| Working from home should allow you more time | | | | we're still reading and responding to email. |
| to have fun and do the things you enjoy doing | | | | Setting specific times (and time limits) for |
| most, and it does, but only if you're productive | | | | checking email allows you to save the time you'd |
| during the time you're supposed to be working. | | | | use checking unimportant emails for getting done |
| Here are three tips to help you be more | | | | the important work that needs doing if you're |
| productive while you're "at work" so you can | | | | going to be able pay the bills. Check your email |
| have more fun and enjoy the rest of your life | | | | once in the morning and once in the afternoon. |
| when you're not working. | | | | During the rest of the day, leave your email client |
| Productivity Tip #1: Have a Separate Space for | | | | closed so you don't hear the dings or the clicks |
| Work | | | | that indicate receiving a new message. Doing this |
| If you don't have the means to have a separate | | | | will make you less tempted to open your inbox |
| room as your work space, then make a space | | | | when you should be working. |
| somewhere in your home where, when you go | | | | Productivity Tip #3: Set Regular Hours And Stick |
| there, you know you're now "at work" and are | | | | To Them |
| no longer just sitting around at home. | | | | Keeping a set schedule is one of the more difficult |
| Designating a separate space where your work | | | | things you'll have to do, but it's one of the best |
| activities will take place sets apart your work | | | | ways to stay productive and ensure you get to |
| activities from the other activities you do at | | | | enjoy all of the free time working from home |
| home. In your work space, be sure to surround | | | | allows you. |
| yourself with only the things you need to get | | | | A regular "job" would require you to be there at a |
| your work done. Usually, this includes a desk, a | | | | certain time and stay for a certain number of |
| computer, a telephone/fax machine, a | | | | hours each day because when you're at work, |
| comfortable office chair, a notepad, and | | | | you'll be doing what you're paid to do instead of |
| something to write with. | | | | whatever you feel like doing at the moment. |
| If you surround yourself with things you don't | | | | Apply this same mentality to your "work at |
| need to get your work done (such as books or | | | | home" schedule and you'll immediately see an |
| television) it'll be much easier for you to stop the | | | | increase in your productivity. |
| work you're doing and do something else. | | | | The Bottom Line |
| Productivity Tip #2: Check Your Email Only Twice | | | | Make sure you treat your at home work as you |
| A Day | | | | would any other job. Show up when you're |
| Checking email can be a BIG time waster. Often, | | | | supposed to and don't spend your time doing |
| we don't even realize how much time we waste | | | | things you're not being paid to do. Then, you'll be |
| checking email. We go into our inbox thinking we'll | | | | able to take full advantage of all the extra |
| just see what's there and before we know it, | | | | benefits working from home affords you. |
| we've technically been "at work" for an hour yet | | | | |