When those of us who work out of our home originally dreamed about it, we probably all fantasized about working with no time constraints, no boss to watch over our shoulder, and having the ability to be flexible. And although it’s possible to experience such benefits, it’s also very easy to get distracted, become overwhelmed and lack focus. Sound familiar? In this series, we’re going to examine some basic tips that can help you experience a higher level of productivity, and remain focused on building your business and enjoying the benefits of working from home. Here are some ideas that can help you start the New Year out right: Keep a schedule. If you’re like me, it’s easy to get distracted when there’s no boss or manager telling you what projects to tackle. You might decide to run an errand that turns into three, or turn on the news only to become engrossed in a televised car chase happening hundreds of miles away. The best thing you can do for yourself is develop a schedule that works with your work style and keeps you focused. Create specific times that you focus on tasks to be completed. And then schedule in flex time to take care of billing, checking your e-mail or calling prospective clients. Maintain a daily to-do list, and keep track of what you’ve accomplished, carrying over unfinished tasks to the next day’s list. Be in touch. No matter where you go, you should have your vital customer and contact information with you. This means that you need an effective planner or organizer, or better yet, upgrade to a Blackberry or other high-tech gadget. You don’t have to spend a ton of money for an effective electronic organizer. Also, make sure you don’t have all your information in one place, like your computer hard-drive. If your hard-drive crashes, you’re up a creek. One option is to keep your data hosted on a virtual exchange server so you can access it anywhere that has an Internet connection. Strive for a family/work schedule. If you have children or a spouse, you know that it’s hard to work and run a household all out of the same place. One minute you’re making sales calls, the next you’re having to shuttle your children for a play date, or you’re picking up last minute dry-cleaning for your spouse. You will need to decide on a schedule that clearly indicates when it is and is not okay to perform household tasks, as opposed to your work-related ones. If you have young children, you will most likely need to call in a regular sitter, or find part-time daycare away from your home. You will quickly become frustrated if you don’t clearly define work and house rules that can coexist. In the next part of this series we’ll discuss additional ways to get your home-based business running smoothly. | 
