We always hear about the importance of separating work from family, home and social life, and how vital it is that work should be left at the office, and not brought into the home. This is often easier said than done for most people, who strive to switch off at the end of the day, but find themselves incapable of completely achieving it. So what happens when you are an entrepreneur or business owner, and your work is in your home?

Setting up and running your own business involves hard work, commitment and determination. It may also involve some sacrifice. For many, the main sacrifice is a regular fixed income. For others it may be job security, or the comfort of being part of a team. However, the list of sacrifices that are often required to be an entrepreneur or business owner should not include your health and well being, or your loved ones.

At the same time, the freedom of owning your own business and being your own boss should not influence you to slack off whenever you feel like it, or spend time on unnecessary tasks while leaving the business to flounder. Neither should you allow others take your business for granted.

A Job-Based Home

Many business owners and entrepreneurs work from offices based in their own homes, and as a result find it difficult to get the work-and-life balance right. Many find themselves focusing on the business around the clock, due to being unable to distance themselves from their place of business.

There are entrepreneurs who are single-mindedly focused on their goal, putting in 18 hour days, have little time for family and friends, and next-to-no time to concern themselves with their own health. This type of working lifestyle can result in exhaustion, breakdowns in relationships with spouse, children, family and friends, and lead to ill health and potentially, business failure.

This is by no means the model that every single entrepreneur lives by, but is a temptation that they are met with from the start.

A Home-Based Job

At the other end of the scale, there are business owners and entrepreneurs who may find it difficult to focus fully on their business because they work from home.

They may find themselves inclined to concentrate on jobs around the house, or tasks that are unrelated to the business. If they work alone, they may find that they do not have the self-motivation to commit 100% to the business.

If it is not due to a lack of focus, it can often be the result of outside perceptions of their work-from-home position. There may be friends or family that are of the belief that