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Ask the Business Coach Working From HomeQuestion: I recently convinced my boss to let me work from home two days a week. At first I was thrilled. Now I am having serious problems avoiding distractions. I have a babysitter for my two toddlers while I am working, but I keep feeling the need to check on them, or play with them. I spend a good part of the day doing household and family stuff and then find myself swamped at night trying to get work done. Any suggestions for managing distractions while working at home?Pamela Answer: You are discovering what many home-based business people face - that it takes a huge commitment along with enormous amounts of discipline and determination to work successfully from home. You have to be sure to fully optimize your time and the most effective way to do that is by planning, organizing and prioritizing. In short, the best way to tackle the challenge you face is with a rock solid plan that you can't ignore. Begin by devoting exclusive workspace in your home that is inviolate. Set serious boundaries on that space and on the time you assign each day for work. At least until you get into an ethical work routine, it will help to establish a sense of formality around your day including getting dressed for work and showing up in your home office in the same fashion that would be appropriate for headquarters. It is imperative that you to get into this business mindset at the exact hour you wish to start working at home. Give your babysitter express instructions to not interrupt you unless it is an extreme emergency. In fact, you can also create a contract with her that will allow her to shoo you away if you show up in HER work space with the kids. Then it is up to you to resist the temptation to visit during 'work hours.' Instead, plan official, designated lunch and break times for this privilege. As for your plan, be specific about what you want to achieve each day that you work from home. Before you leave your headquarters office, set out the details of those days as to what is the minimum you will accomplish. Establish clear goals and structure the day to take advantage of your peak performance time. Determine how you can best demonstrate a clear value on the time you spend working at home. In other words, be able to show results. Working alone at home means you not only have to set your own goals and follow your plan but, also, that you have to motivate yourself, stay focused even though no one is to see what you're doing. Basically, it's up to you to set boundaries that honor your commitment and allow you to do your work effectively. A valuable privilege has been extended to you and it's entirely up to you to keep that contract with yourself, your boss and your organization in an ethical fashion. With proper planning and a good amount of discipline, you'll get into a routine that will allow you to do this successfully.
Also see: Disclaimer: The information in this column is intended to provide the reader with general ideas or concepts to be used as part of a broader base of knowledge they collect to determine their own best course of action and solutions most suitable for solving their workplace challenges. The information in this column is not guaranteed to be the appropriate solution for each individual.
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Joyce K. Reynolds is an expert Business Coach who works with CEOs, Sr. Execs, entrepreneurs and countless others providing knowledge, solutions, motivation and support that assist her clientele in successfully meeting workplace challenges. 