I wrote earlier this morning about my big distractions–those things that hitch me up and keep me from staying focused on my work day in my home business. But, in writing that article, I couldn’t help thinking about what it is that keeps me on track–the little things I do to bribe myself and keep myself hard at work and focused on the tasks at hand. I’m definitely one of those people who responds to little rewards and pleasantries–and I’ve developed a few tricks to bribe myself into towing the line…
One of the things I love about working from home is that I can listen to my own music during my work time. I can put on a cd or turn on the radio as loud as I want (and the neighbors can stand) and even sing along if I want. Now, that’s something I was never able to do at a traditional job. Having the music gives me rhythm to type to and just generally uplifts my mood and I feel more energized and less “office-y.” Yes, indeed, music is a big motivator for me in my home business.
I can also get away with bribing myself with chocolate or a snack or treat. Now this definitely isn’t a trick that is particular to the home business and many an office and other worker uses the same ploy to break up the day, but I will tell myself that if I work for an hour, I can take a coffee break, or remind myself there’s a mid-afternoon snack of dark chocolate waiting for me if I just get a couple thousand more words on paper. Bribes definitely motivate me.
Movement is another big motivator for me. I am not someone who likes to sit still for long and, alas, most of my work is done sitting in a chair and looking at a computer screen. So, I take frequent breaks and bribe myself with walks or a swim in the summer time. Getting out and about works well, so I often organize my day to get the have-to-do-at-home jobs done early, so I can go to a nearby coffee shop, book store, or park.
So, those are some of my motivators–what works for you? How do you keep yourself chugging along during the day? What sort of little bribes and encouragements are you giving yourself to stay motivated to work on your home business?