Readers Respond: Have a Work at Home Tip?

Responses: 9

From Randy Duermyer, former About.com Guide

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Sometimes it's hard to get started and stay organized when you work at home. Those who have been working at home have discovered a lot of ways to keep their mind on their work, avoid interruptions, stay focused, etc. If you're one of those people, here's a chance to share your work at home tip with others. Selected tips will be added to the Work at Home Tips collection and may be featured on the home page blog, so speak up! Submit as many work at home tips as you like, but please try to provide just one tip per form.

Eat Healthy

It is very easy to want to get up and eat junk food throughout the day when you work at home. Instead of munching on unhealthy snacks, take time to make easy, light good-tasting meals so that you have the mind power and stamina to power through the day. Take time to exercise, walking works, that way you get some fresh air and you feel stronger when you are sitting in your office tackling the day's work.
—lsputman

Make Your To-Do List the Night Before

... and don't make it 25 things long! I've found that if I make a short to-do list before I go to bed of the few most important things I need to do the next day, the things that absolutely MUST get done, and I leave that on my desk it's a great way to start the next morning. I don't have to sit down with my coffee and wonder "What am I doing today?" I already know. It's the same process of looking at what I'm doing that I would do typically do in the morning, but doing it the night before just seems to make things flow better in the morning because I can jump right in. Since I've made this tiny change I've been getting those few things crossed off before lunch time almost every single day! It's a great feeling to drag my Sharpie across those tasks every morning.
—Guest Loretta, TranscriptionCrashCourse.com

Treat it like a business!

So many people get online looking for ways to beat the system, or get rich quick. While it's true that there is A LOT of money to be made online, it's just like any other business opportunity or model: it takes an investment of time and energy, along with a creative idea. You must be willing to choose a market of interest, and then SERVE that market. 100%. Anything less is a disservice to the market, and ultimately will cost you more time and never earn you enough of a return. If you're interesting in starting a fun and profitable business, working mobile or from home, and you're willing to invest the time in your start-up years... you will do very well with an online business. The internet is FULL of awesome opportunities right now!
—Guest Lynn Terry, ClickNewz.com

work from home

I work from home building. I am a business man working from home in Senegal. I need financial help now. [Note from Your Guide: Saido: Don't give up. Many are in the same position as you.You might try interacting in the Home Business Forum as you can have two-way conversations there and others may be able to give you some ideas. You can get there by going to my home page and clicking My Forum below my picture. Thanks for visiting. Randy D.]
—Guest saido

Avoid the TV

Avoid the television. It can be distracting and a black hole for time. Before you know it, you have zoned out for 30 minutes watching the latest episode of Judge Judy and that letter you've been working on still isn't typed up. Instead, turn on the radio. It doesn't require you to look at it and it provides company just like the television does.
—Guest Meghan

Get dressed

I once heard you should dress like you're working, even if you're at home. The idea is to signal to yourself that it's "work time". I do this sometimes when the impulse to procrastinate is strong. Put on pants and shoes, just like you were going to leave for the office. You'll also be ready to answer the door when the UPS delivery arrives...
—Guest Guest J

Set a Schedule

I work at home. Not really. I have six children and a house full of distractions. I set up an office in my old bedroom at my parent's house about a mile away. (Tip #1: find a place where you can work uninterrupted). I also set a schedule for the time when I am there. What I want to work on first, what needs to be completed, how much time I am going to use to responded to emails, etc. I get more done and leave with a feeling of accomplishment. (Tip #2: Schedule and plan your time).
—operationstech

Avoid email distractions

Since I don't have children to distract me, I find I get most distracted by email. I discovered two tips to help me avoid email distractions: 1. Never read your email first. I do a couple of hours work before I read that first email. 2. Funnel email to boxes, then only read once a day. If you have Outlook or MacMail, you can categorize emails and have them moved to folders. Then you only have new email left in your inbox. Only look at the folders once a day.
—Jean

Take Frequent Breaks

Since I'm glued to my computer all day when I work at home I like to take frequent breaks to rest my eyes and clear my head. I usually take a short break every hour or 90 minutes and take a lap or two down and up the stairs. When I come back to my desk I'm refreshed and ready to get back to work. I like to take breaks when the work provides for it - after I've completed a task and I'm ready to tackle the next one, for example, or if I'm in the middle of a long task, take a brief rest to break up the chore. I find taking short, frequent breaks to be much better than just one longer break in the morning and afternoon.
—Randy4HmBiz