I have quickly learned over the past several months that being productive while working from home doesn’t exactly come easily. It really does take a lot of discipline and drive to be able to work at home and stay productive.
One of the most important ways you can, however, is to separate your work space from your living space. I do understand that this is not possible for everyone but if you can make it work, you should.
The ideal situation would be that you would have a room entirely dedicated to your work. I have a room I work in but it also doubles as our family room. So nearby I have the television, not always a good thing. At any rate, if you can section off an area where it becomes your “work zone” that will help you stay productive.
It is also helpful to set regular hours, just like you would have if you worked outside of the home. I know that this is another one of those things that may not work for everyone, depending on the type of home business you have but if it is possible, stick with your schedule.
Let your family know that you are working. Put up a sign that says “Do not disturb” and close your door. While the benefit to working at home is being available to your family, you have to be careful about balancing that. You won’t be very productive if you have to constantly stop to deal with something.
In addition, turn off the telephone and your cell phone, unless of course you need it for your business. Turn off the Internet and email notifications, again, unless this is part of your job. The point is to eliminate as many distractions as you can.
Do you have trouble finding what you need? Keep everything organized and tidy. When everything has a place and it is kept in its place you will easily locate what you need, which also helps to keep you productive.
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