Tips to Not Get Distracted and to Be Productive While Working at Home
September 20, 2011 
6 Comments
Working at home is an attractive venture for anyone who wants to start their own business. It has many advantages, such as low startup costs, no need to commute, freedom to set your own schedule, dress the way you want, and to be your own boss. However, working at home presents many challenges. Primarily among them are distractions, including the tendency to slack off, feeling lonely and worrying about not having enough work to be successful. All these negative factors can be minimized as described below:
1. Set up your own office
Allocate a room with a door solely for your business. This will signal to everybody how serious your effort is. It will also create a mindset that you are now in business and do not want to be disturbed.
2. Set up a schedule and stick with it
Now that you are your own boss, having a schedule is important. You need to have a high level of self-discipline in order to get any work done. The schedule will be a reminder for you to work and to motivate you to complete tasks on time.
3. Set boundaries for family members and friends
You need to explain to your spouse and children, and close friends, how important it is for you to not be disturbed—unless absolutely necessary–while at work. Give them a list of reasons to disturb you. Anything not on the list is unacceptable. This is essential. You have to explain to them that you are busy while working. This boundary is inviolate.
4. Disconnect yourself from social media
Facebook and Twitter are important for a business owner to market their products or services. However, if you spend too much time on either website, you will not be productive. You can set time to get in touch with friends for socializing after you have completed your work at the end of the day, or during a lunch break. It is important for you to spend more time working and spending less time interacting on Facebook and Twitter.
5. Reward yourself
Rewarding yourself with something you love to do, after hard work is important to rejuvenate and to combat boredom. You can take a break and be around your family at lunchtime, during the evenings, on the weekends, or network with other business owners who are looking for a business buddy. You can motivate each other to work on reaching each one’s goals. A financial reward, such as receiving payment from a client, will also help motivate you to maintain a high level of self-discipline.
Minimizing and eliminating the distractions while working at home helps you to be more productive. Working at home leaves you no real choice except to juggle the professional needs your work requires and your personal needs. The key to successfully working from home is by enlisting a support system that will help and motivate you to work and to reach your goals according to your business plan.
Nicole Rodgers has been blogging in the business and finance industries for three years. When Nicole works from home she has her small business phone synced to her office phone so she never misses a business opportunity. She tries to outsource work when she has multiple projects so that she can manage her time more efficiently.
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Disconnecting from social media is the hardest part for me — especially Facebook! I’m always tempted to keep it open in another tab while I’m working, but I know that just cuts down on my speed because I’m always checking it.
@ Anna! I’m not distracted by Social Media sites but the internet in general. I could start of researching info for a potential blog post and then end up watching videos on Youtube or playing Angry Birds on my Android Tab. lol
Great tips! I’m having a hard time sticking to a schedule but I am definitely working on it. I’m sure this why so many people fail when they first begin to work from home. It’s not a luxury all the time! lol
I have a hard time sticking to a schedule as well Katie but I’m getting a little better with it. I always tell my friends that working online is over rated.
Rewarding yourself is my favorite! I bribe myself all the time. If I just get this, this, and this done, then I can do this. Works like a charm. Great tips!
Hmmm…. I think I may need to start bribing myself to get things done.