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"Whether telecommuting or freelancing, more and more professionals are trading in the cubicle for the home office. We hear all about the perks of the work from home lifestyle \u2014 no long commutes, more time with family, conference calls in pajamas, etc. But what about the challenges? It\u2019s not always easy to stay productive in the face of countless distractions. \nIf you\u2019re working from home, chances are you\u2019re a freelancer, consultant, or small business owner. This means your ability to get paid is directly tied to how productive you are. As a freelancer, wasting time equals wasting money. \nHere are some tips on how to stay focused as you move through the workday, while still enjoying all the unique benefits of working at home.\n\r\n1. Respect Your Own Time\r\n\nWhen you work at an office, family and friends seem to naturally respect your schedule. But when you\u2019re working from home, you\u2019ll inevitably get calls at 11:00 a.m. or be expected to handle the daily errands. I\u2019m not saying you shouldn\u2019t wait for the cable appointment or chat on the phone, but be mindful of how easy it is to have time ripped from your workday.\nIt\u2019s important to set boundaries, if needed. People will respect your schedule, only if you respect it first. \n\r\n2. Impose Time Limits on Specific Tasks\r\n\nIt\u2019s easy to become distracted, particularly when dealing with a task that\u2019s challenging or a bit dull. If you find yourself losing focus, tell yourself to dedicate just 15 more minutes to the task on hand. Knowing there\u2019s an end in sight might inject new energy into the project. And if not, move on to something else and return to it when you\u2019re in a better mindset.\n\r\n3. Set Strict Deadlines\r\n\nEver wonder why you\u2019re ultra productive when facing a tight deadline, while a simple task can take hours to complete? You might chalk this up to working well under pressure, but it could also be Parkinsons Law, which basically states that a task will expand to fill the time you can give it. Combat this phenomenon by imposing your own deadlines for specific tasks. These can be as complicated as finishing a proposal or as simple as responding to a client email.  \n\r\n4. Log Off for \"Power Productivity\" Hours\r\n\nDigital distractions aren\u2019t just limited to Facebook and YouTube. For most, the daily barrage of emails and IMs from friends and colleagues ends up being the day\u2019s biggest time sink. If you\u2019re stuck in your inbox, dedicate chunks of the day when you unplug from your phone and email to get work done. You can log back on afterward and power through the necessary responses. \n\r\n5. Delineate Your Workspace\r\n\n\r\n6. Slowing Down? Change Your Environment\r\n\nIf you find yourself stuck (and you\u2019ve already tried the \"just 15 more minutes\" tactic), change your environment. Go work at the caf\u00E9 for an hour, or brainstorm at the park. A change in scenery can spark new ideas and give you newfound focus. \n\r\n7. Conduct a Time Audit\r\n\nEver finish up the day and wonder where your time went? If you\u2019re self-employed, it\u2019s important to understand exactly how you\u2019re using your time. Every so often, conduct a detailed audit of your day and keep track of what you did and how long it took. These audits can reveal great insights into your daily workflow and can help you make adjustments where needed \u2014 whether it\u2019s getting help for your bookkeeping, dropping an overly demanding client, or condensing multiple trips to the grocery store.\n\r\n8. Create Task Lists\r\n\nI tend to have multiple lists running at any given time. One list keeps track of longer term goals (for example, the projects I need to complete by the end of the week or month). Then each morning I also create a focused outline for the day\u2019s tasks. Try to keep your daily list as realistic and uncluttered as possible. Nothing can sap your motivation like staring at an overly ambitious list full of items you can\u2019t possibly complete. \n\r\n9. Make Your Breaks Count\r\n\nWhether you\u2019re working at home or in the office, it\u2019s not possible to stay focused for hours on end. Breaks are an integral part of the workday, but make sure your free time counts. Have you ever denied yourself a trip to the gym or lunch with a friend \"because you\u2019re too busy?\"\nChances are that on that very same day, you spent well over an hour browsing eBay, watching TV, looking at Facebook, checking your online bank account, or organizing your medicine cabinet. Busy work doesn't accomplish anything and won\u2019t recharge your batteries. So take your dog for a hike, take an actual lunch, or do whatever you enjoy. You\u2019ll not only end up being happier, but more productive as well. \nWhat are some of the ways that you cut out distractions and stay productive while working from home? Share your best practices in the comments.\n\nImage courtesy of Flickr, rocketlass"^^<http://www.w3.org/2001/XMLSchema#string>
<http://mashable.com/2011/05/26/work-from-home-productivity/>