14 DAY TRIAL // Due to the phenomenal growth of the Internet, which basically abolished distance, increased accessibility to information and gave instant communications a huge boost, working from home is no longer a fantasy, but rather a solid, modern-day reality. Millions of people around the world do it and it's working out just well for them - however, many of those who have traditional desk jobs and contemplate working from home still feel somewhat reluctant to the idea of moving their desk from a fancy sky scraper downtown into the room next to your kids' bedroom. Noise, regular distractions and a million other small things may appear as insurmountable obstacles to an adult who contemplates such a move. However, as with most things in life, working from home is simply a matter of organization.
The first essential step in creating a productive work environment at home is to have your own office. No, this does not mean that you have to start adding extra rooms to your house - it just means that you have to choose a place that's going to serve as your "office space", and which must be closed off from the rest of the house. Whether it's a small, separate room or simply your guest bedroom where you set up your computer and all the materials you need to do your job properly, make sure your family members know this is your own space, and you don't want any interruptions. To drive the point home, always step out of the "office" if you want to chat with anyone, making it clear that chats in the office room are off limits.
The next step is to learn to say "no" to any distractions or frequent interruptions - unless of course it's an emergency. Even if it's just a fifteen minute run to the supermarket down the street for bread and milk, it's still a distraction, it makes lose focus and waste time getting back into the work mindset upon your return. It's easy for your other family members to imagine that if you are at home, this means you're also available to run errands and help around the house. However, don't fall into the other extreme and don't shut yourself away from the outside world for days at a time. Working from home allows you to share meals with your family and if you keep to a regular working schedule, you'll be able to fit in everything you need to do in one day - and then some. Good luck.