4 AC Dat ew hy {i at in B iB (Ho , osr * ia w I Me) th St ew tT =a } aed Agg wt west wad Q A Sames: at sin: NOES ii: Small Biz: When Restless Kids Hamper Home-Based Workers How To KeepYour BusinessSizzling Through Summer (NAPSA)—Through most of the year, you may work happily away in your uiet and comfortable home office. But come June, your sanctuary is invaded by a powerful and disruptive force: the kids on summerbreak. Blameit on the Xbox’s distracting roar or the temptation to join the kids poolside, but for those three months your productivity wilts in the summerheat. It’s a common problem for many home-based workers, whether small-business owners or corporate teleworkers. The solution? “Some home workers can find ways to grind through the summer with only minor adjustments,” says Mark Dixon, CEO of The Regus Group, the world’s largest provider of outsourced workplaces. “But many make their lives easier by getting out of their home office and using parttimeoffices or virtualoffices.” Here are a few ideas to help keep business running smoothly until school starts again: Make Home Work A few at-home adjustments might be all you need. Adapt your schedule by getting up earlier or work some at night. Make calls while the kids are occupied. Maybetake on a “virtual office” for the summer. Virtual offices, like those offered by The Regus Group, offer an address and phone numberat a local business center where an assistant can screen your calls and handle administrative tasks. It’s one way to lighten your workload and give yourself moreuality time with the kids. Find a Part-Time Getaway On the other hand, some work- ers need to separate themselves from home, even if just for a few When too many delightful distractions makeit tough to workat home, a part-time or virtual office can help. hours a week. That’s the beauty of part-time offices, which provide a professional place to meet with clients or bear down on a pressing deadline. Fully furnished and euipped business centers are available in most major cities and space can be arranged by the hour, day, week or months at a time. The flexibility makes it easy to slip away when your spouse is home watchingthe children. Choose a Home Away From Home If you need complete privacy, a full-time office away from the house may be just the thing. While leasing and outfitting a traditional office would be too costly for the short term, the business center model lets you move right into a ready-to-use office and stay as little or as long as youlike. While you’re there, take advantage of amenities such as conference roomsand videoconferencing, and network with other business people who may be potential clients or partners. You just might return home more successful than whenyouleft. To learn more about flexible workplace’ solutions, visit www.regus.com.
