Working From Home - 5 Top Distractions Articles | Entrepreneur

By: Matthew Hick

Working from is ideal for many. It offers an unbelievable amount of flexibility for single parents, and allows mothers the best of both worlds: work and family. But, sometimes, the lines begin to blur between home and work responsibilities. Throw in a few distractions and you’re suddenly struggling to keep your head above water. Avoid some of the most common pitfalls of working from home by watching out for these 5 most common work-at-home distractions:

1: The Family.
Everyone loves their family, but you wouldn’t take them to work with you everyday, would you? Of course not! Kids and spouses don’t belong in the office – even the home office! Keep family distractions to a minimum by setting official office hours when you get to work – uninterrupted. That may mean hiring a babysitter or working when everyone is out – or asleep. Make your home office off limits to all family members. You’ll be more productive, and they’ll be out of the way.

2: Neighbors and Friends.
No matter how good hearted they are, most friends and neighbors can’t quite get the gist that when you work from home, you’re still actually working a real job. Don’t fall into the trap of agreeing to watch their kids for just an hour while they go to the dentist, or waiting for the repairman to show up to fix the refrigerator. Ask yourself, what would they have done if I worked in an office, call me to leave work to help them? If the answer is no, then kindly remind them you are on deadline and must get your work done, or else.

3: Chores.
Yes, the laundry is piling up and the breakfast dishes are still dirty. But, if you worked in a normal office, they’d stay that way until six o’clock, so why not now? Forget everything that needs done in the house – you’re at work! Get to it during your off hours.

4: Boredom.
It can be difficult to be stuck in a home office alone all day, every day. Tackle boredom by allowing yourself regular breaks. Take a quick walk around the block. Sit on your front porch and watch the rain. Take a ride to the coffee shop for a java fix and a donut. Briefly get away from your desk and enjoy the day.

5: Too Much Flexibility.
Sometimes working from home offers too much flexibility and workers flounder trying to figure out how to spend their day and remain productive both at home and at work. Set a schedule. Make a list of daily, weekly and monthly goals for both home and work. Sit down at your desk the same time every day. Consistency is the key to success.

Stay motivated and stay productive by avoiding these common distractions, to make your work-at-home experience everything you ever dreamed it could be.