I’m a little late to the game here (just a little!) but I wanted to put in my two cents. Artists rent studios to work on their craft; why shouldn’t writers? Makes perfect sense. Some of the best writers worked out of sheds or places separate from their home. Something about that physical separation must do something for the creative process.

Hope all is still going well in your space! Loving the blog.

Since a year ago when we sold our apartment and moved in to tend to my elderly parents, my wife & I now have a bedroom as compact living + working space.

Our designated “workspace” is a cafe-style round table & a typist chair by the window.

As often as 4 days in a week, we’ll take our work out of this “home office” – into public libraries (for the much-needed space, reading work & break + yes, air conditioning!)..

All the best!

I have been working from home for the last decade and will NEVER, EVER, EVER go back to an office – did I say NEVER loud enough! LOL I found that I work much better at home. BUT – and this is a big BUT – I can easily see how for some that wouldn’t be the case. I always get a chuckle out of it when I tell people I work from home and they proceed to tell me they could never do it because of the distractions. So most people don’t have your problem of working too much, most have the opposite of working too little.

However, for someone who is really loving their work I can see how hard it would be to walk away at the end of the day if your office is at home. While I like my work, I definitely don’t love it. It is very easy for me to walk away at the end of the day.

As an executive the big advantage for me is that I can get done in 8-10 hrs what used to take me 14-16 hours in an office environment. I have far fewer interruptions, little or no “water cooler” type conversations, etc. I am much, much more efficient at home.

Keep up the great work! If you ever feel like taking your office back home then take some of your savings and build a very separate space for yourself that makes it easier to delineate. Maybe even a space converted in one of your outbuildings.

Both my wife and I work from home and we set up “offices” in two rooms. Nothing else is done is those rooms except work. So when we walk out of the “office” we leave work behind. It’s not always easy but you have to encourage each other.

I can see where you’re coming from though. Seeing as I always work hard at work, but when I get home simple tasks like dishes go neglected. Sort of a frame of mind sort of deal.

The boundaries blurred way too much and my girlfriend and I were suffering because of it.

I discussed with my boss and found some office space outside the house and life has been much better for the entire family. I also became more productive.

I’m allowed to do personal stuff at work when we’re slow and I find when I work on my blog stuff there I’m much more productive than when I am at home.

I think you would have looked younger if you’d smiled, but profile shots aren’t flattering of anyone.

Shirley

I’m glad your office is working out for you, and I would be willing to bet that in the long run, it will be a good financial move because it will allow you to keep running your business effectively without burning yourself out.

How do you type from that tiny keyboard? I love macs, but they don’t have a good keyboard (they look nice but that’s about it) from what I can tell. A nice big Microsoft natural is the only keyboard for me. Anything else feels cramped and I would go nuts having to type anything more than a short email.

Either way, keep posts like these flowing, I love to hear about the progress

To chime in from a different angle, I was a SAHM (ha!ha! Stay at Home Mom – I was never home!) for over a decade. Early on, I set aside one weekday and one weekend day every week as my day off! NO chores, errands, have-tos, to-dos. It was my day to read, relax, recharge, enjoy my family, etc. To any Stay at Home Parents, I likely recommend the practice.

In psych studies, humans are remarkably bad at predicting how happy a given decision or choice will make us. Never hurts to give things a shot and see what happens.

Psych guy on happiness: http://www.randomhouse.com/kvpa/gilbert/

As for the “old” look, may I suggest you get rid of the beard? Seems that the beard is showing most of the grey!

In the afterword to Ray Bradbury’s “Fahrenheit 451,” he talks about doing the same thing while writing the novel. He went to a library and paid 10 cents per half hour to use an old typewriter.

I don’t comment on here often (In fact, this might be my first comment; I’m not sure.), but I read your blog almost every day. I definitely picked up on some of your stress during the past few months. I’m glad you’ve found some sort of balance.

This is a fantastic blog. Please keep it up!

I wish I can have an online assets like yours which can support an private office space for me. Keep going! I’m following your path

Quick question, is this all you do? Get rich slowly? It seems like a small site (compared to the mammoths on the internet like digg) and would be surprised if you draw enough ad revenue to support yourself? That’s amazing if you do, best luck to you!

Congrats again!