The dream of the home-based business is one that can be realized providing the proper steps are in place, including having available space and good time management skills, and awareness of conflicts concerning your work or schedule.

Organizing Your Home Office

Be sure you establish an area of your home as the work area, but be sure it does not have multiple uses. Do not use a table you also use for sewing or ironing, and do not use a corner of the garage if Johnny’s in there in the afternoon after school tinkering with his cars.

Creating a space may be a challenge. In this case, be clear with people entering your space that when you are there, you are working. Be sure your materials are untouched by others unless they also work in your business. If possible, lock up important items such as customer files or proposals, to prevent damage or mishandling by others.

Time Management

Scheduling is important no matter what type of work or where it is performed. Preparing a schedule and firmly sticking to it will enable you to pave your way to success in your home office. Block off certain time frames as you would if working out of the home. A sample schedule could include research from 9 to 11, customer letters from 11 to noon. Lunch, then advertising copy from 1 to 2, contacting clients from 2 to 4, and filing from 4 to 5. Be firm with yourself and you will get into a routine that you will think twice about breaking.

Keep your calendar in a space where you can always access it and where other household members can see it. Keep strict track of time as you would when working elsewhere. Take things just as seriously. If you have set up a customer meeting, attend on time and don’t postpone so you can drive Sally to soccer.

Keep track of time and activities in a journal. This does not mean listing every phone call made but mentioning what time slot was spent on customer calls. Detailing what customers are contacted can be done in a database, and that is a different topic.

Own your time. Your schedule is one you made, and one you can adjust and break. But don’t unless the house is on fire.

Issues and Conflicts

While there are fewer meetings to distract the person who works from home, there are plenty of other distractions, such as family and friends, neighbors, personal errands, and items of high distractibility. 

An old joke explains that a person went outside to get the mail and two hours later returned into the house, forgetting the original task. Be aware and do not be naive to the fact that distractions will occur when you work from home. Family members will expect that because you are present you can provide them with what they require, when they require it. Explain at the outset that time management and goal accomplishment is important, and that this is your job. Would they ask you for a ride to the movies if you worked at an office or store?

If you have young children not in school who require childcare, consider a nanny or neighbor to watch the children if they are too young to be left alone in the other room to fend for themselves. Enlist in the help of other family members or look through the classified ads for nannies or sitters. Even if they are 12, chances are they can and will distract you. While the cost may seem prohibitive, consider the rewards that will be yielded for accomplishing tasks that you cannot do while having to watch out for children. If you have children in school, plan your schedule for the time they are in class. Do less distractive things when they arrive home or on holiday.

As for people not in the home, screen calls and visitors. If it is an emergency, chances are these people will know how to reach you. Or they can call the police. With special friends and neighbors, be sure you explain clearly that you are working during certain times and cannot be taken away for tasks that can wait.

People are not the only distractions. Noise, visual stimulation, and other things may distract you. Be aware of your distraction level and take steps to avoid the temptation of giving into the favorite daytime TV show or checking the unimportant email or regular mail. Running to the store can probably wait unless you need office supplies. Everyone’s distractibility level is different, so be aware of yours and your willpower.

Self-Motivation

A large degree of willpower and self-motivation are required to properly and effectively run a home-based business, even if you live alone. As mentioned, distractions abound. There is always something that needs to be done, be it laundry or going to the post office, all errands that would wait if you worked outside the home.

Good organizational skills are important. Attending a seminar in self-motivation may be in order. Set up a reward system for yourself. For example, allow yourself a short break for completing a project or conducting some research for your business.

Part of successful motivation is planning a schedule that can be accomplished. Decide what days and hours you wish to devote to your home-based business. While there may be times when you must work overtime, try to be strict about not working too many hours when not necessary, to minimize or eliminate burnout or discouragement.

Rewards