Working From Home

If you work from home, do you find it isolating? Did you escape from the corporate world and start out on your own because you wanted a better lifestyle and the freedom and flexibility of working on your own? Are you now finding that you miss the office banter and a chat over coffee or at the water cooler?

More and more of us are working from home - which is great in one respect but it isn't all it's cracked up to be. Here are a few ways to avoid 'cabin fever' as part of your work routine.

• Join an online networking group - this is great but it doesn't always take the place of face-to-face human contact.
• Attend local networking events - these are a good way to meet people and even develop a support system around your business.
• Start up your own network group and meet for a social coffee, lunch or evening drink.
• Use Skype and Messenger 'chat' functions to interact with others but use it in the same way you would take a break from work - don't get sucked in for hours!

And, of course, don't forget to go out and have fun with your partner, friends and family at the end of a working day or at the end of the week.

Wouldn't it be great to have an environment where we can work on our businesses but get the benefits of a community, without the office politics. Here in the UK we have business centres, incubators for science/technology groups, where different businesses share an office and facilities but these can be an expensive solution. Something smaller and more low key would be ideal.

What ideas would you like to see for the work from home business?