refrigerator and stove. Your cubicle mates have now become your IM chat buddies.

As much as switching to the workshifting lifestyle can make us more productive, it doesn't come without some risks. It is easy to fall into the trap of not taking enough breaks, not eating properly or not staying social. It doesn't have to be this way. With a few adjustments, we can develop some simple habits that will help ensure our work-from-anywhere experience keeps to a healthy track.

Fuel up with food

When we work in an office, we are surrounded by people who take lunch breaks. We often will gather with our colleagues in the lunchroom and break open our lunch bags together. If we work in a larger office, we will head to the cafeteria. Either way, there are others around to motivate us to take breaks and eat. It is a social affair.

However, when we workshift, we are often alone at lunchtime. And when we are alone, we sometimes will just keep right on working. Before we know it, it's 3 PM and suddenly we snap out of our work zone and realize we are starving. That's when the bad decisions happen. Instead of heading to the kitchen to make a good lunch, we reach for the leftover Halloween candy or another cup of coffee.

Food is your fuel. It is essential, if you are going to stay in peak working condition, that you eat. So always have healthy food on hand. Have pre-made soups, chopped veggies, lunch meat and whole-grain bread in stock so when lunch hour hits, you can make something healthy fast. And set an alarm on your phone or computer to go off at lunch time so you remember to take a break.

Use your time

The minute you start workshifting, you suddenly have more time. Often, up to a couple of hours of former commuting time per day is now wide open. And, the first time a blizzard hits on a weekday, you will appreciate working from home even more. So what are you doing with that time? Maybe you are going to work an extra 2 hours Monday to Thursday so you can take Fridays off, if the boss is up for that. Perhaps you will start doing a yoga program for 1 hour a day. Maybe now is the time to start that blog!

Whatever you decide, appreciate the time that has been given back to you now that you don't have to commute anymore. Do something meaningful with it.

Fight loneliness

Workshifting is a wonderfully quiet and peaceful way to work. But sometimes it can get kind of lonely. You sort of miss those casual chit-chats with Donna from accounting. You sometimes wish you could do the lunchroom thing again. If you're feeling a bit lonely in your cozy home office, there are some things you can do.

Make a monthly coffee or lunch date with your colleagues and go hang out with them in person. That face-to-face contact, even if you email or talk on the phone every day, is important. And if you are in a different city from your team, then just take yourself to the coffee shop once in a while. Often just being around other people while you're working is enough.

Social networks are also a great way to fight workshifting loneliness. I highly recommend Twitter as a way to take a break and say hello. There are thousands of "Donnas from accounting" on Twitter that are happy to share a brief chat anytime.

Overall, workshifting is a great way to work. By following these tips, you can ensure that it remains a positive and healthy experience!

Photo Credit: C.C. Chapman

Having recently completed my largest assignment as a workshifter yet, I faced some familiar demons. Workdays of 10 to 12 hours had become a distant memory since I began setting my own time, managing my own workflow and balancing my professional boundaries, but that was not to last.

All of a sudden the lure of never-ending tasks, enormous deliverables, looming deadlines and firm work cycles (publish, find bugs, submit bug reports, receive bug fixes, test fixes, repeat) sucked me in with as much power as a new Dyson vacuum. Fed by sheer adrenaline, I was on site for days on end, caught in a confusion of worlds.

When had work eclipsed the ability to shift, be flexible and maintain a balance? I knew exactly when - the truth was inescapable. I had chosen to be part of an exciting project, graciously accepted the remuneration attached to it, knowing (on an unconscious level) that the project would take its toll. I also knew that, by definition, the project would have a distinct beginning and end. Whatever happened in between was, shall we say, part and parcel of the job.

What I did not know was that, at the culmination of this project, I would face the foreign sensation of not knowing how to transition back to the flexible, workshifting balance I had been striving to achieve. Simply put, I had lost my equilibrium.

After taking a few days to mentally recharge, I stepped back and assessed my situation. I realized that my problem was not really a problem, but rather a misperception. That workshifting balance I had been seeking was not as absolute as I had painted it to be. I discovered the following truths:

1. My workshifting balance will vary from time to time, client to client and project to project.
   
   
2. My best work can still be achieved despite a slightly imbalanced workshifting schedule.
   
   
3. There will never be an ideal one-size-fits-all formula for my schedule. Rather, I need to be open to receiving any size project and determining if the risks balance the rewards at that time in my life.
   
   
4. If I stay in the moment for each project, enjoy its components and derive energy from the people and tasks, then the project - regardless of its impact on my schedule - serves a very positive purpose.

What are your workshifting truths? How do you define and achieve that workshifting balance?

Photo Credit: Digitalnative

When we do the 9 to 5 thing in an office environment, our time isn't always our own. We're told when to show up in the morning, when to break for lunch (and how much time we're allowed), and told when it's acceptable to go home. While we're expected to manage our time in an efficient way, our tasks are often delegated to us with an expected timeline - so we know what we're up against.

When we're workshifters, our sense of time tends to go out the window. We have the advantage of starting work when we want, prioritizing how we want, taking breaks when we want, and finishing up when we want (deadlines notwithstanding). We have access to our office, our files and our emails at any time. We don't "have" to shut anything off. And this can make managing our time very challenging. How do you strike a balance between working all the time and shutting it down? How do you make sure you don't spend all day perusing your Google Reader when you should be working? Let's look at both sides.

I'm playing when I should be working

We've all done it - gotten sucked down the rabbit hole of Twitter, Facebook, blogs, and YouTube. It starts out innocently enough - we click one interesting link, and before we know it, we've followed the yellow brick road straight into the Land of Procrastination. The truth is, there's a lot of value to be derived from spending time on social networks, and reading news and blogs. It's professional networking, socializing, business development and training all wrapped into one. But it can get away on us if we aren't careful.

My best advice for managing your online time is to set a timer. I use the alarm on my iPhone, but you can use anything. How about setting up a playlist in iTunes that runs for 30 minutes? Then when the music runs out, it's time to move on. Setting a timer of any kind means you don't have to watch the clock, and you can fully immerse yourself until time is up. And to avoid the rabbit-holes (clicking one link after another and following the shiny objects until you forget what you originally set out to do), when you come across an interesting link, right click and open it in a new tab. DON'T look at it - finish what you were reading or watching. If you run out of time, save the link to a tool like Instapaper.com or Delicious.com, and the next time you have "Internet" time, hit those bookmarks first. Your online time will now have direction and focus.

I'm working when I should be playing

The flip side of this, of course, is that we workshifters, in our quiet, distraction-free environments, will tend to just work and work and work, often until well AFTER the cows come home. We feel the need to be "always on", just replying to that one more email at 10pm, or running up to the office to "quickly" double check on a client deliverable while our kids wait for us to watch Toy Story 3 with them. It's easy to be attached to your work when your work is right there with you. We also tend to stop taking breaks, to the point where 8 or 9 hours will go by and we'll notice we haven't gotten up from our chair, or had lunch, or a drink of water in all that time.

Again, setting timers can help with this. Set a timer for once an hour if you have to, to remind you to get up and move around, take a break, stretch, and get some water (most of us walk around in a state of partial dehydration, which is why we feel so tired all the time. Hydrate!). As for "after hours" working? Stop it. Unless you have a client deliverable due the next morning and you HAVE to work late (that happens to all of us once in a while), then stop. Turn off the computer. Turn off the email notifications, or put your phone away (lock it in a drawer if you have to). Go hang out with your spouse and kids. Go out with friends. Take the dog to the park. Watch something mindless on TV. The world will not end just because you're not workshifting in it for a while. And you'll come back to your desk the next morning feeling more refreshed and less stressed, I guarantee!

Good time management is achievable. It takes some time, and some effort, and above all, discipline. Give it a try, and let me know how it goes!

Photo Credit: dnnya

Technology enables us to work remotely in all sorts of places that not long ago would never have been considered suitable - bedrooms, hotels, airport lounges and so on. This has given many people the freedom to ditch the commute and live in a location of their own choosing, but it also brings its own challenges. Chief among those is the danger of being constantly "at work" when there is no clear delineation between on and off time.

Many of us who are workshifting are doing something we are passionate about. We have given up jobs that failed to fire us up in order to freelance or set up a small business that uses a talent. In my own experience, I don't feel I'm "working" in the same sense I was when I was employed; I am simply expressing myself in a way that feels natural, so working at what would traditionally be considered odd hours is not particularly a problem.

Despite this, after a while I started to feel that I could be more creative and productive if I chose my work hours more carefully and actively planned to get out of the house. I found that meeting people, and not necessarily people connected with my business, gave me a boost that never happened at my desk. I therefore pop out to meet a friend for coffee these days at whatever time suits us both.

I've come to believe that successful workshifting means creating your own schedules, regardless of the conventional 9 to 5. The most creative workshifters learn to switch on and off at any time in order to meet deadlines and - more importantly - give their brains a break and fuel their imaginations.

This ability only seems to come with experience. Most new workshifters stick to their old office patterns for a while before becoming more aware of their freedom. I'm interested in this way that work is developing and how the boundary between so-called work and leisure is blurring.

How do you mix up your time? Does it feel different from what you have done before?

Photo Credit: Andrew Huff

Way back in 2006, CBS News aired a special on "Working 24/7." Interestingly enough, it was revisited in 2009 and then again recently in 2011. The news special highlighted the fact that "signs of our addiction to work are everywhere... The Digital Revolution means cell phones, wireless Internet and handheld computers like the BlackBerry allow us to work anywhere, anytime, 24/7."

I wondered, looking back - how many organizations or individuals embraced workshifting back in 2006? As it turned out, the Best Buy Corporation had been a pioneer of the "Results Only Work Environment" even further back, in 2002 - allowing certain functional employees to work wherever and whenever as long as their jobs got done.

Not surprisingly, the empirical results of this experiment were significant and identical to the benefits any workshifter today would express, verbatim. Those Best Buy employees who were part of the experiment attested to:

• Working Harder - to whom much is given, much is expected and these employees did not disappoint. Their work ethic strengthened, not only putting in a greater number of hours outside of the traditional office but with greater reliability and enthusiasm.
  
  
• Feeling Happier - despite spending even more hours on actual work, the bottom line was that these employees were the CEOs of their own schedule and could work when their internal time clocks dictated their personal best time.

So, several years after the Best Buy experiment, we may not be at 100% workshifting saturation yet, but surely with such positive results, all employers and organizations alike will eventually realize that work effort is not tied linearly to office hours and that a little flexibility goes a long way toward the bottom line.

Aren't we lucky that we are already among the enlightened?

Photo Credit: mag3737

Distractions are one of the most common reasons people think they can never workshift. They believe that when left to their own devices - working from a home office, coffee shop or wherever - they would be far too distracted by trivialities and would never be as productive as they are when working in an office environment.

While it's true that it takes some effort to be focused and productive when the boss isn't looking over your shoulder, I think that once people get into the groove of workshifting, they actually find they are more productive.

After 6 years of being a full-time workshifter, I can tell you that I am able to finish 8 hours' worth of work in just half the time. That's how laser-focused a quiet, remote space makes me, and it's not all work and no play that allows this. In fact, I need to embrace certain distractions as I work to be so successful. I call them "healthy" distractions - things that help me overcome creative blocks, work through problems or just take a much-needed brain break.

Social Networking Isn't a Distraction - It's a Creativity Booster

Some people are going to disagree with this, and that's okay. I've read tons of blog posts about how social networking is one of the biggest distractions to "real work" there is. Instead of getting actual work done, we're goofing off on Twitter, poking around Facebook and hanging out with our Google + friends. I myself have been guilty of these pastimes on occasion.

But I do think social networks can be a great creativity boost. When I'm working, I regularly have Twitter open in the background. The message stream flows by and I usually just ignore it. But sometimes, I need to stop working and think a bit. I could either sit and stare at my screen, waiting for my muse to strike - which rarely works - or I could flip over to Twitter, where I scan through posts and click a few links. I think about something completely different for a few minutes, and often that's just what I need to snap an idea into my head.

The people I follow on social networks serve as my inspiration. It works every time.

(Note: if you're worried about getting sucked into social networks - an easy thing to do - set a timer for 10 minutes when you take your inspiration breaks. This way you'll know when it's time to get back to work.)

(Don't) Step Away from the Sofa

The lure of the sofa - I remember this affliction back when I worked in an office. The 3 PM Snoozies, I called them. They'd creep up on you mid-afternoon, and it would be hard to keep your head up. All you could think about was a little 5-minute nap and how good it would feel. But of course, you couldn't be caught sleeping at your desk, so you would grab another cup of coffee and work through it.

Now that we're working from home, the sofa is right there. It seems so soft and warm. The cat looks so comfortable sleeping peacefully in your spot. But you know what? It's okay to take breaks. It's okay to give in to the 3 PM Snoozies once in a while. So go and lie down for a few; rest your eyes if you need to.

Sometimes a 15-minute power nap is all you need to reset yourself so you can be productive the rest of the day. Don't feel guilty about it - think of it as a productivity booster. Give yourself permission to take a mini-siesta if and when you need to. That's one of the perks of working from home - so use it!

Appreciation Is the Best Healthy Distraction of All

Sometimes, I'll stop working, sit back from my desk for a few minutes and just look around me. The dog rests peacefully at my feet. I am surrounded aby photos and reminders of my loved ones. I have my work environment set up exactly the way I want it. I can look online and see so many friends and colleagues that are doing amazing things. And I'm incredibly grateful that I have the ability to choose this lifestyle, grateful for all of the opportunities that it has afforded me. And I'm appreciative of the people and the technology that supports me in this choice.

So once in a while, just stop. Give a little thanks to the people and things around you that have allowed you your workshifting life. Gratitude really is one of the best distractions there is, don't you think?

What about you? Do you have healthy distractions that help you workshift better?

Photo Credit: tomsaint

Technology has enabled the average workshifter to do what he or she does. If not for high-speed Internet, mobile devices and 24/7 electronic communications, many of us would not be living the digital nomad lifestyle that we love.

But it isn't all about tech all the time. As much as we cherish the electronic gadgets that allow us to work from anywhere, the non-tech tools we use are often just as important. Even the most technology-savvy workshifter needs a few low-tech devices in order to make working from wherever a truly pleasant experience.

Water Bottle

I cannot stress enough the importance of drinking enough water throughout the day. Most of us walk through life in a semi-dehydrated state, as we simply don't drink enough water. And when you're working on your own, it's easy to get caught up in a cycle that doesn't allow for hydration. (And no, coffee and water are not the same thing!)

It's a known fact that dehydration can contribute to sluggishness, lack of energy and loss of concentration. The simplest low-tech solution to the hydration conundrum is of course one that makes it as easy as possible to consume more water. Start by purchasing yourself a good quality, BPA-free water bottle. Fill it when you sit down to work and then refill it every time it gets empty. You'll have to take more bathroom breaks (it's okay to take breaks!) but you'll avoid that 3 PM sluggishness and feel great all day.

Accordion File

No matter how paper-less you try to be, there is always going to be a certain amount that needs to be dealt with. Lots of us still receive tons of paper receipts - not everyone is on electronic billing quite yet. Even with a slower pace, the paper will pile up.

The number one way to eliminate this stress is to file the papers when you get them. And for me, the best low-tech solution is an accordion file. It's compact, so it doesn't take up room in a small office. You can also get really small ones that fit in a purse or briefcase, so you can keep your papers organized on the road, too. Head out to your local office supply store and get yourself an accordion file today - never lose a piece of paper again!

Comfy Clothes

One of my favorite things about working from home is that I get to wear comfy clothes. I was not born to wear dresses and high heels every day - that is a fact. Many elements of my wardrobe today consist of yoga pants, pajama bottoms, t-shirts and hoodies. I make a point of buying these items when they are on sale and stocking my drawers full of soft, fluffy, stretchy clothes. You'll work better if you're comfortable, I promise. So keep an eye on those sales flyers and buy yourself some comfy new work clothes!

Ambiance

The best thing about working from home is that you have complete control over your work environment. You can hang what you want on the wall, set your desk however you like and, best of all, surround yourself with things that make you happy and relaxed.

For me, it's often candles, light incense or aromatherapy oil. I make a point of always having these on hand, and I pull them out when I need a bit of "ahhh" in my office. Even the act of lighting a few candles can take your mind off the stressful project you're working on and into a place of peace. Your home office should be a calm and productive sanctuary - so always keep some tools on hand that allow you to create that environment.

These are the ideal non-tech tools that enable my stress-free, comfortable and healthy workshifting life. What about you? Do you have some non-tech essentials in your toolkit?

Photo Credit: sherlock77

It is perhaps not surprising to learn that employees can struggle to work effectively during the summer, when there is the distraction of warm or even hot summer days, accompanied in many regions by high humidity that makes for uncomfortably sticky afternoons, evenings and nights.

For instance, British workers are traditionally less productive during the summertime, according to a new study. One in four employees said that they only worked to full capacity for one day and then coasted through the rest of the week. In the U.S., 25 percent of office workers felt their productivity decreased in the summertime, with arguments often ensuing as to what the optimum workplace temperature should be.

A number of factors have been identified as contributing to the problem. People understandably want to take advantage of the better weather. Going out for a business lunch al fresco in a local restaurant or cafe, perhaps accompanied by a glass of beer or wine (rather than opting for a takeout or sandwich to eat at one's desk), can lead to a more soporific afternoon with a corresponding reduction in an appetite for work.

Similarly, the option of meeting friends earlier in the evening for drinks or attending a ball game or outside music concert can also compete for employees' attention, while during winter months they may opt to spend a little longer completing a task or project. Furthermore, many workers elect to take periods of time off for vacations during this time of year, further exacerbating the situation.

Stuffy offices caused by poor ventilation or a lack of good air conditioning can also cause people to struggle to keep cool, leading to the understandable drawback of poor concentration on work. Human beings tend to perform best in a very limited range of environmental conditions (70-72°F being optimum) - even a slight deviation outside these limits can have an adverse impact on performance.

One option that could help resolve many of these challenges is to provide employees with the flexibility to get their work done when they feel they are best able to - perhaps earlier or later in the day. Many Mediterranean countries have long recognized that noon to mid-afternoon is often uncomfortable for work - hence the introduction of the siesta.

With the increasingly widespread adoption of mobile devices and smartphones, it is even easier for employees to remain connected and work from anywhere as they try to keep cool. By adopting a similar (though less formal and institutionalized) approach, employees would have the freedom to work during cooler parts of the day, take a longer lunch, enjoy a cold beer and even have a swim, knowing they are on track to get the job done - while still having fun and enjoying the summer sun!

Photo Credit: cam.riley

Recently while I was in a hotel room in Tusayan, Arizona, the sun was coming up around 8a. The family's asleep, internal clocks still set to Eastern Time.

So was mine, but I had been online for the better part of 3 hours.

As a writer, my work travels with me to wherever my laptop-in-tow sniffs out an Internet connection. That day, that was 5 miles from the South Rim of the Grand Canyon.

I emailed editors back East, scheduled some interviews for when we return, written a client blog and Facebook note about our adventures and reviewed the Nikon D3100 digital SLR that's chronicled almost every moment of our trip.

A fairly full morning from a quiet hotel room

My clients often wonder aloud why I "work" while on family getaways. They chide me, though their comments are offered as gentle, constructive advice about powering down. They're not suggesting I just turn off the laptop now, but that I disconnect in the greater sense - from work while away. Absorb the vacation, they say. Get into the moment.

Twenty-two years into workshifting, almost 20 years navigating that intersection where home-based entrepreneurship meets parenthood - and just as many years spent traveling with family and work in tow - I've discovered a thing or two about getting into the moment. I realized long ago it's a deeply personal thing, ingrained into each of our DNA.

Frankly, my moment comes before the first family member stirs in the morning. By the time they'll awaken today, I'll have logged more than 1,000 words of varying sorts - both billable and non-billable. They'll be none the wiser; my clients will feel, well, if not "lucky," then thankful that I delivered their project (even though I warned them before leaving home that I would NOT be working - and IF I happened to deliver work, then that would not be an invitation for them to open the floodgates to more requests or obligations).

Workationing is about managing expectations - of family, of clients, of yourself

I don't push the issue with the family, though as the children of an entrepreneur, my kids can connect the dots between work, paycheck and vacations. As for myself, I abide by the limit we seem to have worked out here: once the family is awake, the laptop soon closes, likely until we hunker down for the night. Then my time is my own again.

So working from the road means different things to different people. To me, it's about finding balance in life and work - and frankly, I love what I do. As a writer, I enjoy the writing and editing process. I find catharsis in creativity and release in the moment I hit Send to deliver a finished product. I feel blessed that freelancing affords me the chance - or shall I say, the freedom - to pursue my career from anywhere: a hotel room near the Grand Canyon, a lodge in the Ozark Mountains, or a cruise ship in the Caribbean.

As the family awakens, it's time to power down (the laptop, not my workshifting). I still have my BlackBerry; I still get work emails and correspondence in need of response. And I respond. My family won't chide me if I peek and reply here and there.

They're OK with that.

And so am I.

Photo Credit: chrissam42