When I started my own home business, all of that structure

flew out the window! I still got up early, but instead of

heading out for that morning walk, I rubbed my eyes and

walked into my home office down the hall. I'd get so

involved in checking email, working on my website,

organizing paperwork that I'd totally lose track of time.

Some days it might be 10 or 11 am before I stopped

long enough to even go shower. My dream had always

been to work at home in my pjs, but this was ridiculous!



At 11 am, it was too late to go for a walk. I needed to

be making phone calls. Instead, I'd shower, get dressed,

fix a bite to eat, and get back to my desk. My workouts

became few and far between and the junk food I was

eating at home was adding the pounds.



The day seemed to fly by. I was no sooner getting

dressed before I would hear the garage door going up.

That meant only one thing. My husband was home! I'd

then make my way into the kitchen to give the appearance

of starting dinner when most of the time I had no clue

what I was going to fix.



It didn't take long before I realized things had to change.



I am much more productive and satisfied when I have

structure in my life, so I've set some rules for myself that

I try to follow. If you find that you're not feeling like you've

accomplished anything when you go to bed at

night, you might benefit from some of these

suggestions.



1. Establish a time that you'll be showered,

dressed, and ready to conduct business. Like it

or not, it does make a difference in your professionalism

if you are showered and dressed. At least be

presentable enough so that if there's an emergency

you can pick up your purse and walk out of the

house.

2. Help your family understand that even though you

are at home home, you are working. That means that

if they expect you to do something during your established

business hours, they need to reserve your time by setting

an appointment. Of course there are times

you need to be flexible if you want to keep peace

at home, but if you stick with it, they will begin to

respect your determination to make this work.

3. When you break for lunch, decide what you're

going to prepare for dinner so that you can either

take what you need out of the freezer, or make

other arrangements.

4. Unload the dishwasher early in the day so

that it is ready for reloading your breakfast, lunch

and dinner preparation dishes.

5. Make the slow cooker your best friend.

It will save you time and money.

6. Multi task like you've never multi tasked

before. There are plenty of household chores

you can start and come back to later. Use

that time in between to work your business.

7. Use a timer! I use the buzzer on my dryer

to remind me that a load is complete. I also

keep a timer on my desk. If I've got phone

calls to make, I'll set the timer for 30-60

minutes and call until the timer goes off. When

it does, I know that means it's time to move

to something else.

8. Keep reasonable food at home for lunch

so you won't be tempted to go out. Don't try

skipping lunch...it'll make you grouchy and

you'll just overeat at dinner.

9. Have enough sense to turn off the lights

and go home at the end of the day, even if

"home" is just down the hall. It's easy to let

work consume your life when you don't even

have to leave the house to do it.

10. Keep your focus on what you're trying

to accomplish. Realize that at times you've

just got to get away from it to keep your

sanity. Any job, in home or out, will make

you crazy if you let it.



It's a wonderful blessing to me to be able to

work from home. I also appreciate having

the option of spending time with my family when

I want to. I am able to satisfy my need to feel I'm

growing and accomplishing with my own business

and if I ever miss the talk at the water cooler, all

I have to do is pick up the phone, or send an email

to a friend.



Copyright 2006 Joyce Moseley Pierce. Joyce is the owner
of Emerson Publications and creator of "All They'll Need
to Know." She publishes the Family First Newsletter
weekly. Visit her website for more information on
working at home. www.FamilyFirst.FourPointMoms.com