The ability to work from home has been one of the best things that's ever happened to me--it's also one of the worst. When I work from home, productivity directly affects my income. Meaning, I lose money every time I allow a distraction to consume my time.
Seems simple, right? Remove the distraction. Problem solved. Unfortunately, it's slightly more complicated.
I've found these three culprits to be the most hindering when working from home:
1. Technology: When you're your own boss, you're the only one standing in the way of you checking Facebook, Twitter, emails, text messages, etc. If only it was as easy as "I'll only be on for a minute..." Truth is, you'll be on for much longer than a few minutes. Chances are, you'll spend hours doing nothing besides looking at funny memes and cat photos. Hours that could have made you hundreds of dollars.
To avoid falling into the chaos that is the Internet and text messaging, I recommend turning off your Internet feature on your computer and screening calls. Turning off your phone may work better, but if there is an emergency, you wouldn't be reachable. Instead, know that during work hours, your work needs to be number one--just as it would be if you had to go into the office.
2. Family: When you work from home, you have the opportunity to make your own schedule. If you have children, you may opt to work during the evening, when your significant other will be home to watch your kids. However, working while your partner, roommate, mom, etc. is home can negatively affect the rate at which you work, which in turn means less money coming in.
My recommendation is to explain the importance of your work. Sometimes, it can be as simple as explaining how your process works. Your partner may not realize that stopping you to ask about dinner involves a 15 minute discussion, and in that 15 minutes, you could have written one of the articles in your inbox. Put a sign on your office door, or simply tell your partner, parent, etc. that you're unavailable when you're sitting at your desk (or when the office door is closed).
3. Conscience: You know your work is important, but you also know that housework, your to-do list, errands, etc. can be just as important. Without going grocery shopping, your family would starve, right? Without doing the laundry, your partner would have to go to work in their pajamas (and in this example, your partner does not work from home...).
Creating a schedule makes all the difference. If you have a plan in place, you can accomplish everything on your to-do list. Remember, simply telling yourself may not work, so take pen to paper and make it official. Use a desktop and/or wall calendar to keep track of your schedule each day. Use a daily/weekly/monthly planner to keep your appointments from bleeding into the next scheduled task. By maintaining a schedule, you'll have enough time to work, run errands, make doctor's appointments, take naps... whatever it may be.
Turn off technology. Talk to your family. Make a schedule. These steps seem insignificant, but they're all that's standing between you and a successful career of working from home.
Seems simple, right? Remove the distraction. Problem solved. Unfortunately, it's slightly more complicated.
I've found these three culprits to be the most hindering when working from home:
1. Technology: When you're your own boss, you're the only one standing in the way of you checking Facebook, Twitter, emails, text messages, etc. If only it was as easy as "I'll only be on for a minute..." Truth is, you'll be on for much longer than a few minutes. Chances are, you'll spend hours doing nothing besides looking at funny memes and cat photos. Hours that could have made you hundreds of dollars.
To avoid falling into the chaos that is the Internet and text messaging, I recommend turning off your Internet feature on your computer and screening calls. Turning off your phone may work better, but if there is an emergency, you wouldn't be reachable. Instead, know that during work hours, your work needs to be number one--just as it would be if you had to go into the office.
 |
| Having one computer open with work, another with email, and a final with social media profiles will leave you with no time and no completed work. |
2. Family: When you work from home, you have the opportunity to make your own schedule. If you have children, you may opt to work during the evening, when your significant other will be home to watch your kids. However, working while your partner, roommate, mom, etc. is home can negatively affect the rate at which you work, which in turn means less money coming in.
My recommendation is to explain the importance of your work. Sometimes, it can be as simple as explaining how your process works. Your partner may not realize that stopping you to ask about dinner involves a 15 minute discussion, and in that 15 minutes, you could have written one of the articles in your inbox. Put a sign on your office door, or simply tell your partner, parent, etc. that you're unavailable when you're sitting at your desk (or when the office door is closed).
 |
| Here's a picture of my family. It's pretty easy to work from home with only furbabies bothering you. |
3. Conscience: You know your work is important, but you also know that housework, your to-do list, errands, etc. can be just as important. Without going grocery shopping, your family would starve, right? Without doing the laundry, your partner would have to go to work in their pajamas (and in this example, your partner does not work from home...).
Creating a schedule makes all the difference. If you have a plan in place, you can accomplish everything on your to-do list. Remember, simply telling yourself may not work, so take pen to paper and make it official. Use a desktop and/or wall calendar to keep track of your schedule each day. Use a daily/weekly/monthly planner to keep your appointments from bleeding into the next scheduled task. By maintaining a schedule, you'll have enough time to work, run errands, make doctor's appointments, take naps... whatever it may be.
 |
| When your to-do list knows you by name, you can't get away with anything. |
Turn off technology. Talk to your family. Make a schedule. These steps seem insignificant, but they're all that's standing between you and a successful career of working from home.
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