Ask the Readers: Best Tips for Working From Home

Working Girl Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:07 pm

Hey, where are the tips? We need tips!

The only one I can think of right now: I find I get more done when I am “decently” dressed. It makes me feel more official.

Urge Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:11 pm

Define your spaces; separate work from home. Not only is this required for most tax purposes, it is absolutely essential for maintaining your sanity. As well as ensuring you don’t end up eating bon-bons on the sofa watching Oprah all day.

DilliDalli Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:13 pm

Set regular hours, and stick to the schedule.

Patti Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:14 pm

Congratulations on your new employment status. Love Zen Habits.

For me the telephone is a distraction - I have the luxury of being able to turn it off - no children or SO will be trying to reach to me.

It’s taken a bit of discipline, but I feel sooo much better when I resist picking it up just to have a chat w/a friend.

The more I focused on the work at hand and let that serve as a distraction from picking up the telephone - the easier it got to keep my priorities in order.

Skunkie Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:18 pm

My habits are a lot less orthodox. I find I work better at night since my internal clock is timed more for being nocturnal naturally than the normal 6-10 (based on a 9-5 work schedule and 8 hours of sleep).

I know you have a family Leo, but finding your natural timing instead of a forced one really helps productivity.

If you are worried about wasting time, you should definitely look into time management application. So you can set a goal of how much you would like to work during the day and achieve it using said app.

I would say it is actually easy at first to keep on a schedule and work since you know your bank account depends on it, but after you start reaching your financial goals is where the slacking comes in.

Hope this little tidbit helped. I by no means represent the majority of the techno geeks able to work at home. I just know what works for me.

Charles Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:22 pm

Yeah, don’t stay unshaved in pijama for instance. Instead, have breakfast, have a shower, get dressed. Then make a list of sensible tasks for the day and get started. Take breaks during the day.

Shaun Andrews Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:22 pm

When I was working out of my house I had a completely separate office. When I was working I was in the office, when I wasn’t working, I didn’t even look in the office.

Its important to have the separation between home and work. In the end, I found that renting some space outside of my home was the best solution. I found myself actually missing the drive to and from the office. Now I get to wind up on my way to work and wind down on my way home. Its perfect. It also gave me a chance to make a completely new and amazing space to work in, without having to worry about a spouse or significant other wanted to use the space along side me.

Johannes Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:23 pm

I would suggest that you try to make a room some kind of “office”. Then you will make that place/room a place dedicated for work and nothing else. When you are there, you should work. Of course you can take breaks and watch TV, but don’t do it in the same room.

sir jorge Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:26 pm

have a schedule, going at it without a schedule means no work gets done at all.

David Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:27 pm

Sound Canceling Headphones. Seriously. I have a 3 year old and a baby and I swear by it.

Zeppelin Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:31 pm

Throw your TV out, it’s boring anyway :)

Coop Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:32 pm

I’ve found that the hardest thing to do is to get off the computer. I could go on and on at night, but my time with family is very important.

Since I’m in the fitness biz, I make time for exercise too.

Best,
Coop

Jason Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:36 pm

here are my rules for working from home:
1. No turning on the computer for a quick email check or to do 1 little thing until you’ve gotten “ready for work” as mentioned above. The nuance is if you have nowhere to be, that 1 little thing leads to showering at 2 in the afternoon with a splitting headache because you’ve forgotten to eat etc.
2. Don’t be afraid of the V-chip… shark attack week on the Discovery Channel is bad for productivity. I finally canceled cable altogether and just rent shows on DVD

Suzie Cheel Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:41 pm

Follow the principles outlined in ZDT, especially MITs :)

I am still finding it a challenge to just sit at the computer and not get distracted by emails, google reader etc .

Summer Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:42 pm

Schedule, if possible, around your natural schedule. My hours are weird, because I wake up at 9 am. So I never make appointments earlier then 10am (though I try to wait till 11 when possible).

I work all sorts of weird hours at home - I usually do all my sewing in the evening after the sun goes down, do all my house cleaning before it does, and I find I get a lot more done if I leave the house. Coffee/tea shop/bars have been a blessing. I can go get a drink and a snack and work for hours without distraction. At home there is the phone, but once I made it clear to all my friends that just because I don’t have a “normal” job doesn’t mean I can just drop everything and go get coffee at 2pm, it doesn’t ring so much during the day.

Pants are a must. Put on pants. I used to be apart of a group that had several entrepreneurs in it, and we had a theory about pants=work.

Just remember not to let your work hours over take your family time, or your family time take over your work time. I don’t have a “desk space” though I have all my sewing, tea, and supplies in an office space, but often do my work on the bed or in a chair when I’m home.

And if possible use the internet ONLY for work. My computer time is 98% work, and 2% - if that - personal so I don’t end up drifting all over the internet.

Good luck.

Fabiana Morris Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:44 pm

Yes! Get pretty first thing in the morning, just as if you were going somewhere. Look great, feel great. And then take 15-20 minutes just for yourself. I do a quiet time(devotional time), whatever you’d like to call it. It sets you up and gets you focused. Then do the thing you’re fearing the most that day, FIRST. Like making a phone call you’ve been dreading. When your done with that you’ll definitely have an energy boost that will help you get through the day:) …. oh, if possible,don’t check your email until like lunchtime, it always sets you off on all kinds of bunny trails that can eat away at your day.

J. Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:44 pm

I think it is important to set boundaries for those around you as well. Schedule your work time and make sure the kids and spouse know that you are unavailable for playing, chores, etc. during this time.

wnelson Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:47 pm

Decide the night before, if possible, what you are going to do the next day. Also, set a time when you will “be at work” and discipline yourself to keep that schedule.

Also, know _when_ to “shut it down” at the end of the day. Since the work is always there staring you in the face, and since work = $, sometimes that’s the hardest part.

Jayme Davis Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:49 pm

Bad TV. Yep, that’s the secret. If you watch good TV, you will turn around from your desk and watch. Same with good music… you will pay attention to the music. Bad TV and Bad music make you work harder. Bad TV is any variation of judge shows or jerry springer in the background. (I like noise)

I also kiss my wife goodbye in the morning on my way to the office… she works from home as well in the other room, but getting in to a work attitude helps a lot.

Jayme

Thomas Herold Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:50 pm

Simply do what you love to do and forget about the rest.

Cheers

Thomas Herold
CEO Dream Manifesto

Jay F.H. Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:51 pm

“Throw away your television
Take the noose off your ambition
Reinvent your intuition now
Its a repeat of a story told
Its a repeat and its getting old”

- Red Hot Chili Peppers

William Says:

January 17th, 2008, 22:55 pm

Here’s what I do:

Search a few days ahead in the TV schedule, write down the shows you would like to watch and when the time comes, go ahead and watch them (but, only those shows). If you have Tivo, so much the better because you can watch them at a scheduled time every day.

I find I get more work done when I’m not wondering if there’s something I’m missing on TV.

Jeff Pickett Says:

January 17th, 2008, 23:03 pm

Some people can get a lot done in short time. Others take longer. Determine what you will get done in a week and break it down by the day. Experiment. Create a reward system and if daily goals are met you allow yourself a walk outside, TV time or exploring a new hobby.
I guess what I’m trying to say is that we’re all different and only through exploration and trial can you come to what works best for you.
PS I work best with the TV on - I need visual stimulation!

beaneboper Says:

January 17th, 2008, 23:09 pm

Set work hours and breaks. Dedicate one room to be your work area and don’t be tempted to spill out into other rooms. Make sure your family also respects the office as off limits until work hours are over (except of emergencies).

But also treat yourself too. Depending on how you work and the level of concentration involved, perhaps you can also listen to an audiobook while working on some tasks. I used to listen to fiction or nothing serious that involved a lot of thinking and attention while I worked. You can multitask in ways that aren’t always permissible at work. Of course, the secondary stuff has to be something that wouldn’t distract you or divert your attention from your work.

sharon Says:

January 17th, 2008, 23:19 pm

Remove line of sight to the tv, electronic games etc. (cover them during your work time if required - like putting the parrot to bed). Never entertain the notion of even brushing past these distractions during work time (even if you think you hear them calling you)
Explore sensory cue’s/triggers for work time - work time smells, work time music or background noise or lack of, the feel of your work desk and resources. Emotional/motivation cues, write a note or an email template to yourself about why your doing this and what you hope for as a result - grab it (or hit send) when you feel the urge to wander off the path.

faizal Says:

January 17th, 2008, 23:24 pm

make negative comment for your decision as your spirit to move.

Lorraine Says:

January 17th, 2008, 23:40 pm

Leo: Congratulations on your new freedom. So happy for you.

I agree with Suzie Cheel: Continue to follow your own good advice and habits you’ll be fine.

Your blog has helped me tremendously, but my habits aren’t as well-formed as yours. I have to check myself several times a day and ask if I’m “inventing things to do to avoid the important”–to paraphrase Tim Ferris.

During work hours I force myself to ignore non work-related phone calls, household mess and routine chores. When I’m on deadline I don’t do anything but write–I walk past unmade beds, unwashed dishes and crumb-bestrewed counters.

It’s sooo tempting to put in just one load of laundry. The next thing you know the kids are home from school, you’re behind schedule and facing a wee-hour date with your shimmering computer screen.

Pain.

Andrew Weaver Says:

January 17th, 2008, 23:49 pm

Congratulations on the new job situation! I read your post on how you had finally taken the plunge while sitting at my desk at work, thinking that would just be a wonderful feeling to have! Then I promptly got back to work for the man. ha!

I really have very little advice, since I have never had the opportunity to work from home. I would think that making a separate room would be one of the most helpful for me. Otherwise, I’d find so many other things I could be doing around the house!

Love the blog! Keep it up. It is very helpful.

Ryan Allen Says:

January 17th, 2008, 23:53 pm

Pay attention and crunch numbers with your accounts regularly. You are less inclined to watch television when you realise how much it can cost you to mess around.

Additionally if you mess around and try to make up later you’ll feel like you have no time or you’re wasting your time. Hanging out with the family is put off because during the day when they were at school / work you weren’t getting your work done, and now you’ve wasted your day and either have to a) not make any money or b) miss out on spending time with your family.

Discipline. That’s all you need :)

banji Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:00 am

A quick brainstorm on the subject (of course in addition to all the above :) )

1) Put a reminder that “work NOT done = no money”
2) Physically remove distraction ~ give tv remote priviledge to wife
3) Always remind yourself that you’re the boss of a company. It may end up with you giving yourself a warning letter
4) Report your progress ~ to a virtual boss
5) Reward your mini-milestone, ~ ice cream

I am however not working from home, but that is exactly what motivates me when working for someone else :)

All the best to you Leo

LessonInLife.com

Askar Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:00 am

I’ve worked quite a bit from home and the main distraction or the lack of motivation is working with not a proper attire. I would recommend get dressed as if you are going to the office, isolate a space where you can pretend as if you are in the office, surround yourself with stuff that makes you feel you are in the office and be committed to your goals for the day and you should be fine. It’s an interesting topic.

Amanda Kendle Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:01 am

Beware of the kitchen. I put on weight when I started working from home. My co-workers suddenly weren’t there to notice how often I went to the fridge or pulled snacks out of the cupboard.

As for the discipline and schedule that everybody’s talked about, I wish I knew how to stick to that, and am still trying every day to do that better!

Rob Raux Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:06 am

A few thoughts from someone who has done this for the past year successfully:

1. Set online times. You don’t always need to be accessible for chit chat. This may be more applicable to telecommuters than the self-employed.

2. Track your time. I use a simple program called gtimelog. You enter what you’ve done when you’ve completed it. It’s very simple and stays out of your way. At the end of the day, week, you can see a summary. It also allows you to break out work time vs. fun time in a simple manner.
Check it out:
http://mg.pov.lt/gtimelog/

I’m sure I can think of many others, but I hope these few help someone.

Robert Besaw Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:07 am

I work from home now and what I do is follow a routine first. Don’t treat it differently. Yes you’ll be able to do the dishes or laundry, but those are breaks.
Plan your week. Then plan your day. Then make lists of what needs to get done. As long as you revisit every day or at the least every week it’s a great way to work.

Melissa Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:11 am

My best tips for working from home:

1. The television, radio or other distractions do NOT come on until after my work hours are over. Since my schedule is erratic, that can be quite late.

2. Schedule, schedule, schedule. I use Google’s calendar feature and put every single task into the calendar.

For example, I know that 1099s must go out by Jan. 31. When I finished my 1099s last year, I put the required steps on the calendar, on succeeding days. If I don’t complete the task on the scheduled day (see note about erratic schedule above), then I don’t delete the email reminder about that task until it is complete.

3. I designate certain days for certain work: I file everything on Friday afternoon, no later than Saturday morning. This allows me to walk out of my office for my “weekend” without feeling like I left work unfinished.

4. I keep a list of that day only phone calls, emails to return, etc on my desk. As I complete them, I cross these tasks off. If I’m delaying returning a phone call to the next day or next week, it goes on my calendar.

5. I always write down the phone number next to the name of the person I need to call, whether it is in paper or electronic form!

6. Don’t allow work to consume your life…easier said than done when working from home. Make sure you set limits for the amount of time you will work. Even with an erratic schedule, I try to limit my daily non-customer contact work to under 3 hours.

7. Keep EXCELLENT records. If you’re not sure what should be kept, hire someone to help you. Keeping this part of your business maintained will save you tons of time, especially during tax season.

Charles Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:19 am

The biggest challenge I have is my friends and family seem to think that just because I don’t go to a REAL JOB any more I’m not really doing anything important. So they feel free to impose, distract and interrupt any time they feel like it. I’ve had to practically get mean sometimes to get them to understand that I’m really at work and they are interrupting my day with things that should wait until I’m OFF WORK.

Jenn Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:27 am

Get dressed. :)

Warren Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:31 am

I bought a TV that also serves as my monitor in my office. This makes it literally impossible to watch TV when working. And it is set to turn on to Monitor mode when I press ON.

Also, the normal steps of getting ready in the morning help. Alarm clock, shower, dress to go out (though you are staying in), plan the day, work at a desk. It is amazing how anti-motivating it can be to dress comfortably and work from a couch.

corporate uhmerica Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:33 am

Get dressed.

Cancel your cable. less channels = less opportunity for distraction.

Schedule everything.

Schedule ‘lunch time’ outside of the house at the library, run errands, go to a park, a cafe, etc.

Lynn O'Connor Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:33 am

Everyone is passing on good ideas, and here’s a few more for the mix.

I moved my office home a few years ago. It helps that I have hard-edge appointment hours sporadically through most days, either clients or students. I suggest you take on a few of us, do consultation, giving you some hard-edged calendar appointment times. So getting dressed is mandatory most of the time.

I give myself leeway to have hard working days and then screw around days. I’m a researcher/science type part of the time, and this is how it goes anyway. Sometimes its very busy when me and my statistician get the motivation bug, and its slow when we have too many other things to do, or we’re into being lazy.

I was much more disorganized before I fell into GTD a few years ago. It took me over a year to try to implement, and my implementation took almost six months and three huge dumpsters. You are already there I suspect. Then, being at home, I needed a CEO and I started using Seah’s forms: http://davidseah.com/blog/the-printable-ceo-series/
I settled in mainly with the Emergent Task Planner. It actually helps me figure out what I’m doing in a given day, since I’m my own boss. I’ve used this for over a year now (I think). I archive yesterday’s sheet each day, so I have a record, should I need it.

Like I said, some days I’m lazy. I didn’t know about TV until I discovered downloading programs from I-Tunes, then that became a problem. Now I limit that until a few evenings a week, nothing more. I’m into Tibetan Buddhist meditation every day, and Kundalini Yoga most days and these help get me calm enough to function.

You will be a terrific at home worker, don’t worry about it.

Lynn

Miss Gisele from myBeautyMatch.com Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:40 am

Leo,

When I’m dying to know which Christian Louboutin shoes (expensive French shoes with the trademark red sole) Oprah is wearing, I tell myself…she’d already got her millions (ok, billions) and I have to work at making mine and watching the telly for too long won’t do it…even if it’s to look at gorgeous shoes.

I have my lunch time 30 minutes and my evening 60 minutes of telly and that’s it.

The telly is great, but unless it’s your job, it won’t bring in any income.

Eventually, you’ll get into a smooth routine and will not even notice the telly anymore.

Best of luck my friend and if you feel weak…just write a HELP message and all of your loyal readers will come to the rescue!!!

Gisele ;-))

Leigh Ann Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:42 am

I set hard deadlines for myself, usually verbally to my customers, because that’s one of the rules I won’t break - disappointing my customers.

World Fitness Network Says:

January 18th, 2008, 0:53 am

I’ve started working from home as well. It’s tough, and I really struggle to keep on task sometimes. I’ve taken some measures to keep myself on track. These are what’s helped the most.

1. I cut off the cable service. I thought I’d miss it, but I don’t.

2. I actually unplug the internet wireless router in my house before I turn on the computer, and I write my post and study programming before I turn the Internet on.

Those 2 things have made all the difference in the world for me.

Congrats on becoming self employed!

Andre Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:05 am

I find that one of the best things to do for me is to actually work outside of the house. I find a coffee house nearby, plug in my noise cancelling headphones and get to work.

Even if I am distracted, because I tend to be where most of my readers/customers are, I’m actually getting more work done than I would if I were home battling with the cats for desk space.

I do find it hard to shut down at the end of the day though, because I know that the more work I put into the site the better chance I will have to make money. I’m finding myself shutting down everything and forcing myself to relax or get away so I can focus when I return. A good run or hike normally does the trick.

Ayamanatara Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:13 am

I made a dedicated space, which helps.

I try to keep a schedule. Mind you, for me, that sometimes means scheduling in downtime as opposed to work time, because I enjoy what I do enough to forget to do things like eat…

Prioritize! Everything. It really helps, because my to do list gets really long sometimes.

*shrug* I’ve been working for myself on and off since sometime in the 90s…

Sonia Simone Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:19 am

It’s all about boundaries for me. I have to have rather artificial and very strict rules about when I can do fun online activities, etc.

My friend Barbara, a novelist, taught me about putting 90-minute blocks into my calendar. Guard them zealously and when you’re in a block, put your head down and crank. Every working writer I know has some variant on this–they know the time of day when they’re really at their best, and they block it off with virtually no exceptions.

Also, write every day. The words get cranky when you go a day without taking them for a walk. :)

Kellie Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:32 am

I used to make myself a deal that I would do my work, as quickly and efficiently as possible, and THEN I could watch TV, sleep… whatever my little heart desired.

CPJC Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:38 am

Sometimes EVERYTHING is a distraction. TV, Radio, Laptop hooked up to WIFI. What usually works for me is to work with pen and paper for a while on several tasks…jotting ideas down, planning on paper, etcetera. Sometimes the TV can still be on, or I can listen to the radio - but no internet surfing while working with pen and paper!

Once I have written notes going on several projects or most important tasks, I usually feel like I’m ready to share them with a colleague via email. In the writing of the email, I find I polish up the ideas. On days I work at home, I also commit to completing tasks by a deadline for people/colleagues in emails…then I hold myself to the deadlines since I’ve made the public commitment.

becca Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:41 am

I read somewhere about a “not-to-do List” and it’s worked fabulously for me:

as “pressing” things pop up during your work day (who sings this song? what would it cost to get my ceiling painted? what types of ceiling paint are available? could I put wood on my ceiling? is their lead in my lipstick?) write them down immediately.

Do NOT do them. Take the time to write them down. At the end of your day (or when you’ve completed your MITs) and you’re ready to spend some QT with your kids/wife/take a walk, look at your list and see which ones are really THAT important. If they are, file them into your to-do list (yes, the to-do list you write about “constantly simplifying”).

Also, if you can, make your work into a 3-4 day work week. Tim Ferriss would be proud ;)

Stephan Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:43 am

Hi Leo,

For me the worst thing is distraction from the television, and living in a one living room/ office apartment makes it difficult just to through out the tv or muting it. My little trick is my mp3 player. Loaded with all the music that give me inspiration, and set not too load, just so I don’t hear the tv or the people in the room. The rest is just go with it, no set times yet, but then again, only just beginning :)

All the best and a wonderful day!!

Tess Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:44 am

‘Do things when you have enthusiasm for them’. I swtiched from full-time to freelance so I had the option to work on something when I felt inspired to do so - rather than between certain office hours.

It means that I’m bringing my best frame of mind to the task, rather than rushing to finish before 5pm so I can leave on time. Or, I can take a walk or do something else ’til that inspiration arrives.

May not be such a good tip for people wanting strict ‘work’ hours/days at home, but good for those who aren’t phased mixing some work time and some play time (and some nap time!) into every day.

esvl Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:46 am

My tip: Try to survive. Take a break sometimes.

Squasher98 Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:50 am

Invest in a good chair. You’re back will thank you later

http://www.leveragingideas.com

MoonCave Crystals Says:

January 18th, 2008, 1:58 am

As a self employed ecommerce shop owner and only employee, for me it is simple–I make a list of what I want to accomplish each day and no matter how long it takes? I get it done. I do not watch tv any more, never turn the thing on and actually enjoy the silence–all in the comfort of my pink puppy dog pj’s thank you very much :)

It is all about how passionate you are at what you do I suppose. I eat, sleep and drink MoonCave Crystals. Someone recently pointed out to me that I am a work-a-holic (the nerve!!).

It is all about balance. Finding the right balance is key. When I find it, I will let you know :)

Eric Böhnisch-Volkmann Says:

January 18th, 2008, 2:11 am

Basically, fix work hours for you and stick to then. Create a work space for you and invest in quality tools — a cool computer, a good paper notebook (yes, I love my Moleskine), a nice pen. Stuff that you *want* to use, because then, you *will* use them. Often also for work :-)

Eugene (Editor, Varsity Blah) Says:

January 18th, 2008, 2:16 am

Treat it like a real job. Wake up, take a shower, get dressed, work, coffee, work, lunch, work, coffee, and punch out. You need to take it “seriously”.

Benoit Says:

January 18th, 2008, 2:30 am

First thing first, I don’t own a TV. TV=BAD for your brain. Get that thing out of your head. Netflix and company do a much better job. If you aren’t in the US then torrent is your friend. Find alternative entertainment, it’s very 2008. ;-)

Second advice, I wake up at the crack of dawn and usually by the time everyone is on lunch break, I have my work day pretty much done except that I am a workaholic so I keep going until late evening. I am teaching two days a week which disrupt my work schedule but most of the time I can just keep hacking away my To-Do list. Bottom line, I like my job so I “work” all the time. Pity me.

Jan Derksen Says:

January 18th, 2008, 2:46 am

About watching TV: I’m always watching music video’s (MTV brand new) when I’m working at home. At lunchtime I watch the news for about 15 minutes.

Jan Derksen
The Netherlands

Sandy Says:

January 18th, 2008, 3:24 am

Get up and get dressed in the morning as if you were getting ready to go to your day job.

Brush your hair and teeth, put on some shoes. You work much better from home in your shoes than you do in your slippers!!

And, like many said before me, stick to a schedule!!

Good luck!

Oliver Says:

January 18th, 2008, 3:28 am

When I am working at home, I am very good in focussing on my work at my desk. I can tell I am quite disciplined and am not tempted to watch TV or run around in my house, distracing me from my work or procrastinating. But I would like to stress one thing, beaneboper said: The hardest part for me was to settle the thought of “the working dad” in the heads of my family.

It took some time until they learned that it is necessary to not disturb me. The dad “available next door” was quite difficult for my son and daughter (and even my wife) to accept. Over the years I established the habit to work in “dashes”: Putting off my phone, email and IM for a certain amount of time to really focus on my work. This habit improved quality and quantity of my results and - not to forget - I was back with my beloved ones quite quickly.

But working at home was putting this to a test, since even my wife was entering my office, telling: “You see, I do not like to disturb you, but there’s this uncommon situation and… this … that…”. Even I (overhearing some things going on in the house) was often thinking to myself: “Could I be of help now? Would it be more important to help out my family? Should I stop working now?”

There was nothing - even not a set of rules - that was improving the situation, so my work time was often frustrating - which is the worst for getting things done - you sure know. So I found a place in the company of a friend, where I could go to. Using a notebook and all kind of mobile devices it wasn’t a problem at all. So, for now, I am leaving the house for 4 or 5 hours focussed work, then coming back and work more, but at this time my focussed work was done and getting disturbed was not bad at all by far.

I learned from following your posts that there seems to be a very good relationshop and a lot of love in you family, so maybe you can start working at home differently. But I suggest to clear the “working dad at home”-status right in the beginning. I wish you all the luck for the future!

Tony Jansen Says:

January 18th, 2008, 3:29 am

Communicate your “office” hours with your family and close the door of your working room during those hours.

Robert Burdock Says:

January 18th, 2008, 3:29 am

Hi Leo,
Congratulations on turning to full-time blogging. You’ve worked hard for this break so I hope it all turns out OK for you. Ok working from home tips:

*The best tip I’ve heard of in recent years comes from tireless author Stephen King in his book On Writing. As many replies have already suggested, Stephen strongly advocates the need for an office with a door that can be shut AND a daily writing goal (his suggestion is for 1000 words). The office should contain no distractions i.e. phone, tv etc and when you enter it each day and shut the door you resolve not to leave again for any reason until you have completed your word goal.

*In a similar vein I also love the use of ‘time pods’ (as described in Your Writing Coach - Jurgen Wolff pg. 170-171). Here you set aside pre-determined ‘pods’ of time (typically an hour) in which you have clearly defined writing goals i.e. I will write 500 words for my next post etc. You then set an alarm or buzzer for that amount of time and get the work done. This works as it givs you a clear focus for that period of time.

That two ‘top tips’ that I use to get me writing my dissertation so I hope they’ll be of some use to you and other readers.
Good Luck
Robert

The Foot Says:

January 18th, 2008, 3:54 am

Get yourself a pedometer so you don’t become a slob! Seriously (btw I don’t sell them!). When you’re working from home, it’s easy to get lazy and to have no idea as to whether you’ve been getting enough exercise and movement-when you work in an office, you’d be surprised how much walking you actually do sometimes (not all the time though!).

Try to aim for 10000 steps a day and you’ll probably feel good for it. Pedometers are recognised by the NHS in the UK as being proven motivators for keeping fit. I’ve done some research into this on my blog.

I use a little pedometer and it makes me go for extra walks to make sure I get enough daylight and movement -it forces me out of the house and off the computer :-)

Good luck!

The Foot

metroknow Says:

January 18th, 2008, 4:03 am

Showering straight away sets my frame of mind for positivity and productivity. If I don’t shower in the morning (trying to fit it in somewhere later in the day), I find that I’m a little “off my game”, and not entirely pleasant company.

Wizbit Says:

January 18th, 2008, 4:07 am

You’ve probably already had this one but I find if I’m working I try to compartmentalise my time, cut it into small bite-sized pieces and then take a break from the work at the end of each slot.

Not being that long out of education, I’m still hooked into my school/university time-tables so 40-50 minutes works for me as a slot length. Then the rest of the hour is a break to stand, go for a walk, make some tea, day-dream and get the mind ready for the next piece of work you’re setting for yourself.

Toby Graham Says:

January 18th, 2008, 4:09 am

having a dedicated work space is really key, my office was in the living room and it never really worked. Also having a nice daily routine….shower, tea, pc always worked for me!

Getting sat down at the PC is always the first step once your there it should be no problem. Working Girl says being decently dressed helps but to be honest I loved working in my dressing gown all morning, my collegues obviously couldn’t see me so it wasn’t an issue (if it was I’d buy one of those webcam half suits !!!!)

Matt Gibson Says:

January 18th, 2008, 4:10 am

Consider a completely separate computer (in a different space) for work. On that computer, get rid of every distraction you can think of. Turn on the parental control, block internet time-wasting sites, don’t configure a mail client if you can avoid it, dump any instant message software. Basically, trim it down to the absolute minimum you need to do work and not do play, and then only _ever_ work on that computer. This will block an awful lot of temptation, and it will also associate sitting down at _that_ desk with work and not play, and every time you sit down there you’ll reinforce that association.

steveb Says:

January 18th, 2008, 4:33 am

I work at home in a room designated as my office. One of the key points I keep in mind, and have to continually tell myself, is: when I finish my work for the day, my mind should be 100% devoted to my wife and kids.

I do not think of work at all. Any planning for how much I want to get done the next day is decided and committed to before I go downstairs to the “living” room.

Setting this clear mental partition even makes me more productive during my work hours. Most important, it allows me to maintain a healthy family life and be 100% present when I am with them.

Wyatt S. Says:

January 18th, 2008, 4:51 am

There’s so much great advise from everyone already, I think you are the type who well manage your time and set your priorities.

One only I’d add would be focus on your sense of purpose, develope everything else around that.

Since I quit my 9-5 last year, every minute becomes so precious as they are filled with purpose. I never had the concern if time will be unproductive, I don’t think you would either, as everything you do simply contribute towards reach your own goals, not for anyone else, that’s tempting enough to make wanting to leap out of bed each morning.

Whatever your new endavour is, wish you great success!

Vinod Ponmanadiyil Says:

January 18th, 2008, 5:05 am

First and foremost - , Shut the door!

Matt Rutherford Says:

January 18th, 2008, 5:50 am

For me - some things that have worked

1. Define a space, an office with space for the tasks you intend to perform at home. For me, its a desk with good PC equipment and space to work. Clearly delineate that this is your space for work, no games consoles, TV’s etc - unless thats your work of course. Don’t forget task lighting and good temperature control.

2. Define a time - as many people have said, get up, get washed, get dressed for work. It is very tempting to work in shorts or pyjamas, but how you are dressed contributes a lot to your state of mind.

3. Take regular breaks - as you would in the office, grab refreshment regularly, keep it healthy and light but take 5 minutes away from the screen when you need it. Take a sensible lunch break, its always tempting to work straight through - but I take a 30/40 minute break and eat something sensible, to keep my energy levels up and enssure that I don’t snack up.

4. Stock up on the essentials - picture the supply room at the office, and replicate some of that at home. Some companies will let you stock your home office (within reason), but make sure you have supplies necessary.

5. Plan, Plan, Plan - make sure you don’t give yourself time to procrastinate, even easier to do at home. I do this by blocking out time to read sites, read RSS etc - and then plan the rest of my time productively. Reward a good burst of concentration and effort with a ten minute surf through personal mail or reading lists.

These tips work for me.

Phil Palmieri Says:

January 18th, 2008, 5:53 am

First, like others have said - get dressed, don’t work in PJ’s
Second: a bit more drastic, but really worked for me. Go run errands in the morning, even just go out for coffee.. that routine tricks your body into breaking your at home time and start of work time.
Third: Make sure you separate home time to spend with family - and make sure your wife/kids know you arnt really home - you are at work and you arnt available to fix this, open that, help me with this.. .that breaks the concentration and breaks the im at work mode.

Stefan Says:

January 18th, 2008, 6:30 am

My 2 cents:

1. Make sure everyone who might go into or call you at your home understands you’re working (this is the hardest one for me)

2. on’t get too confortable, working naked or on you bed or anything of the sorts is good for brainstorming if at all, otherwise get dressed and sit straight up in front of a net desk.

3. Realize what a waste of time TV really is, you can get this done in one afternoon, just zap a bit and make mental notes of the sort of stuff tht shows up, it’s unbelievable !!!

ThomasQ Says:

January 18th, 2008, 6:42 am

It seems to me, that all comments I’ve read are expressing the fear of losing any kind of structure. So, create your structure or a scaffold: Define a space, set your goals, your deadlines, stay focused at the purpose of your work. And last but not least: Don’t just dream it - do it!

michael Says:

January 18th, 2008, 6:42 am

At the start of every day write down a timeline of what you are going to do and when. You can schedule in breaks and even TV watching time if you like but try to stick to this otherwise you’ll end up missing all of your main goals.

Take your lunch at the time you said you would too.

Oh and put the TV remote in another room.

Unfortunately it’s about discipline.

How To Give Head College Says:

January 18th, 2008, 6:53 am

No substitute for ’self-control’ and having your eye trained on the prize. Simple.

http://www.howtogivehead.wordpress.com

Kim Says:

January 18th, 2008, 6:56 am

I love the days I work from home; I actually get more done than I do at the office. What works for me is building in a reward system. If I work for a good, solid 7-8 hours or so (usually starting early in the morning) then I treat myself to a hot bath before going to get the kids at the babysitter’s house.

Works every time!

Lauren Says:

January 18th, 2008, 7:29 am

I don’t work at home, but following on from others’ ideas about structure and keeping work and home separate, I thought I’d add a tip I read somewhere (I thought was quite cunning). The person suggested “walking to work” each morning: shower, eat, dress, etc, then say goodbye to everyone, go out your door, walk around the block, and then go into your home office to work. At the end of your working day, go out the door again, walk around the block in the other direction, and then arrive home to greet family etc. No idea if it works (the person who suggested it reckoned it did), but it would at least get you some fresh air and create a bit of an ‘edge’ to the working day if that’s what you’re after.

Good luck!

Slawomir Fryska Says:

January 18th, 2008, 7:55 am

If your job is your passion, your hobby, you don’t need to separate it from the rest of your life. Keep the computer on, don’t keep regular hours, write when you have the inspiration (even at 2 am), go for a walk when you don’t (even at 10 am).

Don’t over-analyze this, be happy with your freedom, accept distractions, you know they will happen. Keep notes, then you’ll be able to go back to your thoughts after that diaper is changed and the baby is fed. Most of all, have fun and soon you will fall into a comfortable routine that’s uniquely yours.

Lorissa Says:

January 18th, 2008, 7:59 am

I think everyone has touched on the tips I would have given. They are all great suggestions. I’ve been working from home for a few years now, along with my husband. The only thing I can add is this (which isn’t really a tip, but anyway): expect to take some time finding what works for you. Some folks work better at night, some like to get up early. Since you are now your own boss, it doesn’t mean you have to work the usual 9 to 5 either (one of the joys of being self-employed is being able to set your own rules). Give yourself some time to get used to your new situation, get out of the typical workday mindset, and find what works best for you. Just giving yourself permission to figure out the best plan can make a world of difference. Knowing you, you’ll get into it pretty easily and soon have some great posts with suggestions for the rest of us.

Candis Says:

January 18th, 2008, 8:17 am

I work as a freelance court reporter, so half of my time is out in the field (taking depositions) and the other half is at home editing them. All the other advice is wonderful. Definitely define your “office hours” and try not to stray from them (although I have to do that sometimes b/c attorneys want transcripts fast). Make sure you allocate family time in the evening and no matter what happens, don’t go back to your computer/office during that time. About the TV, you would think that could be a distraction, but for me it never has been. Sometimes when I’m doing a mindless task, I’ll turn on the TV in the background and listen to CNN or FoxNews (something that doesn’t pull my attention, like a great movie). If there’s something you really want to see, take time out to watch it. Early in my career, I would always take time out to watch an hour of TV during the day. If you want to score major points with your wife, when you’re taking a break, go do the laundry, empty the dishwasher, or even make a casserole or something easy in the oven. :-) That’s the beauty of being a freelancer: You can do things during the day (rather than being tied to an office) and you can adjust your schedule to fit your needs (and still be productive at the same time). I do all my grocery shopping early in the morning (when the store is basically empty). I have really gotten spoiled to that “perk” of my job. Most of all, enjoy your newfound freedom!

Mark Says:

January 18th, 2008, 8:44 am

I worked from home for several years. My best tips:
1. stick to a schedule. I used to do 7- 3.
2. Also, get out of the house. I used to go to the public library and to coffee shops with my laptop to work uninterrupted.
3. Have your wife or family call you on your cell phone if they need something. This prevents them from interrupting you whenever they want.

David Zemens - 1955 Design Says:

January 18th, 2008, 8:55 am

I hate to sound repetitive, but I think getting up, getting dressed, and following a routine is the most important thing for me.

It’s far to easy to sit around in pajamas, but the work suffers when I do. Once you get wet, clean, dryed and dressed it just puts you in a better frame of mind for serious work.

Forcing yourself to only check email at pre-defined times is also a good idea. Constantly checking new emails detracts from whatever project or idea you were working on. It’s just not very efficient.

Keith D Says:

January 18th, 2008, 8:59 am

Most comments echo my experience. I speand a lot of time out of the office. When I’m here doing paperwork and proposals I have to get cleaned up, shaved, fed and dressed most of the time. I shoot for 8AM start. I try to get e-mail, blog checks and news surfing done before then. Even schedule/MITs set and out of the way. Thanks fro the MIT idea, BTW. I listen to internet radio. No TV, My accountant listens to music on cable at her home office (TV blank). It’s easy to get distracted and end the day wondering what got done. That is where MITs have helped. As mentioned, no work, no pay. My computer guy, also a home worker, mentioned the biblical saw that if a man does not work he doesn’t eat. He tries to get his billing out before he eats dinner. I am inspired by writers, even though I’m not one. Pullman, who wrote the Golden Compass books set a goal of 1000 words a day on his main project. It might take 2 hours it might take 8. He only goes on to research and secondary projects when it’s done.

OOPS, 8:00. I’m open for business. Bye.

Kathryn Says:

January 18th, 2008, 9:19 am

In my experience, the amount of time I devote to work as a freelancer expands and contracts in fairly direct relationship to the amount of work I am committed to doing. (This works for me because I have very concrete deadlines set by my clients for each project–the cartoon on Freelance Switch about trading one boss at the office for twenty who are your clients is so true!)

So, the “trick” is to commit to enough work so that you can’t possibly waste entire days watching TV and get it all done; but conversely, not to commit so much that you find yourself often sitting on the couch next to your spouse in the evenings while he’s watching TV and you’ve got your laptop open doing work.

Becky Says:

January 18th, 2008, 9:21 am

Find your own Zen Habits.

I’ve been self employed and working from home for 2 years now, and it took a while to find a rhythm that works for me. Having a schedule is good (and I follow one loosely), but forcing yourself to work when your mind is elsewhere, or when you’ve become frustrated and unproductive, eliminates one of the best things about being self employed: Making Every Moment Count.

So find your own rhythm. Make your work productivity-based, not hours-based (you can probably do more in 4-6 focused hours than most people do in 8 typical hours). Schedule the goals in all parts of your life based on their importance, not whether they’re “work” or “personal.”

This is also a great time to take a leap and begin pursuing something you’ve only thought about doing before, and build it into your new lifestyle. For me that something is cycling.

Chris Carpinello Says:

January 18th, 2008, 9:27 am

As a software engineer I typically work from home two days a week. Regardless if I’m at home or at the office, I stay focused by creating a list of the top three goals to meet during my workday. Even if I only complete one of the goals, then I still feel like I’ve accomplished something that day. By following this goal setting method, maintaining an uncluttered workspace and listening to lyricless dance/trance music, I remain in a flow-like state which makes it easy to ignore distractions like the television, surfing the web, etc.

Dominic Says:

January 18th, 2008, 9:40 am

The greatest problem I’ve found when working at home is the people around me. I love them to little bits, but they don’t seem to understand the concept of “I’m working”, and think it’s OK to interrupt at any time with requests for trips to the store, conversations about a sale at Quik-E-Mart, and demands for juice.
Don’t be afraid to be an a-hole, within the boundaries of your own conscience. Make it clear from the outset that work time is Work Time and shall remain sacrosanct. Make it black and white early and it won’t be grey later.
I generally keep my studio doors closed when I don’t want to be disturbed, and that at least slows them down enough to knock before they barge in. It may seem pedantic, but for keeping your workflow going, it’s necessary.

Andrew Merryweather Says:

January 18th, 2008, 10:15 am

Matt Gibson above gives the excellent advice of using one computer for work, another for play.

I don’t have the luxury of having a dedicated work place - or room, or desk - in my house. So I create the separation by working from a laptop (my company gave it to me - I’m a software designer) and playing from my home pc.

One desk, with one monitor, keyboard, mouse, printer. But at the start of a workday I plug my laptop into that gear and switch on - and leave the home pc off. The laptop has essential work apps on it ONLY. No “fun” links in the browser, no personal email, no games etc.

When the clock ticks over to 5.30pm (on a good day), the laptop goes away in the bag and the home pc clicks on. Same desk, same screen, but the screen’s now full of shortcuts to all the funstuff, and none of the work.

MaxLag Says:

January 18th, 2008, 10:21 am

It’s snowing outside :
I remember one morning, in front of my computer, alone, trying to figure out what I was about to do that day…it was snowing outside, friday, before a 3 days week-end…no real motivation inside…and I saw that pencil and that sheet of paper on my desk, I tought, “Perhaps I could give a try at defining mini-steps, so mini, that they would be easy to do”.(So it could be easy to start) So I did that, I defined mini-steps, but also, I decided to do them one at the time in order to avoid confusion. After each steps completed, I was proud, simply.
When I got distracted, I came back to my mini-steps to stay focused.
I finished this Friday playing in the snow, and almost all mini-steps completed. Most importantly, I gave my best to do one clearly defined step at the time, and, with the least distractions: no TV, decluttered desk, and all my head.

Scott Watermasysk Says:

January 18th, 2008, 10:31 am

My tip is the opposite.

When you work from home and do work you really love, the problem is not how do you get your work done. It really becomes how to do I keep myself from not working too much.

I have been working from home for about 4 years now. Friends and family always say it is great that you never have to leave for work, but the problem is if you are not careful, you never get to leave work either.

Thanks,
Scott

Brian Purkiss Says:

January 18th, 2008, 10:52 am

Everyone has their own little tips that work best for themselves.

The two things that keep me going are stickie notes and doing my work first.

Write your ideas down, and get them done. You won’t make any money if you don’t show up.

Good luck!

Christian Y. Says:

January 18th, 2008, 11:00 am

Here are a couple things I do:

Wake up shower and get ready for work. This is important an important routine that sets you up for work. When I first started working from home my home time and work time blended together and I realized that I needed to add defined routines to segment my day.

Get out of the house and take part in a fitness routine. It is amazing how easy to become efficient and physically lazy at the same time. I can get more done at home work-wise but I realized I needed to leave the house more for my physical sanity.
Sometimes I will even take my laptop and take advantage of some of the wifi spots around town. The change of scenery was like a mental detox.

Explain to love ones and partners just because you are home it doesn’t mean you are not working. I have a problem with friends that just pop in and my gf thinking that because I answer to myself that my day is not hard.

The email monkey…..Don’t become an email addict. I would sit there and answer every email as they came in and I realized that I spent 4 hours straight just having email conversations. Schedule email time.

Good luck……

~C4Chaos Says:

January 18th, 2008, 11:14 am

nice. as someone who works from “home” (i.e. i’m posting this from Ireland right now) and passionate and happy on my job, let me tell you that one of your biggest challenges is to know when to stop working, especially if you get into the flow of things. this is my biggest problem right now and i still don’t have a solution for it. yeah, yeah, i know all the GTD stuff, but in practice, “flow” is like crack!

that said, here are some quick tips i’ve learned from working from “home.”

– unplug, or kill your TV

– use Gmail colored tabs and filters to organize your inbox stuff.

– working from home gives you more time and opportunity to meditate and reflect on what you’re doing. use that time wisely.

– it’s tempting to slack in the hygiene department when you work from home. but resist it, my friend. resist the temptation!

– invest in a good chair. it will save your ass and back. if you could afford it, get this: http://www.hermanmiller.com/aeron/

– drink Red Bull at your own risk

– there would be times when you’ll get claustrophobic (within the walls of your home office) and believe me, you’ll yearn for human company. when you feel this basic evolutionary urge, go out and do your work on coffee shops with wi-fi access. the lattes and hot people will keep you awake too :)

– switch to a MacBook Air if you can afford it. it would save you from back aches if you lug your laptop around coffee shops. it would make you look cool too.

that’s all for now. and congratulations again for doing what you do best, at home. i know the feeling ;)

keep it flowing…

~C

Alex Cohen Says:

January 18th, 2008, 11:25 am

Most these posts cover it all. In short, what works for me is discipline: To do what I have to, until I can do what I want to.

Its tough at first, but its empowering in the end. Because when its time to play, I approach it with the same rigidity.

“Sorry customers, but Alex is going snowboarding and then watching a funny chick movie with his wife. Everything must wait as I had to.”

Lorelei Says:

January 18th, 2008, 11:39 am

I currently work from home as well. I find that if I turn on the radio, it keeps me from turning on the t.v. It provides just enough “background noise” without being too distracting.

MoonCave Crystals Says:

January 18th, 2008, 11:52 am

For me, working from home is a way to get out of such a structured day to day routine. I mean face it, waking up early, taking a shower, getting dressed, having to be at work at a specific time–that is all what we were trained to do because that is what society says we have to do.

Working in comfortable attire, for me, even if it is my kitty kat pj’s has nothing to do with my productivity. Stopping to play with the dog just to get away from my work on the computer is perfectly acceptable. Sometimes I am up at 4am, other times I don’t go into the office until 9am. Some times I am simply not inspired so I cut out early, while other times I can be engrossed in a project until well after midnight.

Sometimes in the middle of the afternoon, I may take a nap or go listen to some soothing music, or meditate for a bit.

The beauty of working at home is the opportunity to break out of the mold of the zombie roboto-tron mentality of “going to work”.

I agree with one poster when he said, have fun. You will come to find that you will work out your own schedule as you go.

And as far as folks thinking since you work from home, so you arent “really” working? Forgit about it….no matter how much you set boundaries and explain to them that you are really working…they won’t listen…..LOL I have been doing this for five years and have tried to get my point across in a variety of ways….

As one of my “friends” , who stopped by without warning, said when I was explaining this frustration….”yeah, i HATE when someone stops by without calling first!”

Now? I just don’t answer the door anymore ..LOL

Joe Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:02 pm

I’ve been able to WFH on several occasions throughout 15 years in the IT industry, and it’s something that I’ve offered to my staff as well.

My advice: 1) Get up and get ready (dressed, fed, etc.) at the same time each day, to get your brain mentally prepared to work. 2) Don’t underestimate the value in scheduling face to face sessions with the people you will be working with on projects, etc. These encounters will energize you and help prevent you from feeling the ‘ivory tower’ mentality that can come from working mostly alone.

Good luck!

Stephen Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:19 pm

I guess I would tend to agree with Slawomir Fryska more than the majority of these posters. What is the point of working from home if you’re going to force all of the trappings of a nine-to-five job on yourself? This logic of waking up early, showering, saving, getting dressed to the nines, guzzling a pot of coffee, and working without distraction at the expense of your kids and spouses seems so counterintuitive! I am a graduate student so most days I am in classes and other obligations from 8 am until 7 or 8 pm or later, but occasionally I get a day off. On these days, I wake up when I’m not tired, do what I feel like, and go have coffee with my wife (or go ice skating) at the drop of a hat. These are, without a doubt, my most productive days. I feel that the whole point of working from home isn’t being as close to an office drone in your home as possible, but allowing work to function for you, rather than the other way around.

Michael Fisher Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:21 pm

Buy a rebounder. One of those soft-bounce mini-trampolines. (If it’s under $150 it isn’t good enough. Needak is the best brand I’ve found.)

Keep the rebounder next to your desk, and whenever you feel your attention slipping or feel yourself sliding into a “slow” or “tired” physiology (or catch yourself wasting time on internet surfing), get up and jump on your trampoline a bit, maybe throw on some loud music.

Changing your physiology, getting your body moving, will throw you back into the groove, and you will be able to jump back into your work focused and alive again.

Work with passion. Love what you do. And fill your day (even a “work” day at your desk at home) with a variety of emotions. Laugh more. Have fun with it. And remind yourself of how amazing it is to be able to NOT have to go into a stupid office every day!

~ Michael Fisher

Kristina Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:26 pm

I am a mom, work for my boyfriend (at a home based business), and a full time grad student…the best way I have found to keep myself focused is to set a timer. I work for 45 minutes and take a 15 minute break…this being when I change the laundry around or go for a walk around the block. It comes down to balence of work, family, and fun. Good luck and welcome to wearing slippers all day!!

Dana Kangas Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:28 pm

I am sure you already know this…but I read it on ABCnew.com the other day…it might help.

Do the most important tasks you have in the morning. Several hours before you wake up, the body produces the stress hormone cortisol, which increases your blood sugar and gives you the energy you need to get things done.

Schedule presentations at 10:00AM. That’s when your voice is the most rested.

Have a healthy protein snack at 2:00PM. Nuts or protein bar will increase your energy and stop you from going for the candy bar before dinner.

Have a cup of coffee about 3:00PM – or go for a walk to help you perk up and feel more alert.

Make and return phone calls about 3:30PM. The 3:00 re-energizing is just kicking in, and talking with people will help revive you and get you through to the end of the work day on an upward note.

Karen Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:36 pm

Hi Leo,

Being a work at home mom for 7 years, here are a few ideas. One thing for me that has been absolutely essential is working out in the morning after I drop the kids off for school. It helps focus my mind and gives a nice immediate sense of accomplishment.
I like to work a little more in the moment than most. Every Sunday night I get out my day planner and map out what absolutely has to be done by Friday. It is very detailed. I also list what would be good to get a head start on for the coming week. Then everyday I wake up and decide what I am going to do. Some days I knock out half my list in one day. Other days I see what a lovely day it is, garden and take my sons on a picnic. My only hard and fast rules are work shall not cut into family time more than an hour or two a week. No work on the weekends!
I love having everyday to discover. Very rarely do I completely slack off and only a couple of times have I gotten seriously behind. Mostly due to sick children.
Embrace the day Leo!

rel Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:43 pm

Leo,

For me, multi-tasking at home can be more difficult than anywhere else… so I recommend breaking up the day however it works for you… for instance, read emails in the morning, then go for a walk, then make phone calls after that, then pick a time that works best for you to write, etc. If you have a plan for the day, more things will get done.

At the office, you are in more of a panic mode, doing all things at once all the time. For me, this was stressful, so when I started working at home I found the time of the day that I’m best at every different task and I did it then.

It also took a while to get over the guilt of not going to an office. RUBBISH! … I say sleep till when you want, work till 2 in the morning if that makes you happy, but don’t ever feel bad about doing things your way just because the rest of the world is getting to work at 9, eating at 12, and quitting at 5. Do it your way and feel good about it!

rel

Beverly Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:52 pm

Seems like most of us agree to the routine, schedule and x-nay on the pj’s. I’ve been a mobile worker with a home based office since 1998. Keeping to a routine has been paramount. Wake, shower, dress, coffee, kids to school , straighten house and then to work. I find that must have the vacuuming, dishes and laundry done by 8:00 am so that I am clear to focus on only work. Noise cancellation headphones are a big help!

Kristy Says:

January 18th, 2008, 12:58 pm

The biggest challenge in working from home is keeping family and work separated. Definitely define your space. Work should always remain in the work zone. If you have a door, close it during “closed” hours. If you will have phone calls regarding your business, opt for a separate line. Establish disciplines for everyone, especially yourself, and including your children, during “business” hours and follow them. My husband and I once shared a home office. Rule number one was that each evening we would shake hands and thank each other for a great day at work (as business partners and as a vow that work was staying in the work room.) We would then close the door (as if we were leaving work). After a few minutes of being back in our living space, we would hug each other as our “welcome home”. It may sound over-the-top, but I can not stress how challenging mixing home and work really are, especially with a large family. Good luck to you, Leo (and family); I’m cheering you on!!

Cynthia Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:01 pm

I’ve had a successful home business for 14 years (a refugee from corporate america madness) and, for me, the only discipline required is that which guarantees I’ll meet contractual agreements…thus ensuring I get to stay in business. I do work in jammies. I DVR one daytime program (the rest is crap), I arrange my schedule to both meet commitments to clients AND to allow time for myself to sit in the sun, watch the birds, go for a walk, write my blog. I work when my biological clock tells me I’m the most productive - the rest of the time is MINE.

Aaron Griffin Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:05 pm

I used to work from home 2 days a week for a year. It was fun. I got a lot of Star Trek watched.

Seriously. Do NOT work in a typical “recreation room” in your house. Distractions are killer.

Also, make sure you shower and get dressed as if it were a normal day. The temptation to code in your underwear on the couch in front of Law and Order on TV is immense, but fighting it makes everything better.

MarkS Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:15 pm

I work at home nearly every day and find it best to have some trigger that changes my mind from thinking about home to thinking about work. In my case it is getting back from taking the kids to school. I find it much harder to start work when my wife takes them to school. I’ve also heard of cases of people who go out the front door, walk round the house and in the back door.

I also agree with the clothing. Change into something more official on work days and keep the less official clothing for the post work hours and weekend.

Bruce Bullis Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:16 pm

I find that not having a TV helps.

Make sure you have child care in place (partner, older kid, neighbor, whatever); you can’t fully work or fully parent when you’re trying to do both.

Make sure everyone in your home knows when you’re working. Bonus behavior: they can remind you when you’re supposed to be NOT working…

Steve Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:32 pm

Getting dressed, having a separate area, and a schedule are all key, as has been mentioned many times before.

The only thing I would add is that it was helpful for me to create a “commute” for myself. I do my run in the morning right before I get dressed to get my brain transitioned over. It’s amazing how much of the brainstorming I got done in the car on the way to work, and my work suffered until I found a way to reproduce that.

André Giebels Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:35 pm

I’m a self-employed web-designer and sometimes, when I’m working at the computer, I get a bit distracted with the time I spend reading my Google Reader, E-mails and Blogs like this one. So it’s better to have a specific hour to dedicate to do this tasks.
But once I get started on my job no one can stop me :).
I think the secret is to do something you love, something you don’t get tired of.
Just mark a regular schedule from x to x (that’s what’s good about freelance, choose your schedule) than do yourself a preferred ritual, like a coffee and some music and you’re ready to go.

Okay. Have to go back to work. Losing my time now.
:)

Susan Turner Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:47 pm

tips: gotta have a routine. as much as i fight against structure, that’s the only thing that saves me. get up at the same time, do your chores or work out, get dressed (that’s definitely a big one) and get to your work day. work at your desk for at least part of the day before unplugging and moving outside or to the sofa. get out of the house! it is amazing how a mid-day drive, bike ride or walk around the block can clear your head and help you focus. on a more personal, and admittedly embarrassing note, i have my significant other put the “parental controls” on the tv before leaving for work so I can’t turn it on without a password. i hate to admit this publicly, but i have a little “visual stimulation” addiction problem.

caroline Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:49 pm

Set up seperate email accounts (work, personal, freelance, etc.) & only check your “work” email during “business” hours.

affiliate blog Says:

January 18th, 2008, 13:59 pm

Have a separate cell phone line for personal calls. It always weirds people out when I answer with my business name because I don’t know if it’s someone i know or a business call.

Summer Says:

January 18th, 2008, 14:13 pm

Work when you feel most productive. I have certain things I do best at certain times - I get the most desk/computer work done in the afternoon between 1-6. I get the most sewing/blending/creative stuff between 6-1am. My body wants to wake up at 9am, so I wake, eat, take a bath, etc. Do my stuff - email, games, reading, exercise, then eat, then work. Have dinner then switch gears to either friend time, personal time, or creative time.

When I need to Really focus to get something done, I leave the house, especially if it’s online.

DVR is my friend. I can tape cooking shows, which I’ll watch, skipping the commercials, as a good 20 minute break, and it makes me think about dinner/lunch (so I don’t forget to eat).

Stacy Says:

January 18th, 2008, 14:34 pm

I invoke the Mr. Rogers sweater methodology. Once I enter my home office and put on the ‘office sweater’ I am transformed into the magical online world of work.

Nick Says:

January 18th, 2008, 14:40 pm

I’ve been working from home primarily for about 3 years now and I’ve struggled with various aspects of focus and productivity over that time. Here’s the tips I’ve found (a lot of which have already been mentioned by other seasoned telecommuters above):

1. Separate “work area”. I can’t stress this enough. It doesn’t have to be complex or as nice as a desk at “the office” might be. Set it up with only the bare essentials you need to accomplish your work and put it in a relatively uninteresting spot (away from distractions and TVs and the like). Personally, I use a small computer cart that we were given when my girlfriends parents moved. It’s very simple and holds my laptop, external monitor, Cisco router and VoIP phone handily, as well as providing a keyboard drawer so I can use an external keyboard/mouse and not destroy my back with the laptop.

2. Use some sort of a work-life balance timer and find out what your best “working at home” time ratio is. I like to give myself 10 minutes to slack off for every 50 or so I work (rounding out to a nice even hour). After that I reevaluate my task at hand (if it needs more attention or can be set aside for another task) and re-start the timer.

3. Allow yourself the standard lunch break, but don’t let yourself turn on the TV or anything else that becomes an attention-sucking void, as you may be tempted to just “forget” when your lunch hour ends.

These are a few of the things I’ve tried to do to ensure I stay productive at home. Best of luck to you!

olivierg Says:

January 18th, 2008, 14:44 pm

1) Ensure your “office” room is very well separated from the rest of the house. In my case I have a seperated flat next to my house. You need a very quiet place to focus.
2) Make sure there is a rule in the house to respect the closed door/ Do not disturb policy ;-)
3) Have clear “office” hours (with some limited flexibility)
4) I have someone else (my PA) owning my schedule, so I am really not deciding on my schedule. I feel exactly like in a office expect that I can do much more since I am never ever disturbed

Naomi Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:08 pm

Knowing when to stop working is just as important as when to start.

Always ask yourself - ‘am I making the best use of my time? What is the most important thing for me to do today?

Or ‘What am I avoiding doing?’

Knock those out, and the rest of the day becomes easy.

Also - never, ever sit down at a computer without writing down on some paper what you plan to do. I’ve found that this helps me stop from time wasting - easy to do on the web.

Jim H. Moreno Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:11 pm

Congrats Leo! I’ve been self-employed for about 6 years now, and it’s awesome. I keep a small supply of chocolate nearby. At break time, I step outside and enjoy a cigar or pipe, which also helps to relax the eyeballs. And all day long, I’ve got music and netcasts playing. Best thing to do is take all these suggestions, try them out, discard what doesn’t work for you, and find your own groove!

Sonia Simone Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:12 pm

@Bruce Bullis, excellent points. Writing or analytical work does not mix with engaged, involved parenting. Each one needs and deserves its own space and time.

Bev Meldrum Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:25 pm

I can get distracted easily but the one thing that makes all the difference to me is to make a list at the end of each day of the top 3 tasks you want to accomplish for the following work day.

You then get up the next day and find your list on your desk and you are ready to go. Once you have completed those three things the rest of the day is for you to use as you please - you can work some more (which I often find myself doing because once the top three things are done I am in the swing of it) or you can treat yourself to some time off (because you have already had a productive day).

MikeLee Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:32 pm

I have a feeling that the internet is going to be a bigger problem than your tv… assuming you’re not a daytime soap addict.

Like many things, it’s all a choice on what you want to do with your time. Self-discipline is really the only way to get your stuff done because otherwise you’ll find other creative ways to lose productivity.

Winston Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:45 pm

The threat of losing face is an excellent motivator. Deadlines are much more powerful when someone knows if you’ve missed them.

e.g. Tell people what you’re working on and when you plan to be done (e.g. “On Wednesday, I’m going to post an article on X that I think you’ll like.”). Tell yourself you’ll have to skip that social outing if you don’t get certain pieces of work done by then.

Myke Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:47 pm

Reboot your brain each morning. First thing. I do this by reading, writing, praying and walking. First and always. It refreshes my mental operating system onto a solid plaform.

The result? Everything goes more quickly, efficiently, brightly and with more enthusiasm during the balance of the day.

JustBuzzed Says:

January 18th, 2008, 16:58 pm

I think one thing to think about is what did you do when you were working on your blog before you quit your day job? Did you sit all alone in a room? Or did you have the TV on and wait for inspiration. You are your own boss, and you don’t work for some corporate position where you just have to do paper work all day, you are a full time blogger. You gotta be on the web, surfing, investigating, writing and making new content. So how you come up with original content is what you should be doing. Find out what worked for you before you quit your job and then see how you can improve that model with the extra time you have.

http://theunsoberlife.com

Tonya Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:43 pm

Congrats, welcome to the dark side!

Biggest habits that have impacted my self-employment.

1) Get dressed and put shoes on. Even if it’s just shorts and slippers. I dig being barefoot, but man does that throw me into instant “lounge” mode.

2) A simple sheet of paper with pre-printed lines next to check-boxes. Write a task on each line. Get the endorphins when you check them off (it’ll get addicting).

3) Define your work space and make sure everybody respects it. And keep it away from the TV.

4) If you’re on a MAC and haven’t already, invest in an upgrade to Leopard and make good use of “spaces”:

http://www.apple.com/macosx/features/spaces.html

Good luck! I’ll be following along.

Lura Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:45 pm

My tip comes from an emotional angle rather than a logistical one - in working from home (or at the office) we have to work with whatever “moods” may come or go (sluggish, really happy, whatever)…unfortunately those sluggish moods sometimes come just when you need to sit down and really work - the beauty of working from home is you have a wide variety of things to jolt you out of that mood - find something that instantly makes you happy or productive - a song, a short film, a quick five minutes playing with your kids - something that’s quick enough to work on your mood but not so long that it sucks you into distraction - I find that when I’m starting to feel like I don’t want to work anymore that day but I need to - putting that favorite song on changes my mood instantly.

Enjoy your time working from home!

Terry Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:47 pm

So many great tips here! Thanks to everybody.

I find it hard to get started in the morning if I don’t plan for it the night before. I make a list of the first three tasks I must do the next morning, and then — and this is important — I start the first one. It’s like a launchpad to blast away the morning drowsies.

I open whatever application I’ll need for that first task (Photoshop, Dreamweaver, Word, etc), open the file I’m going to use, and put something on it. Doesn’t matter what, a sentence, a bit of graphic, a logo. I don’t turn the computer off, just darken the monitors and walk away. So the next morning when I sit down at my workstation, there it is arrayed before me.

Tracy Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:50 pm

I like to block off 2 hour blocks of time. During that time I focus intently on the task at hand and I don’t take a break. I also refrain from chatting on phone to friends or IMing friends. After the 2 hour block I take a stretch break, get water, etc. Then I come back and set another 2 hour block.

If I’m feeling really unmotivated, I might shorten the block length to 1 hour.

So far, that works for me.

Mark Litke Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:55 pm

Lots of great tips here. Best tip I got was to be aware of the time to make the transition. It usually takes someone 2 years to adjust to working from home. Maintain professional contacts, set daily and weekly goals just like the office, set up a routine but don’t get bogged down in it. Take breaks, walk the dog and work when the flow is there ~ and in all things enjoy the commute!

Christina Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:57 pm

My best piece of advice is to make sure you are doing something you love and are passionate about. I don’t find it hard to work at home because I love what I do. I think I find it harder to walk away when I need to.

Christina Says:

January 18th, 2008, 17:59 pm

P.S. It helps not to have cable!

Erica Ross-Krieger Says:

January 18th, 2008, 18:01 pm

Been working from a home office for 19 years and haven’t looked back. Leo, you know the Zen habits like the back of your hand. Now you just apply them to your new quarters. Include these things (the 1st one’s critical, the rest are not in any particular order):

1. Hang a note on your door that says “Zen Habits Being Applied — Do Not Disturb”
2.Set up a schedule and stick with it.
3. Build in time for physical activity out of the house.
4. Build in time for regular lunch meeting at least once a week with a colleague. Keep that time blocked out and then fill it each week with someone you want to stay current with or get to know.
5. Dress as if you are going to an outside office - you will be more productive.
6. Set meaningful goals.
7. Take yourself to coffee or tea each week to hold a review session — be compassionately tough — where did you stay on track & where not. Celebrate wins.
8. Head back to work:)
9. Build in some “play time” — say one afternoon a month where you and your wife will head to the movies — exercise this privilege (that comes from working from home) as a reward for hitting your targeted goals that month.

Mainly: Enjoy! You deserve it.

MAS Says:

January 18th, 2008, 18:13 pm

Honor thyself. Honor thy boundaries. Make sure others do, too.

Identify what made you productive at your previous day job, and incorporate those things.

Self-discipline.

Remembering that no one on TV–not one celebrity or newscaster–cares about you personally. Why sell your soul, business, family, and your home for them? If you watch TV WHEN YOU SHOULD BE WORKING, that’s in essence what you are doing–giving them what rightfully belongs to you, your family, your friends. You are stealing from them to give to the folks on TV. Keep the TV OFF, and don’t let it get started if you cannot control it.

If you need the TV to drown out household noise, train your household to respect and honor your job at home. Or get a white noise machine. Keep the TV off.

Remember that if you don’t respect your business and honor thy boundaries, no one else will. You have to set the example in showing your business honor.

What everyone said above, too–from time management, to motivation, to .

Faith Says:

January 18th, 2008, 18:22 pm

My number-one tip:

Keep all your work in a separate room with a door you can close. Be sure to close that door at the end of the workday, and leave your work behind.

I’ve been working at home (as a copy editor) for 20 years. I wouldn’t have it any other way. For the first 12 years, I worked in a partitioned area of my living room - not good. So I made it my goal to find a new home with an extra room, and I did it. For the last 8 years, I’ve worked in a separate home office - and I love it! (And it’s a clear-cut tax deduction, too!)

Leo, you might not be able to afford a separate room right now, but it’s a good goal to strive for.

David Zinger Says:

January 18th, 2008, 18:24 pm

My best tip for working at home is to relax and enjoy it. I like to drive my children to school, to have a nap on the couch if I am tired, to stay in my house coat until 10 if I feel like it. I think just getting into the moment of it while still responding to the tasks that are. No point in making yourself into a bad boss of yourself.

Mark Says:

January 18th, 2008, 18:33 pm

For me the biggest key is to set aside an area in the house that is for work, that does not have the distractions of the TV or anything else for that matter. Work on a schedule. Give yourself appropriate breaks, set a timer if you must to remind you when your break is up. Focus is key!

georgette Says:

January 18th, 2008, 18:39 pm

I love working from home, its the only way I can get huge amounts of work accomplished. Although having an internet business allows you to work from home no matter where you go in the world.

1. Go to bed when you are tired, wake up when you feel like it

2. Get out of old hourly, 9-5 schedule, you can work anytime, morning, night, early morning, late night

3. Eat healthy, gives you lots of energy to sit on computer

4. Exercise

5. Allow yourself mini breaks, walk around, get water, have sex

6. Play your favorite music, and light incense

7. Work right next to the one you love on the same
schedule as you

8. Watch a favorite tv show in view while you are on computer, they are usually only 30 minutes to an hour,

9. Have fun, enjoy what you do, want to work always

10. Working 24/7 is not a bad thing, depending on what you do, when you have lots of different subjects that are important, you can accomplish life while you work

11. Find an internet playground, a place where you can socialize, have fun, promote your work, and make friends

12. Turn off the phone, and require everybody to reach you by email, can make exceptions for family and significant other as long as they don’t call too much, answer emails when you can give full attention, and you can answer at anytime of the day or night

13. If friends drop in, and you are in the middle of work, finish what you are doing, don’t get in the habit of stopping what you do to please somebody else, have them hang out, get on a computer, or drop back in as soon as you are finished with your thought, or where you wanted to be done before you switch course

14. Have a cat that loves to sit on your lap while you work, makes you feel all warm and fuzzy

15. Only allow a select few to IM you, tell others you don’t have it

16. Keep an open mind, and live life like you were in a fairytale, you make the story, enjoy, be happy, and always follow your bliss

8.

Carl Ingalls Says:

January 18th, 2008, 18:45 pm

I’ve been self-employed since 1996 as a technical consultant to the tissue paper industry. I worked from home for the first 4 years, and then I discovered that I needed a different sort of work environment, one that included other people working around me. I find that I am usually more productive that way. I rent an office space. Actually, what I rent is atmosphere.

If you find yourself suffering from something like writer’s block, it might help to find a different space to work for a day. I like coffee shops.

I have a friend who says he does his best work at night, sitting in bed with his laptop. That would not work for me at all. I guess different people find that different environments work for them. Experiment.

I wish you good luck. Also, thank you for providing a place for so many extremely good ideas, submitted by all the people before me.

Chad Says:

January 18th, 2008, 19:00 pm

Having a specific work space is important. Also, you need to request from your family that they pretend you are not home during the hours you are working. Once they get used to this concept the distractions will minimize.

I’ve found that I get much more quality work done faster at home than I ever did at an office. But it does take discipline and focus.

Congratulations on the new freedom and the best blog!

banji Says:

January 18th, 2008, 19:47 pm

Wow! so many inspiring ideas. I’m actually writing a few down for my own reference

I am interested though in a comment made by Stephen, that say what’s the point of working at home, when you are stuck with a 9-5 routine anyway?

so Leo, what is your opinion on this?

- Just to add some value to this comment, I really think the best tips to work at home is to give it time and adapt. Changes in life routine is a very big thing.. a lot of pressure involved especially when it is associated to income. So

try everything,
take your time,
and adapt :)

LessonInLife.com

Hammer Says:

January 18th, 2008, 19:52 pm

When I work from home, I don’t use a separate workspace. I dress casually and get comfortable. What keeps me from getting distracted is thinking about the consequences if I am not productive. I would have to go to the office and follow that whole routine instead of being able to work on my own time in my own space.

Turning on the tv or spending too much time online or whatever would prevent me from being able to work by my fireplace with my pets curled up at my feet, so it’s pretty easy for me to choose to get work done.

Karen Says:

January 18th, 2008, 20:07 pm

Congratulations, Leo! I’m so happy for you and I’m inspired by your ability to pull this off in just a year. So I’m confident that you’ll be just fine, particularly since I’ve learned so many good habits from you.
There have been lots of good tips here and I think you’ll find that you’ll need some time to adjust and pick and choose what works best for you. I’ve been working from home for eight years and for what it’s worth, here’s what works for me:

Set up a routine that sets a serious let’s get down to work tone for the day. Mine is kind of silly - I have an open/closed sign that I hang when I start work. It reminds me to get down to business and when I pass it during a break, it reminds me not to waste too much time and to get back to work. It also reminds others that I’m working and shouldn’t be disturbed. And I get an irrational amount of pleasure from hanging that closed sign at the end of the day, which is whenever I say it is, usually after I’ve finished my to-do list for the day. The closed sign helps remind me it’s time to stop working because, as others have noted, it’s very easy to let work take over your life if you don’t take care.

I take about 15 minutes each morning before work to do my personal chores. It helps me get down to business if I know that my personal stuff is taken care of and it prevents that kind of stuff from distracting me during the day. If I do see something, I just make a note to take care of it next morning.

I try to get out of the house at least once every day. I usually do errands after lunch. I’ll take the computer to the local library or coffee shop-this is particularly helpful when I’m feeling distracted at home. It’s amazing what a change of scenery can do for you. Also, it can get lonely working from home and especially in winter it’s too easy to become a hermit and that’s not healthy. So I make a point of getting out for lunch and to socialize and if nothing else, I just go for a walk just to get out and break up the day.
Good luck!

Dave Trager Says:

January 18th, 2008, 20:23 pm

Hey guys- just found out about this blog from my wife, and loving it.

I have worked from home (until recently actually moving back into an office) for 5 years. It has always been .com related. Here are my tips:

-Enjoy the freedom. Get out of the 9-5 habits and plan a glorious day for yourself. The work will get done- but I have found that creativity soars when you take frequent breaks away from work. Wake up- play- get something healthy for breakfast. Work for 4 hours. Go out for 2, work another 4+- that is how my days usually went.

-If involved in serving others, make your flexibility available for them. My nickname became ‘ninja’, since I would rarely get an email that I didn’t respond to right away. Truth be hold- with wireless technology and blackberrys so readily available- you could be anywhere in the world and still do a better job than if you were constrained to a 9-5 work day. I always thought it was nice that I could travel anywhere and provide better service than someone at a desk. ;)

-Go outside. Don’t forget that one. See sunlight at least twice a day.

- Promote your more ‘enlightened’ lifestyle to others- don’t shrink if they get jealous. ;) (they may not believe you are really working anyway). I know this happened to me- I would be sitting at home in my underwear- people would stop by and not believe i even had a job! Little did they know I was paving the way for future lazy people. ;)

Ok, I better leave it at that! Enjoy the freedom!

cathy Says:

January 18th, 2008, 20:35 pm

1. Define and decorate a space so that you feel great and motivated. Keep it clutter free. Paint, create good storage and filing systems, get a great chair and make sure all your tools are functional and supplies are handy.

2. Then just do what you love. It’s really not hard to stay motivated working at home if you are doing what you love.

When I quit my job, my husband joked that I would get fat watching Oprah and eating bon bons. (funny, I read that in a previous comment). I have always loved working, it is just so much better when you are working for yourself. If I could put 150% into helping anothers business I could easily put that and more into mine.

I do start everyday with a gratitude, including a thanks for my super short commute and an opportunity to do something I love.

Martine Says:

January 18th, 2008, 21:00 pm

You can watch tv and work at the same time! I have been working from home for nine years now, and find that watching tv while working makes me very productive. Murder She Wrote is my favorite, because I can follow the story line and still write my proposals and crunch numbers.

And of course, take tips from Fly Lady, who is the master at it.

Other work from home tips: work 10 hours a day, with a long gardening break in the middle. Get a crockpot. Get dressed, even shoes. Get a webcam. Install messenger. Get a dual ear headset phone. Get a webinar account.

Frank Gilroy Says:

January 18th, 2008, 21:01 pm

For me it’s all about motivation. Regardless of how well I free myself of distractions there are days where I simply lack the motivation to work. It’s much easier to be lazy at home so motivation has been my main focus.

See I haven’t acheived ZTD habit 10 yet. The habit of finding your passion. I think I’m pretty darn close, but not quite there. I love the Internet and just about everything about it. I’m working to build a business that allows me to work “inside” the net.

I stumbled on a secret to motivating myself in a rather strange “round-a-bout” way. While communicating with an associate online about my new business venture I was encourage to read a book called “The Secret”. If you haven’t read it I highly encourage you to drop your orange slushy right now and go buy a copy. You’ll read it from front to back in a few hours.

Now that I know “The Secret” I’m finding myself extremly motivated. I now know that what I want in life is just around the corner and I’m excited to get there.

Frank

Anastasia Suen Says:

January 18th, 2008, 21:40 pm

I echo what so many here have said about having a schedule. Monday through Friday I write in the morning and teach writing (online) in the afternoon.

I also have a weekly schedule. I assign certain tasks to days of the week. It’s like an editorial blog calendar! For example, I run my errands on Thursdays, and visit the library, the post office, the market, etc. (Clustering your errands saves $$ on gasoline as well.)

Andrea Hess | Empowered Soul Blog Says:

January 18th, 2008, 22:08 pm

I don’t have a set schedule - I love being able to structure my day as I please. If I wanted a strict schedule, I’d be working for someone else! I love my job enough to not be tempted by watching TV. Work is far more interesting and rewarding!

Also, go find a coffee shop with free wireless access and get out of the house to work every once in a while. It’ll give you a reason to get dressed properly and gets you out of the house.

Congrats!
Andrea Hess

Jester Says:

January 19th, 2008, 0:38 am

I had to get separate phone lines one for work and one for home I hated it when a family member would pick up a different phone and start dialing while I was talking to a client.
also try in a nice way to get them to realize your there to work not chat and help out with there daily tasks.

PANTS! Says:

January 19th, 2008, 2:49 am

I set a timer for 2 hour intervals. I DO NOT stop working until that timer has gone off. You can use whatver timer you like but I prefer a Mac app called Awaken. Keeps me on point. Then I can take a short break and back at it. Never sit down on your break - you can sit when you get back to your desk.

Mike Smith Says:

January 19th, 2008, 3:08 am

My tips are simple:

Dress semi-decent. I always feel more productive when I’m not in pajama’s and lounging around.

Don’t work in your living room. Too many times I’ve had the laptop in my living room with me working for 3-4 hours, and that turns into checking things 10-20 times while I’m supposed to be relaxing and spending time with my girlfriend.

Tom Furman Says:

January 19th, 2008, 3:55 am

I find keeping things within arms reach and not having to get up is a great tool. Running to find files or needed references in other parts of the house is distracting. Eating properly and training hard improves your focus as well. No snacking on junk food for sure!

James Says:

January 19th, 2008, 4:36 am

Do your work first thing in the morning. Make all the crappy stuff your first priority, otherwise the later in the day you leave it the more likely you are to start procrastinating on it.

John Says:

January 19th, 2008, 7:13 am

Lots of good advice here.
I occasionally get to work at home (w@h) and find that I can be soooooo productive away from constatnt meetings and interruptions, but I have to set up first :

Shower, shave, breakfast as usual
Dress comfortably
Shut myself away
Have a ready supply of tea/coffee
Get some decent instrumental music on the headphones (I find I listen to lyrics too much !)

As far as the work is concerned, I will be focussed on an MIT, but I make sure that I set myself up to achieve at least a couple of tasks early in the day.

Breaks are important too. I followed some advice (see http://successbeginstoday.org/wordpress/2006/09/the-power-of-48-minutes/).

Cheers
John

Jack Kennard Says:

January 19th, 2008, 9:35 am

Number 1 Rule: Keep it fun! The more enjoyment, the easier it is to come back to the table(or computer). If I get stressed, step back re-examine what’s going on and get back into the groove.

Keep a clean working area.
Some light generic music helps me stay focused.

Rule # 2: Take care of yourself. Make time to exercise. Eat smart foods.

Rule # 3: Rule # 1

I’m working at home part time and trying to make it full time. I have a lot to learn and probably apply more Discipline will be a big factor!

Iko Says:

January 19th, 2008, 10:43 am

Be honest about your hours (define a set minimum) and schedule your play-time. By scheduling the time that you spend to enjoy yourself can help motivate you to do work.

And don’t forget to reward yourself for going above and beyond.

MoonCave Crystals Says:

January 19th, 2008, 10:50 am

No Ivory Tower here…more like the troll under the bridge :) First thing I do when I wake up–before I even get out of bed is….”What day is it? and What do I need to do today?”

For you anti-pink puppydog pajama folks…..I work no less than 12 hours a day, sometimes 16-18 and am very productive. The only difference is I am comfy :)

Bottom line is, do what works for you. If you need structure in your life, then be structured. If you are productive working in a more laid back comfortable environment? Then, there ya go :)

My reason for comfort…I am not just the owner of the business, I am the web designer, secretary, packer, shipper, photographer….you get the picture :) Which means, when I am running around filling orders, it does not make sense to be in a business suit :) But, that is just me.

Leo, you know what do to, just practice what you have shared with everyone in this blog. You will find your way (and if you do sneak a peek at the tv every so often…so what? :)

Lockwood Says:

January 19th, 2008, 10:51 am

Structure. You need to structure your days. Make some habits that you might do at work. For example, when you’re ready to work, step outside, take a breath and come back in and sit right down at your computer, etc. Do this every single day. And get dressed like you’re going to work. Don’t work in your pajamas all day unless you’re Heffner. Little things like this will help a lot, but you have to have these routines every day. And shut the computer off before dinner, and don’t turn it on again until the next morning when your work day starts.

Make sure your work at home life and your home life are two different things.

victoria Says:

January 19th, 2008, 11:44 am

The hardest part for me — and one I haven’t seen mentioned yet — is that writing is a solitary job by nature and if you’re an extravert it can feel like the walls are closing in. I have no idea if that applies to you or not, but that’s by far the hardest thing to me about working from home (I’m an extreme extravert), and for me at least, IM and e-mail aren’t a substitute for real human interaction. I try to make a point of scheduling social time at least four times a week, because it rejuvenates me.

Moving Mountains Says:

January 19th, 2008, 12:28 pm

I make a list of what I want/need to accomplish in any given day. I write lists for several days in advance. Some days may only have one or two items in advance. Then I add to each day’s to-do list as items develop or I think of something new. I try to be as specific as possible and break each goal down into the tasks that it will take to reach that day’s goal, and I prioritize the tasks. If I finish a day’s list early, then I check lists for future days to see if there is anything I can do to pick up some slack. If I don’t finish a day’s list, then the unfinished items are added to the next day’s list in priority order.

If I find my mind wandering or am unable to complete something on the list because I’m tired or bored, I take the dog for a walk. The fresh air is stimulating and taking that break often allows me to see things differently or adds a fresh perspective.

gr8grdz Says:

January 19th, 2008, 12:43 pm

When I first started working at home, I would work so intensley that I would lose track of time, miss a meal, and exhaust myself. I learned to break my work into segments of approximately 90 minutes of effort. I take a stretch break for 5+ minutes in between segments. I use a kitchen timer to help me stay focused and take care of myself.

GrannyGamer Says:

January 19th, 2008, 13:33 pm

If you love what you’re doing, your biggest challenge might be *not* working 24/7.

I’ve spent most of the last 40 years as a self-employed writer/editor (including freelance magazine writer) and I used to find myself writing, reading about writing, thinking about writing, and just plain wanting to be writing, all the time.

Eventually, I found my balance, and you will too. Get as much work done as you have to in order to make a living, but remember to also have a life.

I also think too many self employed people who work from their home don’t take full advantage of that wonderful situation. They end up being just as structured as they would if they worked a 9 to 5 job at a mind-deadening corporate cubicle job.

To me, one of the many joys of self employment was FREEDOM. Freedom to get up and do some gardening if I wanted. Freedom to nap for 20 minutes in the afternoon. Freedom to just play hookie for a day. Because I truly loved what I did, there were very few times in my life that I didn’t manage to work enough to make a living (despite my username, I was never married and never had kids,so it was a LOT easier for me to make enough money to live on.)

I was never terribly money motivated so I never had tons of dough rolling in, but I made (and still make) enough to pay all my bills (debt free), have a house and car, a reasonable retirement fund, and any extras I need (I say NEED, since my wants are small).

LiveLoaded.com Says:

January 19th, 2008, 14:05 pm

Whenever I’m feeling overwhelmed or start getting into the dreaded procrastination phase there are a few rituals I put myself through to bring my motivation levels back up to par:

1. I start visualizing the END result of the work I want to get done - instilling in me the reasons why I want to get it done in the first place, to hopefully bring back that drive to work through the tedium and attain the feeling of accomplishment.

2. I vividly remember a time when I worked “perfectly”, by perfect I mean in “flow” state. This helps give me confidence that I can be an efficient and effective worker - so why not now?

3. I recall my affirmations, statements that internalize the enthusiasm and powerful potential I know I have.

4. If necessary, I watch a motivational/subliminal video to further ignite the productive fires.

Lot of great comments - good idea for a post,

Jason
Blog - Subliminal Success: The Intelligent Warrior
http://www.liveloaded.com

Stephen Says:

January 19th, 2008, 15:31 pm

My advice is to do everything that Georgette wrote! Her list is perfect and is exactly the reason to work from home. You have a family so you can spend time with them, not so you can lock yourself away in a separate room! Her list is definitely the best response I have seen to this (really) thought-provoking question.

Keren Says:

January 19th, 2008, 16:28 pm

Hi there

First post but I love this blog. Congratulations on the big move from full time to freelance.

This big switch is on my horizon - within the next few months. So whilst I am not a freelancer fulltime yet, I have already told my family that this is my workspace and when I am in here I am working!

When the fulltime freelancing commences, I am sure I will be the type who pencils in everything including exercise into my day - otherwise I just don’t think I will get it done.

It’s quiet easy to sit at the computer and before you know it several hours have gone by and I haven’t even seen what the day looks like! To me that is not healthy.

I also think I will be the type who will work in blocks and require ‘inspirational’ little breaks during the day - this could be in the form of a coffee with a friend, errands to the post office/stationery supplies etc.

This New Year I didn’t give myself a resolution as such but I have a word and my word is BALANCE - so I figure if I keep it all in balance I should be right.

Calgary Says:

January 19th, 2008, 19:23 pm

There are soo many great suggestions so I thought I throw my two cents worth by bring up the impact on your family and some ideas of how to include them in the solution.

1) Involve your wife — recognize that your home has been your wife’s domain and any thing you come up with must be fit into how she manages the home and the family. So don’t start off on the wrong foot by questioning how she plans her day or criticize her for taking a break & watching TV when the little ones go down for their nap.
–See what suggestions she has.
–Negotiate for her time away from the kids as well as your own.
–Maybe there is something she is just dying to do that now can be accommodated with the new working arrangement.
–Look into other child care options it is going to be a major adjustment to be with the children 24/7 — you know you love them to bits but getting just a break for a few hours can do wonders for everyone.

The goal then is for your wife to also realize a positive benefit from this change and be willing to adapt to make it work.

2) Involve your kids — again for this to work they need to be part of the solution. Perhaps implement a penalty scheme where you pay a loonie (Canadian dollar coin) if they catch you watching TV when you are scheduled to be working Or you could make it into some sort of reward scheme.
—If you don’t want to have kids readily interupting you then spend more time with them.
—For the older kids with homework from school here’s a suggestion that worked beautifully in my family. My dad went back to university when I was 10. After dinner, would be the homework time and he worked on his reports while we did our homework. No tv, no radio just quiet concentration. Afterwards we went for a walk before heading into the bedtime routine. Result: we kids learned that school was very important and how to stay ahead of assignments; Learning how to plan your work and good study habits are skills that have to be learned. Modelling them ie, walk the walk has so more impact than just telling them how to do it.
—With this working arrangement what are the benefits for them? For example you may have lost an hour or so a day commuting — this can be translated back into family time where the kids can take their bikes and join you for a walk/run. Or maybe you can spend more 1:1 time with each individually.

3. Identify what adjustments you can make; perhaps change your early morning run to later in the day and use the quiet time to get big tasks done.

4. Last but not least, be flexible.

Congratulations on the change in work arrangements — I trust these suggestions will make it a positive change and smooth transition for you and your family

Ari Says:

January 19th, 2008, 19:23 pm

Go to some place where other people are working and having fun.

Living in the Seattle area, I often go to coffee shops inhabited by students - they are focusing on their work, and that puts subtle peer pressure on me to be on my “best behavior”, focus and work as well. Also, coffee shops don’t have TVs, so that takes care of that problem.

Negatives

- have to buy coffee or a drink - but I consider this a “perk” for this “employee”

- engaging in conversation with other people - this can be a distraction but could also be useful in exploring new ideas.

This doesn’t have to be done every day, but it can be a nice change of pace. :)

1littlething Says:

January 19th, 2008, 20:18 pm

I keep a points system. 5 points for returning an email, 5 points for commenting on a related blog, 10 points for starting an article, 20 points for finishing it. So on and so on. Then I sae a daily minimum that I want to meet. 150 points each weekday, 75 points for the weekends. I don’t know why, but having a point total to reach each day instead of a todo list to check off helps me gt it all done.

Mary Says:

January 19th, 2008, 22:04 pm

Wow! What a great blog and fanatastic Q/A topic!

I’ve worked at home as a graduate student, professor, and now as a full time consultant for nearly 20 years. My mother (similar line of work) did as well as a professional.

Watching TV during the daytime is reserved for (a) MAJOR 9/11 type events or (b) when I’m *really* sick. I never want to turn it on any other time when there is work to do. I admit, I do watch TV in the evening with the family, and I enjoy it. But not during the day. Period.

In terms of how to manage work, getting to work, making yourself work, structuring your work, avoid over working, setting priorities while working, tracking work, accomplishing work, and working work, it is an on-going personal challenge.

For me it depends on what sort of project I’m working on, who is around the house, and what my priorities are for the day/week/month.

Several things I do:

- I hold a weekly “GTD Executive Meeting” to outline, prioritize and strategize what I need to do in the week. I need that structure and it is reassuring to do.

- I recently started “walking to work/walking home” with my dogs. It’s a nice signal to start and end the day, and they are good at reminding me what I am supposed to be doing when. And I like the starting/ending feeling it gives the day.

- The days take on a rhythm of their own. I personally enjoy having NPR on all day - good music, news updates, and programme schedules that fit with what I’m doing. I’d be lost without it.

- For years, when my son comes home from school, I stop work for about 30 minutes and spend it with him. I’m so happy to see him, and those visits are always very special. It’s been a great way to do it and when he leaves for University next year, I’ll miss that break most of all.

- I have a kitchen timer on my desk, and when I can’t get focused, I set it for 15 minutes and work only on whatever it is I’ve been avoiding. After it goes off, I stop. I take a break and get back to it. Within 45 minutes, I’m making great progress and feeling better about myself.

- I try to be easy with myself. It’s very tempting to set unrealistic goal and expectations and then beat up on myself for not doing everything perfectly. Working at home/for myself can be very trying, isolating and frustrating. I try to give myself socialization breaks, work in the local coffee shop, and to laugh a lot.

Also, recently, my father moved in with us, which has compounded the craziness. So I am building my own office in the back yard, with my bare hands - It’s been a great experience. See http://www.greened-house.blogspot.com for details.

Love your blog, I know you’ll keep up the good work!!

Tabatha Says:

January 19th, 2008, 22:31 pm

I have to agree with being properly dressed. That always makes me feel more productive. I don’t work from home, though. You’re my hero!

JJ Says:

January 19th, 2008, 23:31 pm

Congratulations! I can’t imagine that you will have any difficulty making this work. Given what you have already achieved, working from home should be a piece of cake.

I will be interested to hear how you manage to avoid being distracted by your large family - especially when school is out. I find it difficult to convince others that I really DO work!

Converse75 Says:

January 19th, 2008, 23:41 pm

I work best when I spend 40 minutes on task and 20 minutes off. This allows me to focus hard, knowing that almost any distraction, idea, or tangent can be put aside until the 40 minutes are up. Then in the “20″ I answer phone calls, do quick tasks, make snacks, or read my planner. While I’m “doing my 40″ I keep my notepad and planner handy to jot down tangential ideas that I don’t want to lose. I don’t use my laptop for this because it tends to take my mind off what I’m doing.
“40s” are great for starter tasks too–when I’m reluctant to start a scary project, a 40 is just enough commitment to break the ice.

Jordan Says:

January 20th, 2008, 0:45 am

If you’re using a Unix based computer, i.e. a Macintosh, create a new user called “Work”.

Use this account to do all blog posts, research, etc., but don’t add bookmarks to Safari, don’t install “fun” apps and don’t set up your mail account.

Then, use your normal account to check mail and tiddle about after you’re done working.

It works great for me!

…and yes, I made up the word tiddle.

Cheers!

Charles Lau Says:

January 20th, 2008, 3:21 am

Wake up early in the morning.

Do some self-reading to widen your knowledge.

Check your mails only once in the morning, and another time at night.

Do the most productive work you can for the next 5 hours. (That is to do things that can contribute to your money-making arena.)

Spend your money on things that can potentially make you money, or else save it up as much as you can. Only spend excess cash.

Exercise for one hour every week.

Sleep enough hours every night. At least 7 hours.

. . . s k i n Says:

January 20th, 2008, 8:01 am

Already a massive list of tips’n'tricks which admittedly i haven’t read all, so my tips might be duplicates. Nonetheless…my two biggies:

First and foremost is try to stick to a normal number of working hours as much as possible. I found when i started working from home (7 years ago), i pretty soon made 10 hours a day, 7 days a week. When i realised i was working way too much, i cut back and simply learned to stop working at 5 in the evening. Wonder and behold! No noticable impact on the ammount of work i got done, because working less hours not only keeps me fitter, it also forced me to focus pon the job at hand, thus preventing wandering off.

I also found that i greatly improved on my efficiency when i started doing the small tasks (calling, answering email, doing updates (I’m a freelance webdeveloper), billing, etcetera in the morning and reserved the afternoons for planned project work. This system kept me focussed on the big projects, while still enabling me to deal with the daily tto-do’s and client questions.

Good luck!

ITrush Says:

January 20th, 2008, 9:04 am

Just follow your instinct and make a good habit of doing things one at a time, of course follow it up with a very good goals.

nhick
http://www.itrush.com

Deerhawk Says:

January 20th, 2008, 10:13 am

If working from home is a real alternative to being tied to the office, who cares if I am in my pjs??? I have work to be done, and I am my own boss. I am sooooooo happy not to have to pretend my house or any part of it is my office. It’s my home, I work here. It’s all one. And I shower when I want and put on “real” clothes when I want and I am more productive than I ever was “working for the man.”

Deerhawk Says:

January 20th, 2008, 10:18 am

Let me add though that I LOVE what I do, it is a vocation. I would always rather do this than watch TV or watch Youtube. So, being a little more humble I would say, if it is really hard to motivate yourself, the best advice here has been to eliminate the distractions, just as you would “at the office”.

Trigger Says:

January 20th, 2008, 12:47 pm

I worked from home (for myself and as an employee) for four years. The biggest thing that kept me productive was Instant Messenger. Or, more accurately, accountability.
I had friends and colleagues who would expect to see me on line by a certain time each day, and for a certain duration each day. If I wasn’t there and responding to their messages, chances were I wasn’t working.
It can be easy when you’re the boss to decide not to work. (Though, don’t be afraid to take advantage of that. Enjoy the flexibility. It’s one of the best reasons to be self-employed.) Anyhoo, the thing that kept me honest was having someone keep me accountable for my work hours. Even if it was just my sister sending me a “you told me to nag you if you’re not online by 9, so I’m nagging you” message.

Dee Says:

January 20th, 2008, 14:08 pm

Here are few tips that work for me:

1 - Get up and get fully ready for the day. As much as possible, try not start work in your pj’s…it can easily become a bad habit.

2 - Post a general schedule near your work area (Check Emails, Organize Business, Brainstorm/New Project Research, Website Maintenance, Miscellaneous Tasks, etc) and set a general time frame for each

3 - Listen to some type of calming music as you work. It helps me stay focused for longer periods. Without it, I tend to think about other things that I could be doing around the house.

4 - Commit yourself to shutting down at a certain time. Working longer hours never worked for me because I would always say to myself, “Well, I can do that later…I still have time”.

5 - Enjoy your flexibility. It is the best thing about working for yourself.

Best of Luck! I’m sure your full-time blogging career will be a huge success! I can’t wait until you give us an update a few months later on what has and hasn’t been working for you.

Ray Says:

January 20th, 2008, 14:30 pm

Just got one tip:
Whatever you do, set up a specific working area, place or room. This is very important as you’ll get distracted almost anywhere.

Anyway, very good blog!

Regards,

Nascar Says:

January 20th, 2008, 14:48 pm

Congrats on making a decision to choose being a entrepreneur over wage earner. Hardest part is time management, and having to do everything by yourself unless you work with a solid team of individuals who can help keep your scheduling in check.

Shannon Says:

January 20th, 2008, 15:45 pm

Make a regular schedule and make yourself stick to it. I find that I can get myself to work more if I tell myself to just begin. Get started and work for 30 minutes and I can take a break and ….(add in whatever favorite distraction here). For me its have a chocolate, call a friend, check email, read a chapter in my book, bake something, etc.

Once I begin, I usually get into it and keep going for a while. But for those tasks that need to be done and aren’t that enjoyable - (writing a report, working on a grant, etc.) you just have to get it done.

It is so easy to find other things that need to be done when you are putting off tackling something! You just have to be firm with yourself. As always, you’ll be glad you did.

RC Says:

January 20th, 2008, 16:58 pm

I am escaping from management in Fast Food where there was always people and lots going on around me - I found during my first few months of making my living in internet sales that I can not work in silence and I felt very cut off from the world. The desk part of my job is rather routine and boring. I found working with the TV on but set to CNN all day helped. The TV is behind me so it is more back ground noise and I feel like I am working in a busy office - sometimes on slow news day they do silly things like once they had a cracker eating contest on the air– so there is a sense of office comrade. I know all the announcers names and it feels like they are co-workers. If something big happen news wise I know about it so I feel connected and not just locked away at home.

fred flintstone Says:

January 20th, 2008, 18:12 pm

I’m not the best person to give tips working from home. But….
i’m starting to wear some clothes for starters! No im not talking 3 button suit with tie. Don’t just work in your underwear guys! im starting to wear tee, comfy pants and underwear. If you dress comfy (not too comfy), you’ll work with the right mind

ps. are all these tips here going to be summarized or? the top 50 pick out??

yowkia Says:

January 20th, 2008, 19:19 pm

I think.. To work from home, the best is to create a daily to-do-list. Identiy what you have to do on the next day and study what kind of activity will distract you from completing your to-do-list. For example, if TV program is your distractor, don’t ever switch ON the TV. Day by day, you will tend to eliminate all the distractors and focus on your daily to-do-list….

Vanessa Says:

January 20th, 2008, 21:47 pm

Wow, soooo much great advice. And Jeff Pickett’s comment about finding out what works for you is spot on. Setting small periodic targets has really helped me stay positive during the day, in particular.

To get over the morning drowsies (I’m not a big morning person) I’m currently trialling doing two hours of ‘work-work’ first thing – after showering and dressing nicely, as everyone else has recommended. That way, by my 10.30am coffee break I feel I’ve got something substantial done, and it sets me up to be productive for the rest of the day.

If I’m really struggling and there’s urgent work on, I take my laptop to the local coffee shop. A different setting seems to kickstart me again.

Lindsay Says:

January 20th, 2008, 22:48 pm

I think it is important to have a schedule… it doesn’t have to be 9-5… it can be 10-12 and then 5-10… whatever… but you need to have a schedule and you need to stick with it. At the end of each day, make a list of priorities for the next. Make sure you get up and get dress… don’t sit in PJs all day (but I do fully agree to the once and awhile PJ day!)

Lindsay

CatherineL Says:

January 21st, 2008, 4:53 am

Hi Leo - congratulations.

I’ve been self employed for a long time now, but only switched from working in an office to working at home just over a year ago, and it definitely is different.

Here’s a few things that make it easier:

1) If you’re not a morning person - become one. You get far more done when the world is asleep.

2) Be ruthless - make it clear to anyone who might just drop by or call that you are still working, even though you are at home.

3) Make a to do list each evening, for the following day.

alex Says:

January 21st, 2008, 5:14 am

Get a garden office/shed to work in.

Lee Ann Says:

January 21st, 2008, 6:08 am

Create an office space that is only yours. Make it pleasant, but keep distractions away (TV, etc.). My office space is in our den, but no one ever comes near my stuff or in the room if I am working. It’s not perfect, but it seems to be working out.

Take breaks, just like you normally would at a “real” job, but don’t take advantage of the fact that there is nobody there to time you.

Use a planner and review your priorities for the day every morning and then again at the end of your work day.

Remember - if you aren’t getting work done, you’re not making money.

Set boundaries with your family so they aren’t constantly interrupting you just because you’re there - you’re still “at work”.

Good luck!

Tina Says:

January 21st, 2008, 8:02 am

For consideration:

Change the way you use your TV. For me, this meant: no cable, no bunny ears, and a library card. My local library is within walking distance from my home and I can order up DVDs (and books) from their web site.

Set aside time in your day for yourself - not work time, not family time, just your time. I use mine to meditate and blog.

A schedule is important - but a weekly schedule may work better than a daily schedule. Make a point of getting out for coffee or lunch with a client, colleague, or whomever at least once to break up your work week.

Set aside chore time - for example, if you don’t get the dishwasher loaded before 8 am then just leave it. Same goes for laundry.

I like having a dog - a not so subtle reminder that it is healthy to get outside and walk a few times each day.

Understand how you spend your money. Draw the line between your needs and wants, and keep a list of things to do when you have spare time - for example, use a break between projects to reorganize your basement, but don’t sit there stewing everyday about the mess in your basement and your crazy workload which prohibits you from cleaning up the basement.

Make sure that other members of the household understand that while you may still be at home, you are still working. Don’t feel compelled to pick up slack with school field trips and medical appointments, etc.

Allen Says:

January 21st, 2008, 8:03 am

Ideally our goal should be to not have a schedule or need one. Eliminate or outsource 90% of the work to be done.

That said, my best tip for working at home, is don’t. I’ve found that going to another physical location not only relieves the distraction, but because it’s less comfortable than home, I work more efficiently so I can leave earlier. This is similar to the get dressed suggestions above.

Osh Evans Says:

January 21st, 2008, 9:35 am

Have a designated work area away from your living area.

Doesn’t mean that you can’t have lazy days where you do work in front of the TV, or while keeping one eye on your kids.

Vivevtvivas Says:

January 21st, 2008, 9:53 am

I don’t know if anyone’s said this yet, but I tape a copy of my mortgage statement to the wall next to my monitor. That has kept me pretty focused!

p.s. This is one of the nicest blog themes I’ve seen in a long time. Where can I steal it? ;)

T.C. Says:

January 21st, 2008, 10:08 am

Make your todo list every night before you go to bed. Review it every morning, and then methodically work it until the end of the day. If you constantly manage your todo list, it will take away those feelings of anxiety and help you stay organized, focused, and calm throughout the day.

Maria Calera Says:

January 21st, 2008, 12:15 pm

I will share with you my 3 rules:
1. Find a spot in your house you can call your “office” and keep it as organized as possible. Conquer the territory and defend it from the foreign “noise”.
2. Get dressed and commit to a schedule, no matter what !
3. Limit your time “online”: dedicate the first hour of your working day to check emails, up date your messages in “facebook”, etc. Then, start working with a lot of discipline and courage !
Best of luck !!!!

Jacki Hollywood Brown Says:

January 21st, 2008, 12:57 pm

Best tip:
Make a separate desktop on your computer and have your spouse/partner put “parental controls” on it so that it will automatically shut you out at 17h and won’t let you back on until 09h the next morning!
(this works best with Mac running Leopard).

Internet Junkie Says:

January 21st, 2008, 13:37 pm

Even if you don’t have to get up early to go to work, get up early; use a clock, not a radio one but a very annoying-sounding clock and position it so that you actually have to get out of bed to switch it off.
Have your working space in a room with no TV.
Set up a schedule (use your annoying cheap little clock if you have to) for breaks, family time, shopping time…
Go to bed at a decent time: if you work until all hours, you will find it more difficult to get up in the morning.
Have a diary and write what you have achieved during the day and what you want to do the next day; when you have a written down list of goals, you are more likely to achieve something.

Julia Says:

January 21st, 2008, 14:13 pm

I work with a Life Coach. Since 95% percent of my work is all by myself and alone, a Life Coach helps me to set goals and keeps my on my toes with reaching them. It’s also a nice thing to check in with someone on a weekly basis.

By the way, if you took all of these suggestions and made another book, I’d buy it for sure!

Luca Says:

January 21st, 2008, 14:45 pm

i work from home sometimes, and what I do to remain concentrated and avoid losing times is… set few clear goals and have them done at the earliest, and in a good way, and then submit them to my MGR… in few minutes I know if my work is OK or not. Good luck for your “new” state! :D

Luca Says:

January 21st, 2008, 14:47 pm

well, I forgot one important goal… throw out your TV!!! :DDD

Alex Shalman Says:

January 21st, 2008, 14:55 pm

Make sure you take time out daily, or weekly, to work on your gotta get life goals. If you’re constantly being super productive at work, even paying attention to family, and friends, and other important things, but putting your life goals on the back burner, it will eventually catch up and leave you feeling unfulfilled.

Make sure you balance all the pillars of your life.

You could also do as you have always done when you had a job, don’t change a thing, except use the time you saved on commuting for something you’ve always wanted to, but never had the time to do.

Steve Says:

January 21st, 2008, 16:05 pm

Most of the comments I read focused on physical environments and distractions that might prevent you from working effectively.

While these are important tips, I would suggest that you spend most of your time focusing not so much on how or where you’re working, but on the excellent quality of your content, which has drawn people to your blog in the first place.

Also, don’t forget that many of your readers (myself included) don’t work from home, so it’s important to continue including content that people can use in a more traditional workplace.

At the same time, a lot of people have a home office for maintaining finances and that sort of thing, even if they don’t work out of it, so maybe one of your topics can be “Tips for maintaining a functioning home office after you’ve set one up.”

dokidok Says:

January 21st, 2008, 16:30 pm

Eat, relax and sleep at home.
Find different place to do the real work. Could be at home, but separated room (office).

Karly Pitman Says:

January 21st, 2008, 17:02 pm

I work out of a spare bedroom in our home, I have four children, and I homeschool. In order to find uninterrupted work time, I made a traffic sign that I hang on my office door, with a red, yellow, and green circle. When the traffic sign is on green, my children know they can interrupt me to ask me a question, or can come in my office without knocking. Yellow means knock first; I may say yes, or I may say no. Red means mommy is writing or on the phone, and unless something’s on fire or someone’s bleeding, she isn’t available. This system works wonders, especially for my younger son who isn’t yet reading. It helps my children solve their own problems: If Mom’s not available, what can I do to fix this on my own? It also gives me some control on how I work, so that I alternate between “housekeeping” type duties that can handle interruptions, versus tasks like writing that take more concentration and require quiet. Additionally, it provides opportunities to connect with my children throughout the day. After all, that is why I work from home and homeschool in the first place!

Gafroninja Says:

January 21st, 2008, 18:45 pm

Create yourself a process. Get up in the morning, get dressed, have your breakfast, put your shoes on and then go out and walk round the block. when you come in go straight into your office and work. at 5pm (or when you finish your working day). Put you coat on, go outside, walk round the block and when you come in, take your shoes off.

I read that if you create a process to make you feel that you are in a work environment, it will help you focus.

hope this helps

Lisa Says:

January 21st, 2008, 21:38 pm

Take a lunch, and get out of the house. Go to the gym, do errands, walk the dog. Anything. GET OUT! and GET AIR and SUN! (you need your vitamin D)

Not one to disagree, but... Says:

January 22nd, 2008, 0:05 am

So listen, the best thing about working from home is the opposite of what every comment I read advises.

Working from home enables you to respond to real work. You will do the important things. You will work less hours than before because you won’t be filling down time with hidden games of Solitaire or online Sudoku. Work when work needs to be done.

Only “dress” when you are meeting with someone. What is the point of working at home if you still have to shower by a certain time and put on “real” clothes? I am more comfortable sitting on my amazing bed, hair unbrushed, coffee in hand while checking my emails. And who knows but me?

Do not hold yourself to a schedule. Schedules are for those who have a hard time letting go of the “old” way of working. Let the work load dictate when you work. Just be willing to put in the hours when they are called for. Wake up late…fine. But when needed, stay up late too.

Think of it this way…when you were paid for spending an hour sitting in their space you did just that. Now you are paid for producing. Just focus on that. Produce on time, everytime and make sure the product is the best you are capable of giving.

Follow my advice and you will LOVE your new way of working!!

Best of luck to you!

ThomasQ Says:

January 22nd, 2008, 2:50 am

OK, that’s my second comment right here, because my first comment brought me to this idea:
It’s all about structure and rythm! Sounds strange, but let me explain! Human beings are needing any kind of structure! Without that we all are totally unhappy, there’s only chaos. Like a room full of clutter.
And a structure of time is a rythm, and if you’re sticking to a rythm of actions you will got a habit.
ZTD/GTD will bring a structure to your “stuff” and throughout the “next actions” you will define the rythm of handling your stuff.
Nobody needs a diet! Just stick to the normal rythm of hunger and saturation and keep within the limits (structure) of “normal” food.
Everybody will compare any new information to the structure of his own mind (pattern matching).
Look at the religions of the world: structure (rules) and rythm (Christmas time, Ramadan, Jom Kippur, etc.)
We live in a world of structures, rules, limits and rythms.
So, what’s the conclusion? Define your own structure, your own rythm! Especially in uncertain situations: Know in advance your limits, the “red lines” which you’ll never cross. That’s better than recognizing that you’ve already crossed that “red line”.
For your work at home could that mean having your own work space, your working hours, your goals you want to achieve, your limits you want to avoid (maybe watching TV more than 1 hour a day).

Don't forget the need for people Says:

January 22nd, 2008, 4:41 am

Leo:

This isn’t what you asked, but one of the hardest things about working at home is that there are no people around. This is extremely hard if you’re an extrovert. But even if you’re an introvert, or worse, a curmudgeon (which I don’t think you, Leo, are, but for the sake of argument…), you’ll find that you have basic needs that are no longer being met, when you’re suddenly alone. (And no, wife and kids don’t count on this one :-) We’re talking adult peers.)

That’s a bit vague, so let’s bring it to ground. If you haven’t left your job yet, take the time between now and your last day of work to notice – and make notes of – what it is you “use” other people for. (“Use” in the sense of “you get some kind of value out of interacting with them,” not “use” in the sense of “manipulate.”) For example:

– You might have a need just to shoot the breeze with other adults about whatever it is that you enjoy and pay attention to — sports, TV shows, anything in the news, even just some random encounter with a shop clerk. This brings you some kind of joy or relaxation that you hadn’t consciously noticed before.

– You might find that you can’t figure out what you think about something until you’ve processed your thoughts by talking about them out loud with someone else

– You might simply get a nice kick out of simply seeing people you like and exchanging smiles with them as you pass through the halls. Don’t underestimate this. As independent as we might see our modern, 21st-century selves, our genes are still programmed to want to be part of a tribe. Smiles reinforce the fact that we’re still part of a tribe – the absence of smiles makes our primordial genes wonder if we’re about to be ostracized and therefore eaten by saber-toothed tigers, which can lead to depression, or even just a funk that we have a hard time explaining if we don’t understand why it’s happening

– If you’re a worrier, being able to run a worry by other people might be the thing you need to prevent yourself from spiralling down into worst-case scenarios

– Maybe you like the exercise your brain gets by brainstorming or problem-solving in a group setting (irrespective of how much you care about the actual problem you’re working on)

– Maybe you enjoy the “we’re all in this together” sense of camaraderie you get by working with others on joint projects

– Maybe you get a nice feeling from being able to help others when they come to you and ask for assistance

– Maybe you find you spend a lot of time just laughing with co-workers about funny stuff that happens during the day

– etc….

Over the next days/weeks until you leave your job, notice and document these. That way, once you’re on your own, you’ll know what needs you won’t be able to get met in your home office. Instead, use this insight to create other mechanisms for meeting those needs. For example:

– You could create a group of fellow bloggers who are up for getting calls from each other anytime you want to think through an idea (and want to have the kind of voice-to-voice engagement you can’t get just by emailing or IM’g)

– You could sign up for a class or collaborative project that takes place in the middle of the day, so you can get the brain workout you enjoy

– You could volunteer to deliver lunches to the elderly or disabled three times a week to get the smiles and the laughs

– You could make plans to meet up with friends twice a week to do the shooting of the shit that you so enjoy (it might seem hard to do as a parent, but it could take the shape of “playground dates” with other dads or two 1-hour “hall passes” a week in exchange for offloading your wife at other times)

– Etc…

Don’t underestimate the important of figuring this all out. No one really explains it; all work-at-homers struggle with this. And some don’t figure it out and then wonder why they’re so ornery or cranky. We’re humans. We’re social creatures. We need to engage with other people, no matter what our level of extroversion is. And it is possible to do when you work at home. You just need to know what it is you need, and then figure out alternative ways of getting it.

Good luck.

Monimac Says:

January 22nd, 2008, 9:27 am

After 2 years with my home office after working in a big office with lots of energy for many years, my first difficulty was getting used to not having others to bounce ideas off of during the day. If you’re in a people-related business you really need to have that. So set up a network of contacts and contact them on a very regular basis. Chamber of Commerce groups, church groups, business groups, and individuals you contact regularly for insight into business matters. Really important. Getting dressed and having a set schedule are very important, too, but that comes naturally after awhile. One thing not mentioned enough is Exercise. We are truly a nation of overstuffed couch potatoes, so get off your butts out there! Before my work day I do some household chores, walk the dog, stretch, lift some weights. I don’t want to be a 2-ton Tillie in stretch pants and neither should you. And eat a balanced diet! Eat enough so you don’t get too hungry, but never stuff. When you take breaks, stretch, walk, dance, enjoy the heck out of the freedom you now have! If you have any really bad habits like smoking, drinking too much, pot, coke, binge eating, internet gambling, etc., consider breaking these habits before you take on the challenges of a home office. First things first. And to all you busy entrepreneurs carving a life out for yourselves your own way, I wish you every success, fulfillment, and joy from your work. Revel in your unique and awesome lives!

Arthur Werner Says:

January 22nd, 2008, 12:14 pm

I’ve read most of the 200 or so comments, this is what I’ve got:

- Get dressed to work;
- Make an Office room;
- Be sure to have a nicely done schedule (and follow it);
- If you live in a noisy environment, try to put some inspiring/relaxing music or buy a noise cancelling headphone.

EllieBiscuits Says:

January 22nd, 2008, 13:58 pm

Do all the important stuff in a big block the morning - the stuff that makes you feel the most productive. Get up and putter about every hour or so - do some washing or walk the dog around the block. It gives you time to think, especially if you’re writing. Stop for lunch at a set time. Either go out or eat in another room. Don’t eat at the computer. Put Christmas lights up around your work area. You’d be amazed how they affect you!

Love your site and congratulations on your new status!

Christian Roy Says:

January 22nd, 2008, 14:35 pm

When you love what you do, it is easier to stay focus on the job.

I found that when my wife was home (and she usually was), it was much easier to concentrate on the work. When she would leave to run errands, I would sometime find myself watching TV. When the project I was working on was interesting, I would not need any help.

My tip is that you should get someone to watch over you. If you family members cannot do that, maybe a webcam will help you.

Kristen Says:

January 23rd, 2008, 8:50 am

So many good tips! I have found a schedule is important, but I try to leave Fridays as unscheduled as possible — as a “catch-up” day. i still work the same number of hours, but I work on whatever I feel most inspired by. So, if I feel like writing all day — fine! Or, if I want to catch up on emails or my Reader for hours — fine!

I enjoyed Christian’s comment — I used to feel the same way when I first started working from home, but lately I notice I work too much when my husband is out of town — balance is so important!

Sher Says:

January 23rd, 2008, 19:08 pm

I just started working from home this October and I love it. I just did everything exactly the same way I always have done things in the office, but eliminated the commuting, office gossip, and people with really loud personalities.

As someone who needs structure, I definitely have a morning routine. I also have to check in with my office so that other people know when I am available (and a “check-out”). Knowing that someone is expecting a “check” helps me to start and stop on a consistent basis.

Duplicating your office at home is the best way to feel like your “at work”. Using the same Post-it notes, pens, etc. helped me to keep that consistency (assuming that you liked how your office looked).

Congratulations! Welcome to the world of self-discipline!

Gertis Says:

January 23rd, 2008, 20:54 pm

Congratulations, Leo! I’m a recent subscriber to your blog - which I love and value so much - and I am so pleased for you!

I’ve been working from home since the early summer of 2007, after having telecommuted on and off, here and there, for about 10 years. I live several states away from the company I work for - I’m lucky that my company is very remote-work-friendly. But I am someone who is more nocturnal than early-rising, and I’ve also found that I do best and am most effective when my life/time is pretty structured and really packed. So, echoing many other sentiments already expressed, here are my suggestions:

Get up at the same time each work day and get dressed. I don’t wear a suit everyday, obviously - just jeans and a sweater - but I find working in pajamas a real bad idea and a real slouch-inducer.

Keep separate office space, and let your partner/kids/dog/etc. know that they can’t invade it. When I’m working, I’m working. Don’t bother me. I wouldn’t bust into your office at corporate headquarters whining about something trivial, so don’t bust into my home office doing so.

If you have kids (I’m a new step-parent), I’ve found that it’s hard to get them to understand that even though you work at home, you really are working, not watching soaps and eating ice cream and occasionally firing off an email. My step-kids were calling me randomly during the day, asking me to pick them up early when they didn’t feel like waiting for the city bus, or to take them to a friend’s house, etc. I recently put a moratorium on that. Call me during the day while I’m working at home if you’re in an emergency or crisis; otherwise, I’m working and don’t bug me. My partner and his ex both have office jobs and the kids don’t bug them during the day, so I try to make the parallel.

I am strange and like housework and errands - the immediate gratification of doing laundry, cleaning up, etc. I also hate that my weekends are generally consumed with these activities. It is a daily temptation for me to clean, run errands, finish painting the bathroom, etc., during work hours I have made a rule for myself to deal with this: no errands/housework/bill-paying/etc. unless it’s my “lunch (half) hour.” If something non-work-related desperately needs to get done during my work time, it can happen on my lunch time, but otherwise it has to wait.

No answering our family’s home line during work hours, unless the caller ID reveals a potential urgent need or the President calling.

Check in and check out. Our company uses instant messaging more than email, so I log on in the AM to keep accountable and let them know I’m there, and I log off about the same time each day with a quick goodbye to key managers, colleagues, etc.

Don’t work during your non-work hours. Despite my nocturnal tendencies, I am of course expected to be “on” (at least) 9 to 5. I generally keep myself available to my company from 9-ish to 6-ish, and after that, all my time on the computer is for stuff I want to do. Though it is often very tempting to check work email at night or on weekends, I try to stop myself. I am never happy when I spent time I would otherwise have devoted to myself or my family working, even if it gets me ahead at work in the short-term.

I really love working at home, for the most part. Sometime I feel like an anti-social cretin who only leaves to go out for groceries or wine - :) - but mostly I find that I am a gazillion times more productive working from home that I was in the office, and that has really helped me to maintain a better work/life/family/self-care/fun balance. I find I spend less of my lifeworking now, and more of my life living and enjoying

Congrats again, Leo!

Jason Simon Says:

January 24th, 2008, 2:12 am

Working at home can be a challenge. I posted a quote yesterday at http://opentodifference.com that describes my approach, “Minds are like parachutes. They only function when open.” - Lord Thomas Robert Dewar

louise_wade Says:

April 6th, 2008, 7:56 am

How wish I could be self-employed! I am a Chinese and work now in one nation-owned Company which manufacturing cement, because I like learning English and take up translation from English to Chinese and Chinese to English as the part-time job. I do not like communicate with others and always do something by myself, so the General Manager does not appreaciate me. I wish that you can give me some advices, and I do not think I can develop so well in the Company, but at present I have to do it for making a living; fortunately, I come into the website that would help me.
If I have a chance oneday to be a freelancer, I will work out strick working shedule and adhere to it. How excited when thinking that I could govern my own time. How wish I could cooperate with you if possible.
If you have something to translate from English to Chinese or Chinese to English, you can contact me!
Thanks, and looking forward to hearing from you.

louise_wade Says:

April 6th, 2008, 8:03 am

louise_wade:(you can contact me if necessary by the email below)
wjq618@tom.com

Hadara Olga Says:

July 3rd, 2009, 2:24 am

Working from home really make some sense, but it’s not fit for me, because I will think that I can complete my work at anytime of a day, then anytime of my day is spent on entertainment.