It’s hard to keep focused when you work at home, yet your income depends on it. There are so many distractions and temptations it’s easy to forget what you’re supposed to be accomplishing.

Here’s a list of ways you can help yourself keep focused on your business:

1. Break tasks down into manageable pieces.
When you have a home business you often have times where you have to break your day into small pieces to cope with the various distractions, such as children. You can get more accomplished if you know what you can get done in the time you have.

2. Keep track of the things you need to get done.
This means having goals as well as a to do list. Keep focused on which are priorities, which need to be done quickly versus over time.

3. Make time for your family.
If you have children in the home, they can be a distraction, but taking enough time with them can help you to focus because you won’t feel so guilty about not taking enough time for them. Find that balance!

4. Limit time spent on emails.
Yes, email comes in all day. Most of it really does not need to be answered immediately. Pick a time each day that you will go through your emails in detail and as much as possible limit your emailing to this time. If you’re expecting an important email or one that will need a prompt response, you can check your email lightly through the day, but scan only and leave responses that can wait until later for your regular emailing time.

5. Take control of online distractions.
This means turning instant messaging programs off if you don’t need the distraction and controlling how much time you spend on forums. They’re a great marketing tool for many people but also a great time waster.

6. Take control of background noises.
You may love your favorite television shows, but if you lose a lot of work time to them it’s time to take advantage of the VCR or TiVo and turn the TV off. Similarly, decide whether having music in the background is a relaxing benefit or a distraction.

7. Keep a water bottle at your desk.
I like to put mine into the freezer for a couple hours in the morning so that I have easy access to cold water for several hours. Keeping a water bottle at the desk limits the excuses to get up and get something out of the fridge. It’s also much healthier than sodas.

8. Do you really need to answer the phone or the door?
If you really need to get things done it might be time to let the answering machine screen your calls and ignore people who come to the door (unless you’re expecting a package or a visitor you have the time for). Warn family and friends first, of course, so that they understand that you are taking your home business seriously.

9. Have a comfortable home office.
Perhaps most important is your chair, but you want the overall setup to be comfortable and conducive to being productive. Learn a bit about ergonomics, especially if you spend a lot of time in front of the computer.

10. Don’t let household chores distract you.
Chores around the house such as dishes, laundry, vacuuming and so forth can easily suck up all the time you have available to work on your home business. Set aside time to work on the house and time to work on your home business and don’t mix them up.

11. Don’t let the naysayers get you down.
There are plenty of people who will give you all kinds of reasons why all home businesses are scams or you’ll fail or never make enough money…. Don’t focus on them. Focus on what you can do. A well-chosen home business has low expenses and a fair chance of succeeding if you work hard. No guarantees, but the potential is out there.

It’s not easy to keep focused when you work at home. There are too many things you could be doing and you often can’t help but feel you can spare a bit of time for something not related to your business. You’ll have to find the balance that works for you and the needs of your family, a highly individual thing.

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