More and more parents are looking for ways to work from home. With the price of childcare and limited job opportunities, creating a business from home makes sense. Once an opportunity has been found, there comes the charge of allotting time, staying on task, and reducing distraction. Children are very good at distraction, as every parent knows. Integrating the home and work life is a chore, but doable.
Allotting Time: Take a realistic look at what happens in your day; you might find time where didn't think it existed. Create lists and work out a schedule plan. Combine tasks. If there is a show you feel you need to watch, fold laundry or fit in a workout while you watch. Pick specific hours when the children are at school, napping, or sleeping, to complete work related tasks. Stick to them --within reason. Things do come up. Some parents work from home successfully by getting up two hours before their children; others by staying up later. Most will find that their concentration is better in the morning when the mind is fresh.
Staying on Task: This requires self-discipline. Set a timer if you must to motivate you. Some have a tendency to get lost in thought about other things that must be done in a day: dry-cleaning pick-up, making doctors appointments, paying bills, etc. This is what lists are for. Make a list of what you must do --besides work-- so you can have reference when you are done with the task at hand. Verbally say to yourself, out-loud: I will do this now; I will worry about that when I am done. One of the greatest keys to success is self-discipline.
Reducing Distraction: There are things beyond our control, and there are things within our control. As work-from-home parents, we know our children come first --this is essential to successful parenting. But there are things we do in a day that are 'non-essential': Facebook, online gaming, checking email, checking sport scores or news, instant messaging, snacking, smoking, etc. Granted some of these can be work-related, it is up to you to decipher the difference to maintain productivity.
To work from home successfully, you must know your goal, have a plan, and create good work habits. And then, of course, stay positive.
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