Tips For Working From Home Articles | Entrepreneur

By: Matthew Hick

Is it really possible to be creative and productive at home, with distractions coming at you from every direction? Absolutely! Working from home can be a struggle for any worker, but those with children may find it a juggling act that’s more stressful than they ever thought possible. Sometimes the quiet peacefulness of an office can seem even more appealing when you’re trying to meet a deadline with children underfoot. But, take heart: working from home with children IS possible, if you keep these simple things in mind:

Kids Need Attention.
Kids aren’t happy (or good at), keeping themselves occupied for hours on end. Schedule your work time during preschool hours, favorite TV times, nap/rest periods, or after everyone has gone to bed for the night. Another option: consider hiring a babysitter to come in and take over the children for a few precious hours each week. Older children may be able to entertain themselves when school’s out if you plan ahead. Set up craft and reading stations to keep them busy. The trick is to figure out what works best for your family.

Set The Ground Rules.
Make sure that your entire family knows and understands the rules of the office. Be clear and firm about when you may be interrupted, and what is expected during working hours.

Keep Distractions To A Minimum.
Schedule home repairs and visits during after hours if possible. Don’t answer your private phone line, or answer the door during working hours. And never start a home project, or chore when you should be at your desk. Leave the laundry, the dirty dishes and the gardening for after work hours are complete. After all, if you worked outside of the home, they’d have to wait until later – so why not now?

Stick to a Schedule!
You wouldn’t saunter into the office at 11 a.m., and leave at 2 if you worked outside of the home would you? So why do it now? Set a schedule – and stick to it – or your work hours will slowly start to creep into precious family time as deadlines loom and work goes undone. Keep list of projects and deadlines to help you stay on track.

Remember, It’s A Real Job.
Working from home can lull you into a false sense of security, thinking that you can “finish it later.” But later never comes, and before you know it you’ve missed an important deadline. Working from home doesn’t mean doing less work. It means coordinating work and home schedules a bit differently than you’re used to. It’s easy to get sidetracked when you’re trying to live and work in the same place. Take care to keep distractions at bay.

Don’t Be A Stick-In-The-Mud.
While it’s important to set a work schedule – and stick to it – it’s also important to take time to enjoy the flexibility of your new unique work arrangement. Working from home does have its benefits. Try to fit in a little extra time to “play hooky” (once in awhile) with your kids. Sneak a picnic lunch from time to time or go for a quick dip in the backyard pool on a scorching hot summer day. After all, isn’t the flexibility of enjoying your home and family one of the things that intrigued you about working from home in the first place? Enjoy your newfound freedom once in awhile, as long as it doesn’t stop you from getting your work done.

Working from home can allow you the flexibility to go on school field trips or skip out of the office early to enjoy a warm sunny afternoon in spring, but it does require careful planning. Take your job seriously, giving it the very best you have, and you’ll find that you can get more done than you ever thought possible – and in less time!