Manage Your Productivity While Working at Home

We've all painted a rosy picture of what it would be like to work at home. A flexible schedule, telephone meetings in our pajamas, no distractions from gossiping coworkers... every mom's dream job. For those of us who do or have worked at home, we learned that it takes a great amount of discipline to draw the line between work life and home life when they are one and the same. The list of priorities becomes blended. And which do you place more urgency on? Following up with leads, or scrubbing the kitchen floor?

The reality of working at home is this: Every day we face the challenges of personal distractions and a loose agenda (I'll get that done after a short nap). Unless you are still on a corporate payroll, the lack of accountability that may result in failed efforts. And as wonderful as working at home may seem, eventually we begin to miss the face to face interaction with people.

Yes, it truly takes a unique individual to pull it all together and find the right balance to work at home. Here is what real life WAHM's suggest to help you stay balanced and focused from day to day.

1. Designate an Office Space

If you have an extra bedroom or den, turn it into an office and let family members know that this is where you work. When the door's closed, you do not want to be disturbed. If you don't have a spare room, find a quiet corner in one of your living areas and designate it your "office". While you cannot close a door, the same rules apply.

2. Dress for Success

You've heard the saying that people can "hear" you smiling on the phone. The same is true for your professional image. Working in your pjs may seem ideal, but that casual attitude will carry forward in your phone conversations or even your business writings. As a rule of thumb, make a "business casual" dress code for your home office. Yes, there will be times when the pajamas will be inevitable, but keep them to a minimum.

3. Schedule Human Interaction

Isolation can be depressing. A great way to market your business and get that much needed social interaction is to join your local BNI or Chamber of Commerce and attend their networking events. If that is not an option, join the gym, take a class or schedule at least one meeting each week with a client or friend.

4. Take a Field Trip

Many businesses offer WIFI. Take your laptop to your local coffee shop or library for a change of scenery and perhaps some inspiration.

5. Hire Help

If this is an option for you, take advantage of it! Look for a local errand service or personal concierge that can run errands for you or provide virtual office assistance. Often, these services are run by moms just like you! By delegating some of your tasks, you'll be able to focus on more important things and have more time for your family.

6. Get a Separate Phone Line

This is a must! Do not use your personal line for business or you will be working 24 hours a day. Designate your business hours and when the day is over, turn off the ringer and let the answering machine do its job.

7. Invest in Technology

Build your home office for efficiency and productivity. Invest in a fax machine, an 800 number or any other office innovation that will speak loudly for you, "This is a professional business".

8. Plan Your Day

Set a daily agenda and stick to it. Your first priority each day should be to list the tasks you want to accomplish. Cross them off as you complete them. Having a list will help you stay focused since you won't constantly be thinking "don't forget to do this or that". You will also have a great sense of accomplishment at the end of the day when you review your list and see all that you did! And you just brought accountability back into your life. Instead of a boss, you are now accountable to your list.

9. Stay Organized

Try not to mix business paperwork with personal paperwork. Have a good filing system and use it. You'll save time in the long run by not having to search through stacks of paper for something you needed yesterday! If it's an option, you should use a separate computer for your business needs.

10. Take a Break

Schedule break times just as you would at a corporate job. Take 15 minutes for every 4 hours of work and schedule a one hour lunch to break up your day. You can become just as burned out at home as you can at the office! If you work primarily on the computer, take a 5 minute breather every hour to stand and stretch, especially your hands. This is a must to help prevent eye strain and carpal tunnel syndrome.

11. Family and Friends

Now that you're working at home, family and friends may see this as an opportunity to stop by unannounced or try to engage you in long phone conversations during the day. Stand firm and remind them that your home is also your place of business.