Posts from — May 2011
How to avoid distractions while working your freelance business
It happens to everyone at least once a day. Something happens to distract you from an important business project. It could come in the form of a needy child or a needy spouse. It could come in the form of an interesting article that you got in your inbox. So how do you handle these distractions that pop up when you work from home? Read the rest of this blog post for ideas.
I know you chose to work from home so you could spend more time with your family. However, if you consistently miss deadlines you won’t get many clients. Word travels fast if you are unreliable. Unfortunately bad news seems to travel faster than good news. So if your family seems to constantly be needing you when you are working it may be time for a family meeting. If you are fortunate enough to have a spouse to help you with this, you guys need to figure out how you are going to split the chores while you are working on projects. You need to explain to your kids that you are not available at some times of the day but you are available at other times of the day. It would help if you had a clear schedule so you can say something like “between 8 pm and 10 pm is family time” so your kids can know that they will have a time when they have your full attention.
Now here’s some advice for when the distraction comes from your computer. It can be tempting to check your email every hour. Don’t do it. If you are working on something that is time sensitive, limit the number of times you check your email to two or three times a day. If necessary use the vacation tool that comes with your email program to let people know you have received their message and will respond by such and so date so they know you are paying them some attention.
Juggling work and family can be tough, especially when they share the same space. Implement these tips and you should be well on your way to a smooth work at home life. Do you have any things you use to help you avoid distractions while you work from home? Please share them in the comments section.
May 17, 2011 0
