How often have you said: "I wish I had my own business. Then I could take a day off whenever I wanted." Now you can do it! Chances are, you'll be working more days with your own business than you would when you were employed by someone else. If you don't take the weekends off from your business, make sure you take at least one day a week for no work and all play. Then, on top of that, schedule one day per month for a mini vacation.

For one day, do no work whatsoever and spend all day with your family. That means no computer (unless you're helping your kids with homework or playing games), no business phone, no fax, no meetings, and no paperwork for one entire day. Have fun! I do.

Learn how to compromise

If you learn how to successfully make deals with your family and clients, you'll see how simple it is to balance your time between both. Running a home business and a family can be tricky, and that frustration does no one any good. It'll cost you clients and create a frosty atmosphere in the house.

If a client, for example, gives you a week to complete a project, and contacts you two days before the deadline saying she needs it right away, don't let your frustration show. Offer her what you've got and tell her you'll send the rest later. She should be able to meet you halfway. The same is true of your family.