Does anyone work from home?

we are moving offices - so me, my Dh and his team are working out of my house this week- maybe next week

(I will kill myself if it goes any longer)

does anyone have any tips for staying focused- I realize I can do my job alot quicker at home with out having 20 people to talk to-

I know I should be happy to have the chance to work at home in the freezing cold - but I actually like them office environment

yesterday I was on the phone with a bank for a clients- and my cat was eating my file!

today the cleaning lady is here

I am getting nothing done!

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I work from home 80-90% of the time and have the same issue. I will be on the phone with someone and my cat is jumping on my lap so I am then leaning over her trying to type...if I take her off she just jumps back on!

What works for me is having a to do list. If I do not have this list, nothing gets done. So I have to accomplish all my tasks before I finish for the day. I also keep my day structured like I was in the office. I still get up at 6 and workout and am logged onto my computer by 9. I take lunch and eat or run my errands at the time... and a few other breaks as needed.

I also pick up and go the neighborhood coffee shop a lot too. I find I focus really well there when I don't have a lot of calls to do.

I prefere an office environment but love the flexibility of working at home. I do have an office I can go to...so it's nice to know I can go...but I usually will only go once or maybe twice a week.

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I made a list today
and now I am sitting at my dinning room table with all my files and my printer

I feel more like I am working

I have a meeting at the office tonight- so that is helping me focus for today

it's going to be a long week-

it's not helping that the cleaning lady is here- I have to make a few calls- and I would rather wait until she leaves

Re: Does anyone work from home?

We both work from home. It helps to have a designated work area that we treat like a real office. We each have one.

We stick to the same timing as if we were in an office, work out early or late, on the computer by 9 the latest, lunch in the middle of the day. Regarding food, I plan out what I am going to eat the day before and stick to it so I am not raiding my fridge constantly.

Luckily our dog is used to being quiet during the day so he isn't overly noisy.

Do you have a door that you can close? That helps a lot when the cleaning lady is here.

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I have a home office and when I work I keep the door closed. It keeps me focused.

I also situate my desk near the window which looks out to the back yard...so it is not too distracting at all.


Good Luck!

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I work from home in the afternoons since mid 2007 so I'm used to it now. In the beginning, it was very hard for me at times to keep my focus. I'd keep getting distracted by things around the house. I kept a strict "to do" list and held myself accountable for getting those things done. One I got into the routine, it got easier. I still have my days but it's still so worth it for me.

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I do some of my work at home, sometimes for a full day, sometimes for half the day. I go through phases where I am very productive at home and phases where I am more distracted. When I am more distracted, I just try not to beat myself up over it, knowing that I will cycle back to being more productive.

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I give you all alot of credit

it was just not for me

I tried- but I don't have to do it anymore

back to an office on monday!

Re: Does anyone work from home?

Re: Does anyone work from home?

What do all of you do to be able to work from home. I'm curious. Thanks.

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I am curious to learn what kind of work you do from hom too....I would love to find an opportunity to work from home, but I havn't had any luck in finding something I would like yet!

Re: Does anyone work from home?

bump please

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I have my own business (with my DH)

but I have an office now

my DH works from home at least 3 days a week

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I do a lot of my work from home, as well. I have a job in the social work field so when I am not seeing clients, I can do my paperwork pretty much anywhere.

It's not for everyone though. It's easy to be distracted, and going off on a tangent from when I was a supervisor, there are people who do take advantage and NEED to be in an office environment to get things done.

With my job you are kind of on a "honor system".

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I am a training manager for a software company. My company is in NYC and when I moved to ATL I was able to keep my job and work from home and head back up to NYC about once a month.

Re: Does anyone work from home?

i recommend having a "spot" that is specifically for work. dont use it for anything else, and dont do your work anywhere else. I feel this helps to make the distinction bw work and home. also, silence your personal phone during work hrs.

Re: Does anyone work from home?

I worked from home the other day and I admit is was hard. I think because I was more nervous about proving I could work from home, I ended up not even giving myself a break like I would at the office I was on the computer and phone all day long.