When stuff isn’t getting done, it’s time to thing hard about why.

Have you ever looked around in your office, or taken a mental inventory of what you have (or haven’t) been doing?  What was the result?  I did this recently, and came to a couple realizations.

1.  A few important things weren’t getting done, and it’s no one’s fault but my own. No excuses.  Period.  There were important things slipping through the cracks, I didn’t do them and that’s not good.  Other things I needed to stop doing, so I could get on with the important stuff.  The only person who could turn this around is yours truly.

2. Time to stop putting it off.  For whatever reason I had put these things in the back of my mind.  Maybe I needed a mental break, who knows, but now it’s time to get the stuff done.

Have you had this happen?  What did you do about it?  For me, it was time to look in the mirror, put my big girl pants on and turn it around.  No excuses, just action.   It’s not too late, just pick up and move forward.

What reality check do you need to do?

Sparkplugging is starting a new tradition called ‘Spark an Idea Thursday’. Each week we’ll be sharing some great ideas for a topic of interest to our readers. We invite you to grab our image and carry the tradition through to your own blog! If you do, please link back to this post so we know where you were inspired!

The theme of this week’s Spark an Idea Thursday is:
Spark an Idea About Goal Setting
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Do you have goals you are working toward?

How the heck do you set them?

How do you get them done?

I’ve been a member of several professional mastermind groups.  One of the most valuable things I learned was how to set clear goals.  Goals are dreams with an action plan.  There are many ways to go about setting them up, but here’s the simplest explanation I know.  When setting a goal, make sure it is “SMART”:

S = Specific
M = Measurable
A = Attainable
R = Realistic
T = Timely

I set goals for 5 years out, and then break them down into yearly goals and then 6 month goals.  During the summer, I look at my overall business, and take some time to reflect on how the year is going.  Come fall time, I plan out the coming year.  A simple spreadsheet will do, so don’t make it all complicated.

The trick is to check in and see how it’s going.

Look at your goals every so often (I like to do this every couple weeks).  How are you doing?  This is why measurable goals is important.  Are you 40% there?  Watching that number go up and up is motivating!  Even if it’s 2.7%?, because at least it’s not 0%!

I’d encourage you to set some goals in your business.  Make then attainable for this season of your life and business.  Stretch, but also make sure you are able to believe in them.  Then, get moving and put them into action!

When you’re organizing your space or your calendar, did you know that “white space” is important?  Take a look at a garden or museum.  Are there things crammed together everywhere, or are there places on walls and rooms that give your eye a place to rest?

When I’m planning out my calendar, I leave some “white space” around appointments.  I also leave entire days where I have no specific plans.  It gives some flexibility to my schedule.  It also makes sure I’m not overwhelmed.  Here’s a few ideas on how “white spaces” can help you:

• Take a breather.  Drink a cup of coffee or just be.  In our fast paced society, sometimes things are just moving to darned fast.  Take a break once in a while.
• Allows you to catch up.  Whether it’s an appointment that was late or something else completely out of your control.  Back to back appointments can be very challenging when (not if) something goes awry.
• Gives a little peace of mind.  A crammed room or schedule can quickly overwhelm.  Give yourself a little breathing room.

Do you need more white space in your home office or schedule?

Have you ever felt that way?  Chances are you have at some point.  What did you do about it?

It’s easy to let things get all crazy in your home office if you are working day and night on your business.  The paper piles up, business cards are hiding in every corner and the mail… oh, the mail.  So, how do you get the place cleaned up when it’s all so…. crazy?!

Take it a little at a time.

If you feel overwhelmed at the thought of taking on your entire office in one weekend, don’t.  Start with one corner, one pile or even today’s mail.  Can you sort through that one pile that catches your eye while you’re checking email?  Do that.  Can you sort through the mail and designate one place to put bills and one place for items to read & review at a later time?  Sure you can!  Then, tomorrow, work on something else.

Take it 15 minutes at a time if that’s all you can handle.

If you did that every work day for a month, you’re talking at least 5 hours of accumulated time.  How would THAT feel?  Can you imagine how great your home office would be then?

What can you do in your office for 15 minutes today?

1. Know when its time for a break.

Sure, flexibility is great, but being fluid with a work at home schedule can lead to a crash and burnout. There are times I am working away on a project, and I feel that heavy feeling. You know, when you know its time to step awaaaay from the laptop? When I dont listen to that, things can get ugly. Fast.

Do you ever feel that way? Maybe right now? Take a few minutes, take a walk, read a book, journal or even take the afternoon off.

2. Avoid this in the future, by setting a schedule you can live with.

Put yourself on the schedule, and seriously consider posting your hours in your office. I did this in a very official way recently. I always had my hours in my mind, but somehow typing them up, framing and hanging them shifted something in my mind. Small change, but now that schedule is in front of my eyes, and in my head. I am also less inclined to overdo it in the office.

Are you overdoing it in your home office? What can you do about it?

An article caught my attention a few months ago.  Merlin Mann at 43Folders.com announced he was taking his productivity-type blog in a different direction. Course correction?  Yes.  Compelling?  You betcha.

As an organizer, I guess it’s widely known that as a group, we have a somewhat passionate take on productivity.  However, what is productivity for?  It’s all well and good to be productive, and brag about blowing through 2,000 emails in one day.  But, what if you had less of those emails, or eliminated them entirely?   I think it’s time we start thinking of productivity in a different light: think of it like a filter with fierce gatekeeping skills, and less like a shiny new thing.

First, a confession.

I love gadgets and things that help me work better, faster, smarter, etc.  I have a PDA phone, and a shiny new iPod Touch (I heart my iPod Touch).  I also have a Moleskine in my bag.  Why should you care?  Because this is not about throwing out everything I use, but about using them better.

Productivity = Filter

I had a great conversation the other day with a friend.  We both felt that we were getting a lot of stuff done, but yet it wasn’t all that focused.  Oh sure, we felt good about what we were doing, but at the end of the day, was it just productively spinning our wheels?  The answer to myself was a resounding YES. Wheel spinning = not good.

So, what’s a girl to do?  It’s all well and good to get things done, better, faster + smarter.  The challenge I want to throw down (to you as well as myself) is that I will be better at filtering.  Now, the party girl in me is terrified.  “What if I miss something?  What if there is something I filter out that I shouldn’t have?”  That, my friend, is a risk I am willing to take.

There is so much noise out there, and at some point it’s got to be sifted through. Otherwise it’s possible to miss out on things right in front of me (and you?) right now, right here.  Inhaling a massive amount of useless chatter and information does nothing positive if it doesn’t have to do with an overall plan & direction.

Clarity & the Gatekeeper

A hundred years ago (or at least it feels like that), I worked as an Administrative Assistant to a Vice President and several Directors.  Oh yeah, I was busy.  One day, I learned I was getting a new boss (i.e. VP).  Before we even started working together, we had a closed door meeting in his office.  He laid out what was important to him, and what direction he was headed.  This short meeting made my life easier when fielding phone calls, taking meetings and general work around the office.  This clarity established a clear filter, and enabled me to be a better gatekeeper.  Did I make mistakes?  Of course.  Was it perfect?  No.  But, can you imagine if that meeting hadn’t taken place?  I would have been lost in Cubicle Nation with a very cranky boss.  Not fun.

Let’s break it down, and get to the point.

What the heck am I getting at?  If you’re rethinking what “productivity” means to you, here’s four essential things you need to roll around in your head:

1. Productivity has less to do with what you use, as how you use it.  It’s all well and good to have your inbox empty, but maybe there is a better way to use email altogether.

2. A filter is your friend.  It takes all the gunky stuff out, and makes the important stuff easier to see and get done.

3. Be your own gatekeeper.  If you work from home, honey you have got to take a serious role it tending your own gate.  Don’t be a doormat.  Guard your time fiercely, and be realistic.

4. Worry less about “missing out”. There’s plenty of things to do, and more than enough opportunities to go around.  Being afraid of missing out is a sure way to miss out on what really matter.

Is your path of productivity based on “something shiny” or a useful system?

How could you make it even better?

Do you need a new filter, some clarity or some gatekeeper skills?

So, it got me thinking… what do others use to manage their tasks?  So, I asked my Tweeps to tell me what they like, and here’s what some of them said…

JaniceSimon: @putitaway @donnasmallin @bkajino I’m all about the Outlook drag for the calendar, contacts and tasks. J ust taught a client yesterday.

donnasmallin:

@bkajino I started using Outlook tasks a few months ago and love that I can drag emails into my task list and a lso insert attachments.

StorageByMail:

@bkajino + #homeofficetips + Evernote (the iPhone app in particular) + evernote.com

ProfOrganizer:

@bkajino My FAVE task/paper management tool is a tickler file http://is.gd/fAfZ #homeofficetips (Hence my TickleYourselfOrganized ebook.)

jathon0815:

@bkajino #homeoffice tips Things http://w ww.culturecode.com

HomeBiss:

@bkajino I use Microsoft Project for everything.

jmcgroary:  @bkajino I use Franklin Covey PlanPlus for Outlook. I sync with my Palm so I always have my current calendar with me.

So, what do YOU use to manage your tasks?

Have you been in a similar situation when you’ve fallen out of your habits, or worse, fallen off the wagon all together?  Where do you start to put everything back together and get moving again?

If your home office has been neglected for a while, here’s some things you can do to get it going again.

Start with what’s bothering you the most.

Papers everywhere, mail unsorted or pens in every direction.  Whatever it is, start there, and move to the next project.

Revisit your routines.

This is assuming you have them already, and if you don’t, it’s a glorious time to make some.  Take a look at your week, and determine what tasks need to be done throughout the week.  Make a list, assign days to do things and get them done.

Go easy on yourself.

Sometimes we all need a break.  Don’t be too hard on yourself for taking some time off.  A little break can invigorate and inspire, just remember a break should also have an end.

May this be your best year yet!

Photo: The Dreaded Yellow Thing,

by Frazzled Jen

It’s fall, and that means school is starting here.  The difference this year?  My little boy is a first grader.  I have to admit that I have a mix of emotions this year:

Happy: I’m so happy for him to go into the first grade, because he is SO looking forward to it.  He keeps asking me, “Mom, is today the day I go to school?”  *sigh*

Sad: Hey, I’m a mom, and when you give birth it’s said that forever a piece of your heart will walk outside of your body.  Did I mention my little boy is going to be a first grader?  *misty-eyed*

Excited: I’d be dishonest if I didn’t mention that I am a bit excited for school.  Why?  Well, let me tell ya…..

I’m right where I wanted to be.

Three years ago I started my business part-time so I could do something I love and also be with my young son before he boarded that school bus to elementary school.  I had a passion:  I loved helping people get unstuck in their spaces while organizing, space planning, redecorating and making positive changes.  Then, I found out you could get paid to do such a thing!  I knew my son was small, but I was aching to get started so I formulated a plan.  For the next three years, I would see clients, speak and write in little corners I could carve out for myself and my clients.  I won’t lie, it’s not been easy.  But, worth it?  Oh yeah.

In a conversation with a friend over the summer, it dawned on me that my business plan had worked.  Three years ago, I decided to start my business.  I knew that I had three years to build a solid foundation, and when my son started first grade I would be hitting the ground running.  Guess what happened?

Looking back before moving forward.

I’ve learned a few things along the way, some lessons were harder than others.  I’m no Rockefeller (yet), but here’s some things I learned along my three year startup “incubation” period::

• I CAN create my own path. It’s my business, and my life, so I can create any business structure I want.  My lifestyle was important to me, otherwise what was the point of leaving corporate America for the home office?  Sticking to my natural curiosities, passions and convictions helped me keep it real.  Confidence came from stepping out and facing the fear.  Know what I found?  Kindred spirits along the way.  Imagine that!
• Get GOOD advice. I’d be nowhere without some of the many mentors and wonderful people along the way (too many to mention here).  Seriously, it was their help, advice and encouragement that helped me get through the times I wanted quit… badly.  Having someone to just listen and give you a little reality check once in a while is worth more than words can say.
• Learn to say “No”. There are so many things I said “no” to.  Will I live to regret it?  Who knows.  I made decisions based on my values and the plan I had in the beginning.  I found that when I said “yes”, it meant more.  I didn’t want to miss out on these few formative years with my son, so I structured my life around them.  I said “no” regulary so I could say “yes” to playing with my young son and spending time with my family.
• People’s understanding surprised me. I was always surprised at how understanding clients and business contacts were about unusual appointment times and days.  I am blessed to have a ridiculously cool client pool, whose understanding and flexibility still astounds me.
• Have a plan. I know my ADD-prone brain is really opposed to concrete plans and structure.  (And you thought Organizers were boring )  I learned that having a plan on paper was key to getting things done and knowing what the entire picture was.  I could make better commitments and follow-thru knowing exactly where I was headed.  When things changed, like school schedules, I could adjust and change the plan for the day or altogether.  It’s a cliche, but make the plan, and work that plan, baby.
• Simplify. Henry David Thoreau said it best, “Our life is frittered away by detail. Simplify, simplify.” I don’t know about you, but I get overwhelmed with too many choices or too much stuff.  I feel that uneasiness of overwhelm washing over me, and I want to throw in the towel.   That’s when it’s time to re-evaluate and simplify.  Too much of anything will consume your mind & life.  Cut out the excess and increase the value of what is left.
• Be concerned about what matters to you, and not others (as long as it’s not hurting someone else). People pleasers:  Not everyone has to like or agree with us, life is too short to please everyone.  My husband reminds me of this nearly everyday, and he’s right.  Always looking over your shoulder at others makes one trip over things in our own path.  Still learning…..
• Greet scary changes with open arms. I stepped out and made some decisions that scared me senseless, but deep down I knew they were the right ones.  Armed with information and conviction, I leaned into it (Seth Godin talks about this in his book, The Dip), put some skin in the game and went for some of them with everything I had.

Are you just starting out or turning a corner in your home office?  What are you learning?  What would you tell a friend who is just starting out?

I had an opportunity to look over a really great online project management solution called Wrike.  It’s simple and easy to use, and is loaded with features.  Here’s my take on Wrike:

Some highlights:

• Online Project Management: No downloads or updates to manage, it’s subscription-based.  (If you don’t have your own IT department this is a big bonus!)
• Intelligent Email Engine™: This is the coolest feature!  Wrike will use your emails to plan out and interact with your project.  Check out how it works by clicking HERE:
• Great pricing: Rather than forking out a couple hundred for project management software, you can subscribe to Wrike for less than coffee for two.

Wrike might be for you if:

• You have projects that need to be managed without resorting to Jedi mind tricks
• You work on group projects with members of the team in another location
• You currently use Microsoft Project, and would like an alternative to Microsoft Project Server
• You want a low-cost, high quality project management solution

Overall I think this is a great solution for anyone who wants to get their project on the fast track with useful, innovative features and a great price .  Project management software isn’t just for Project Managers, and can make you look like a superstar!

Where to get it:

Wrike’s Website

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*Disclosure:  I was not compensated or paid to write this review.

We went inside and were greeted with a cheerful “We are all out of pancakes and it will be at least 30 minutes before we can serve you.”  *Sigh*  Not “Welcome to the busiest little diner in the Gorge!”  That was the start to a very interesting experience.

Once we were seated, the young bus girl was running around with a look on her face that resembled a cross between terror and confusion.  I tried to lighten the mood a bit by asking if they were always this busy.  She looked at me and said, “No, NEVER.”  I later found out that there was a blues festival in town, which I assumed was why they were so busy.

Be prepared.

So, what’s the point of my story?  Be prepared.  What happens if the windfall of success (in this case a restaurant bursting at the seams) happens?  Are you ready?  Having systems in place, no matter how simple can really help with whatever comes our way.  Here’s a few lessons I learned this weekend:

• Get your ducks in a row. It doesn’t matter how small the operation, if you are a well-run in the beginning you can handle it when you finally get what you want.  Kinda like when you order a burger and french fries at a very empty establishment and they give you a number?  You get the idea.
• Think big & keep your eyes open. That little diner never imagined that many people would converge on them that weekend.  If they had read the paper or seen the billboard on the side of the road, they would have made more pancake batter that morning.
• Good product only goes so far.  Our breakfast was really pretty tasty, when we eventually got it … and the silverware were finally clean.  But the frantic staff really ruined it.
• Have a sense of humor. Our experience would have been much improved if the staff had a sense of humor about the whole thing.  Some witty humor would have taken us all a long way.  Luckily most of us in the restaurant had a good attitude about it.

Unfortunately we won’t be going back to that little diner, which is a shame because I love little places like that!  They could have been having a bad day, or some tragic event happened at the grill, or whatever.  In the end I did learn some lessons which were, fortunately for us, free. 

Do you struggle with getting things done, and yet don’t want a big fat complicated system?  Checklists might be your answer!

I was reading Shannon’s post today about managing time like money.  I love the idea of treating time as a commodity, as I think it requires a certain amount of respect.  Time is kinda like real estate: they ain’t makin’ any more, so use it wisely.

Some people use two separate calendars, one for personal and one for work (my husband is a fan of this method).  I prefer to use one calendar that is coded with colors for a small list of categories for appointments.  Coloring the appointments in this way helps me see (yep, I’m visual) what the landscape of my weeks look like.

Managing Tasks

Last month, I launched my BlogTalkRadio show with my lovely co-host, Krista Colvin.  We got to talking one day, and decided to create a truckload of checklists for just about everything including our show.  Now, I’ll confess I’m not a newbie to checklists, so it was a welcome little tune-up and reminder. (Astronauts use them too!)

Here’s a few things I use checklists for, along with a sample of what’s on mine:

• Marketing: tasks like my eNewsletter and speaking gigs
• Radio Show: A list of things that must be done shortly before we hit the air/Net waves (like get a cup of coffee and use the little girl’s room!)
• Weekly To Do: errands, bookkeeping, writing blog posts
• Daily To Do: phone calls, email, taking allergy meds and Morning Pages

Get it out of your head and onto paper.

Get your routines out of your head and onto paper.  Being organized doesn’t mean you have an extensive database in your head with a killer search feature.  Paper and simpler tools may be a lot more helpful.  It’s also easier to ask for help or hand off tasks to someone else (like to my imaginary housekeeper and virtual assistant *grin*).

Checklists are a great productivity tool, as a brain dump for the repetitive things of life and business. Not having to remember those tasks in the heat of the moment or under stress can be extremely helpful.  They give you a blueprint, written by you.  It’s a way to live your life on purpose and get out of it what you really want!  Isn’t that what it’s really all about?

So, what’s on your checklist?

(photo by akaalias on flickr)

Do you ever find yourself saying “I’ll put this here just for now“? Is there a better way to handle those little things?

There’s the paper: sorting the mail, the kids daycamp schedules and the random pieces of paper that come home in the handbag or briefcase: there’s so much paper around! Then there’s the tasks and projects that can be done well enough for the short term (it seems). It’s easy when I’m in a hurry to just set things down “just for now”. Of course, “now” is open for interpretation and many times “just for now” turns into more than a day. Paper accumulates, tasks go undone and things aren’t where they should be. Can you relate?

When I asked my son to clean up his legos the other day, he was putting some of his creations on a living room table. (I’ve asked him to take them and put them on the shelving we purchased to display his masterpieces.) As I watched him do this, I asked him about it. Can you guess what he said? “I’m putting it here just for now, Mom.” A few days later, the brick creations were still on the table. *sigh*

So, why do we not take the time to make a small decision or accomplish a task like putting away the mail? Here’s a few tips to curb the accumulation of the “just for nows” in your life and home office:

• Wait until you can properly take the time to do the task at hand. For example, if you take the time to get the mail, also take 1-2 minutes to sort it and give it a home. Better to leave it in the mailbox until there is time to properly deal with it later in the day.
• What decision am I delaying? Sometimes a “just for now” is putting off a decision you are dreading. Have some courage and make that small decision instead of procrastinating. It will free up some “head space” to do other things.
• How much time will it really take? Does it really take long to put something away? Try this: next time you feel the urge to do a “just for now”, time yourself and discover how long it actually takes to accomplish that task. If it’s 2 minutes or less it’s probably not worth putting off “just for now”.

Are you putting something off “just for now”?

(photo by Mike9Alive on flickr.com)

I missed an appointment this morning. *sigh*

I immediately called to apologize and asked to reschedule, and yet I still feel awful! No matter what my excuse (for the record, yesterday my husband got home after two weeks, I worked 3 hours in the yard and I had ten million things to do today….) I still missed the appointment. *insert sinister gloomy music here*

A few years ago I was always late to appointments. An exasperated friend of mine said to me, “Do you think your time is any less valuable than mine?” Ouch. It hurt for him to say that, but he was soooo right and I knew I needed to shape up. I’m not perfect (who is, really) and sometimes I am still late. But, I learned a few tricks along the way to stack the odds in my favor and keep on schedule. Here’s a few tips and tricks I use:

1. Reconfirm. This is something I have started doing, and it makes all the difference! It goes with that idea that if you want someone to remember something, you have to remember to remind them to remember. Get it?

2. Leave a little breathing room. Schedule time around appointments to account for traffic and other unexpected events (like a talkative client or co-worker). A day in life or work doesn’t have to be back-to-back. A little white space will go a long way. It leaves room for inspiration, spontaneity, productivity and sanity. Leave a little room, whether it’s 15 minutes or more so you aren’t a hurried mess.

3. Be there a little early. In the movie Drumline, there is a particularly great quote about time management: “If you’re five minutes early, you’re on time. If you’re on time, you’re late.” I don’t know about you, but I have an easier time being early than exactly on time. For example, many times I’m super early to a meeting I have across town every other month. I leave early enough so I have an hour to spare before the meeting (including traffic). Sometimes I have a great amount of time to work with, so I always have my laptop and a book. Other times I just go take a walk.

It’s not always possible to be perfectly on time and not miss a single appointment. Life happens, and sometimes we mess up. Little changes and conscious decisions will reduce the likelihood of being late or not showing up altogether. Being at your best is a series of decisions about setting up and structuring your days. Take it one step at a time and you’ll be on your way to better managing time and showing up. (And if and when you do mess up, apologize and do better next time.)

It’s all a process, so embrace it!

(photo by StuSeeger on Flickr)

Routines can be your friend.

During the school year, we have routines. Consider at least a loose routine for the summer, even if that means waking up at 10am and going to bed late. Summer is a great time for fun and hanging out, but be careful that the days don’t fall apart along with your sanity. Get meals in there, quiet time to read, draw or create can be good for everyone’s well-being. Routines can help the body, mind and business stay on its rails. Leave a little wiggle room for a spontaneous day trip to the beach, it is summer after all.

What are the “big rocks”?

Fans of Stephen Covey may know the story of putting in the “big rocks” of your life first, and everything else fits in around them. Everyone’s “big rocks” vary, even from season to season. If you’re a stay at home parent who works from home, one of them may be more quality time with your kids rather than commuting time. Time management is all about priorities, and arranging the clock around them. Home office professionals get that more clearly than most others. You know who you are.

For me, I work when my son is at school, and after he goes to bed. This time when he freely hugs me in public is precious, and won’t last long so it’s one of my big rocks. Turning down a client or a networking meeting is a small price to pay for my son hugging me deeply and saying, “I love you Mom” (*collective sigh*). I wanted to stay home to make sure I didn’t miss that, so I work around it. (I’ve also been surprised at how understanding clients and colleagues are about it!)

Get help when you need it.

Recently I heard a businesswoman (who is also a mom of young children) quote another, “you can have it all, just not at the same time”. Sometimes you’ve got to call in reinforcements. If you know your child is going to climb the walls, curtains and banisters while you are on a one hour conference call, it might be time to ask for help. A sitter is a great idea, like a reliable teenager who is out for the summer and looking for extra spending money. Another option is exchanging favors with a neighbor or nearby friend. Also, consider starting a babysitting co-op (read this Today’s Parent article for some ideas).

Taking it one day at a time.

Summer is fun, and it is possible to get through it and be productive too. Keeping the kids occupied (check out Wendy’s great post here) and doing a little multi-tasking can take you a long way (as in a little wireless and laptop action in the lawn chair during outside playtime). A little dose of reality doesn’t hurt either. Take it one day at a time, with a plan in your hand and a backup plan in your back pocket.

Summer in the home office is a perk, as long as you’re armed with a plan and a little perspective. Where else can you work remotely from a beach chair or in your backyard hammock?  So, I’m firing up the barbeque, filling out daycamp registration forms, stocking up on popsicles, chilling the juice boxes and making sure my wireless reaches out to the sidewalk.  Bring it on, summer!

Working from home is bliss, except when your home life chips away at your productivity.  So, how do you balance your priorities and manage your time working in a home office?  Here’s some tips I’ve used and recommended to my clients.

• Use a task list.  If you use Outlook or other program, use your task list and assign due dates so the get done.  If you use good old fashioned paper, do a brain dump at the end of the day to make sure your tasks are written down and get into your workflow.
• Map out your week.  If you have a school event you want to volunteer for or a conference you’d like to attend, plan for it.  Be realistic and schedule out your week so you’re not pulling out your hair at 2am (or reduce your chances).  If you’re busy on Wednesday, frontload your Tuesday to make sure your priorities get done.
• Breakup your day.  I’ll use myself as an example.  I work from home with a kindergartener, so my golden hours are 9am-noon.  I use this time for critical items that are best done without interruption.  When my son comes home, the afternoon is for short spurts of work when he’s having some quiet time or playing outside.  At night, I work after everyone has gone to bed for a couple hours.  The beauty of working from home is that work can fit into your life, not the other way around.
• Closed door policy.  Whether you have a separate room for your home office or a corner in your kitchen, let your family (or roommates) know when you are working.  Communicate what that means and how they will know (i.e. the door is closed or your headphones are on).
• Be realistic and get help when you need it.  Working from home has it’s perks, which can also be the drawbacks.  Be real with yourself.  If you have children, consider hiring a sitter for one day a week so you can get some uninterrupted time to work.  Hire a housekkeeper if you can’t quite get to scrubbing the toilet.  Don’t be afraid to ask or help, you are worth it and so is your business.

Above all, remember why you are working from home.  Boundaries can go a long way, so don’t be afraid to use them.  Getting down to business at home can be rewarding, just make sure you are putting structure into your home office that fits your life.  You can do it! 

(photo by Betsssssy)