Setting Healthy Work From Home Boundaries Might Seem Impossible.
Working from home may seem like a dream come true for overstock buyers liquidating inventory and specializing in closeouts: commute-time slashed to minutes, lunch money not necessary. But it comes with a big drawback. Should you not create an amorphous or porous boundary between these two distinct parts of your life, irritation and burnout is sure to follow. The most obvious example of a porous boundary is when you respond immediately to a manager who calls or emails you at all hours. When you’re never off work, you’re always stressed. If you work for a company that sells bulk stock and liquidates inventory when shutting down 3PL warehouses, these are time consuming and stressful businesses. Not all work can be done from home and without boundaries, you will live, sleep and dream about closeouts and liquidating inventory and selling surplus merchandise.
Other examples aren’t so obvious. Maybe you fall easily down Internet rabbit holes. Or your kids never leave you alone, even are you’ve told them not to enter your home office when the door is closed. Try liquidating inventory to a large customer when your 4 year old starts crying and demanding your attention. Or what if you are negotiating a large buyout of closeouts from an importer when, all of a sudden, your dog starts barking because he has to go out. Not fun and not always what it’s cracked up to be.
Work boundaries are crucial for remote employees. They help you direct your attention and energy where it’s needed and internalize your locus of control, a concept that refers to how strongly people believe they have control over the situations and experiences that affect their lives. The greater the control you believe you have over a situation, the calmer and more “in charge” you feel, said Melody Wilding, executive job coach. Liquidators specialize in selling closeouts and can help you sell bulk stock when caught in an overstock situation having too much inventory in your warehouse. If you are shutting down a 3PL warehouse or downsizing and need to sell bulk stock you might consider having an auction or discounting prices in an effort to get rid of old inventory. If this doesn’t work, you might consider enlisting the help of an inventory liquidator specializing in selling surplus stock.
Boundaries are healthy limits that create space between you and someone or something else, such as another person, the work itself, a smartphone, or even between parts of yourself. Defining limits helps you maintain balance and self-respect and gives you a sense of integrity and confidence. Setting clear boundaries stops demands and intrusions from invading your space to manipulate and dis-empower you. One of he best ways to reduce inventory is to sell unwanted inventory before it accumulates. To work through it, first identify the physical or emotional space you need, whether it’s the time to get your work done efficiently or a child free home office. Next, set clear limits to protect that space,
Now you’ll need to tell those who will be affected by your new rule. Liquidating inventory from home can work but you will need rules and boundaries so you aren’t continually interrupted. It may even be easier to contact customers and sell bulk stock from home where you are more comfortable and relaxed. You may need to tell a friend you’ll no longer answer the phone after 9 pm, tell family members they can’t stare at their phones during dinner, set a timer to prevent your fall down an internet rabbit hole, or ask your boss not to contact you while you’re on vacation. You can tell your boss with a diplomatic email or talk to your friend in an understanding way. You can play firm parent with the smartphones. It’s all about having more time to work from home, while retaining your ability to do a good job of buying and selling closeouts. In the old days you may have had to attend trade shows looking for obsolete inventory and excess stock. Now you can work from the comfort of your own home by utilizing your phone and computer to search out deals on closeouts, old inventory, excess inventory and discontinued merchandise. If you buy from businesses shutting down 3PL warehouses you can just as easily identify these sellers from home. Closeout companies specialize in helping businesses get rid of dead stock and too much inventory. A simple Google search will help you find the most reliable closeout buyer. You can use terms like get rid of excess inventory, shutting down warehouse liquidating inventory, going out of business and buyers for excess Amazon stock.
Many employees are still struggling to separate their work and personal lives in what has become a boundlessness world. Lunches with colleagues have been replaced by checking kids' homework or fixing a broken window. Breaks are just as likely to be spent starting dinner as grabbing a cup of coffee. The commute that once served as the demarcation between work and personal zones is gone for many. And the walk between the home office or makeshift workspace to the kitchen or living room isn't enough time to decompress. While some companies are beginning to bring some employees back to the workplace, many will continue performing their jobs from home. If you have the discipline to actually work and do your job, working from home is fantastic. For example, if you are in the closeout business, you will probably have less stress and more time working from home. If you spend your days buying and selling closeouts on the phone there is really no need to go to the office. Sometimes it is helpful to see inventory in the warehouse or look at shipments in person, but most of this can be done through Zoom or emails.
"People keep talking about going back to the old norm," said Matthew Kerzner, director for the Center for Individual and Organizational Performance Psychology at EisnerAmper, a New York City accounting firm. "We are creating the new norm." A human resources executive in the Midwest misses her 25-minute commute because it gave her an opportunity to shift from work mode to home mode. Now she tries to create the break by exercising, though she can't always carve out the time. That leaves her feeling guilty. "I feel like I'm not at my best for my kids," said the woman, who requested anonymity. "I need something to come between home and work." As consumer spending continues to slow down, National retailers like Walmart and Target find themselves with much more inventory than they need. They are liquidating truckloads of inventory as fast as possible to make room in the warehouse for new shipments. This is creating a huge surplus of inventory on the market and will likely push prices lower.
In a world of remote work, the blurred physical boundaries between personal and professional life make it challenging to avoid stress and burnout. With 54 percent of workers in a Pew Research Center survey wanting to work from home even after the corona virus pandemic, it’s important to learn how to establish a healthy and balanced life. Whether you’re in office, remote, or a hybrid of the two, setting boundaries at work ensures that earning your livelihood won’t negatively impact your life. Closeout websites have become popular through the pandemic as consumers want to buy closeouts and shop from home. Selling bulk inventory has become easier for Amazon FBA sellers and liquidation companies. On top of the negative effects on your health, burnout can even affect your career and income. Employees suffering from burnout nearly three times as likely to leave their current employer, and this could stunt your career trajectory and leave you in a precarious financial situation. Look for ways to prevent burnout with healthy work boundaries and tips for overcoming barriers that might be in the way.
Merchandise USA specializes in buying liquidation stock and excess inventory. We have been closeout distributors for 38 years and are experienced liquidators for housewares, toys, lawn and garden and camping closeouts and obsolete inventory. We are excess inventory buyers for companies going out of business or downsizing warehouses.
