I totally understand! Except I do have a "brick and mortar" job and another side business since my husband and I manage property that is sometimes a 7 day a week job since we are trying to fill vacancies and deal with TONS of repairs.

So my websites are actually my 3rd job! And I have serious health issues that take a lot of my time and energy. I have many limitation on what I can do.

Somehow people don't understand that with 3 jobs and these health issues I am busy. They might say they understand but they don't seem to really understand. They complain that we don't go visit them more or vacation with them. I can barely get through my own workweek and then spend the weekend trying to clean, cook, do laundry, get some sleep and keep my body working well enough to get to work on Monday morning and start all over again. In the meantime there are doctor's appointments, vet appointments, pets to take care of, our God-daughter to watch etc. Where is all this time where I should magically be able to go take vacations (not where I want to go, where other people want to go!)?

This is the issue with our parents since they are retired from regular jobs and they literally play whenever they want. They spend months just traveling around. Good for them but no, I don't have time to join them. If I did have time I would want to go somewhere I actually want to go though my first stop would be to see my Grandma. I have had too many health issues to do that and have not seen her since our wedding. So, no, I don't have time to go tag along on your tour of the desert (which I hate) when I can't even see my 90 year old grandma or go somewhere relaxing.

Unfortunately, until we start making big money online, people are apt to think we are just goofing around. That is probably the hardest part of working online. You need to believe in the outcome yourself when no-one else will.

Stick it out! You are doing great!! I feel your pain!

Jessica

So so so very true...I have about 500 words about it, sat on notepad, as I cut them out of a piece I wrote the other day..I was going down 'rant' road and had to take a detour...I have tried to fathom it out, as to why there seems to be a collective reasoning that what we are doing is more of a 'hobby'..."Are you busy" as you're clattering away at the keyboard....Or just as whatever tv show 'they are watching finishes, then they want to discuss something important...I wear my headphones now to give the impression I'm listening to something..as well as pretending not to hear, my bad.

Yes, people don't understand work from home means I'm working. If you even unplugged your phone or not answer your door something else will happen too. Like plumbing or something tearing up or some other kind of nonsense. THAT is the con of working for yourself. Not only do you have to be disciplined to stay focused you have the everything that can happen while you are trying to stay focused happening.

People, don't look at staying at home work as a business or a job. They understand when you set an alarm and go to a factory and put in your time that you won't be around for them, but if you are home they think you are available. A lot of people also think if you aren't working for someone then you don't have a real job either.

Your question was though "how do you tell people in a polite way to leave me alone" well if they haven't understood once you probably already did tell them you were busy, then there is probably not a polite way to tell them. It may just have to be done firmly, just for yourself.

You are doing this for you and perhaps betterment for your family as well. If they don't pay your bills or wiling to pay for your retirement or whatever then you can't let them decide when you are available to work for your business. So, you may have to tick someone off by telling them you are not available (unless it is highly important). They are responsible for them, you are responsible for you. Too often we put other people's need ahead of our own, then where are they when we need someone? Are they going to be there for you when you need something?

It may seem rude to shut people out, but the truth of the matter is we only have so much energy and so much time a day. Once it is spent it is gone. It's a balancing act of where you are going to put that energy. Learn how to say no. Determine, what is more important at the moment.

I hope this helps and make sense, and yes I can totally relate. I usually get more work done once the rest of the world is asleep than I can if I tried to work on something during the day. There always seems to be something during the day even once you do shut all your doors and hide.

Hi Saane, how about this, I'll handle your friends requesting you help them and you come and handle all this work my full-time job demands me to do. It's what I get for being in a support role. Whether I know the answers to the client's problems or not, I still have to figure it out and find someone who does.

Let's start a secret WA place where all of us here can Matrix ourselves away from the madness!

Cal

I do understand that. If we don't punch a time clock, everyone is sure that we have all the time in the world to accommodate them. I can say "no" to most of my friends but family and those friends over 80 and 90 years of age, I am challenged with. So, my online studies move at a snails pace. I do hope when I get old that someone will be there to help me if needed and one day my online career will blossom. Keep pushing towards your goals, you will get there, even if at a snails pace.

“ You can have your cake and eat it too” Your cakes misses you. It’s true, hard to say no to people. I like what soloadkiller said below. I finally got around to follow the training step by step yesterday and get my site going after three months. What took me so long was mainly due to my health issues and a lot of mundane distractions. Those distractions led me to procrastinate. Finally all day and evening yesterday I turned my iPhone off and didn’t bother to look at WA emails. Focused only on building my site. There are a lot of don’t know how that leads me to get frustrated because WordPress is hard for me to understand. The training helped, had to keep going back and re study it over and over. Finally got the hang of it. I informed my staff not to bother me I’m on a roll with my laptop and if I needed help, I will press the pendant button. I felt great finally accomplished some activity. The staff were surprised that I did not need them until bed time. Next is content writing. I am exhausted today from yesterday working on my site. Now working on drafting my content. Just do it that it. Tell people you’re on a roll need stay focused no bother me for few hours at least you’re honest about it.

I love this blog!!!! Yes. I don't even have a website up yet and everyone wants to take up my time! And when you get phone calls, and someone wants to "shoot the breeze" with you. And talk with you for two, three, or hours, then they proudly say, hey! We've been on the phone for 4 hours!!!!!!!😳 I know exactly how you feel!!!!! I am afraid I ha don't figured out yet, myself how to say politely, leave me alone!!!! I had to laugh though, because I really do know how you feel! If either one of us gets an inspiration to this question, let's share it! God bless you!!!

Right, I totally get what you're talking about. You what I do is I actually set a schedule time with them, a meeting if you will. and I handle it that way. Because this is a real business. Would someone come into an Ins. office and set up camp and a picnic, I hope not..lol Same thing My business my rules. That's also how they will see I am not just hobbying around with this, I am working and earning. Hope this helps kiddo :) p.s. I call everyone kiddo..lol

Hi Snazzy, I was going to say something totally different, just glanced down and saw the words right there compliments of SernitySwan. It is about setting boundaries.Those who care will understand and even respect you for setting limits. Hope that was not too rude, just did a copy and paste from her reply to you. Also just clicked on the follow button. I think her words are your answer.
Sometimes setting boundaries with friends and family can be hard.
All the best Snazzy
Michael

I try to set boundaries. To firmly say NO I’m sorry but between these hours I need to work. We can reschedule for tomorrow or the next day during lunch. Let’s eat together. I can take some free time during the day but after 1pm you need to leave. Those who care will understand and even respect you for setting limits and those who don’t quite frankly are not worth wasting your time over. That is their problem not yours