Running a Successful Work at Home Business
A Home Business Article Contributed by Amy Taylor-Mitropoulos
The "Working at Home" Fantasy
When people hear of a friend or family member who work at home, the first thing they often say is "oh, how lucky John is. I wish I could work at home." However, what these wishful thinkers don't realize is that working at home can sometimes be harder than working in an office environment. There is less structure, no one to answer to (except you and your clients) and loads of temptation - all of which can spell disaster for the less disciplined.
The Challenges of Working at Home
Running a business from home can be very challenging. Perhaps the greatest challenge, however, is the numerous distractions that did not exist when you were working in an office.
When you work at home, friends feel that they can call at anytime or, even worse, drop by for a coffee in the middle of your workday. Then there is the TV looming in the background, silently calling your name. Finally there is the unlimited-access-to-the-fridge factor, which is often just a guise for wanting to take a break and blaming it on your stomach.
So, between shrugging off friends, trying to work while watching TV and answering the call of your stomach, you will find that at the end of the day you didn't get as much work done as you had planned.
Overcoming Work at Home Challenges
The key to overcoming these challenges is to develop a great deal of discipline. Tell your friends that during the hours of x to y you can not be disturbed. If they get offended, just explain that even though you work at home, you are still working. Better yet, let the answering machine take the phone and call them back on your lunch break or after working hours.
Next, set up your work area as far away from the television as possible. Commandeer the den or transform the kitchen table into a day-time desk. The old expression out of sight, out of mind really does work in this situation so as long as there is a wall between you and the boob tube, you should be fine.
Finally, structure your day to include coffee breaks. Experts have found that workers who do not take at least a five minute break every hour actually take 500 percent longer to complete a mentally strenuous task than workers who enjoyed a five minute rest. This is due to the fact that if you don't consciously decide to take a break, your brain will go ahead and take one for you. By allowing yourself a five minute reward every hour, you will find that the urge to snack has lessened greatly.
Trips to the fridge become less of a necessity now that you have made an hourly break a strict rule to which adherence is mandatory.
In conclusion, knowing what the potential pitfalls of working at home are help you to avoid them. By creating a structure to your work day and being disciplined enough to follow it you will find the success you were seeking.
