even surprise you and come up with something better than they would have done with you checking on them every couple of hours.

7. Have office space.

Working from home is a serious business. Make the space, even if it’s a desk in the corner of the bedroom.

8. Set the family rules and guidelines.

Your family need to understand that you are serious about this and the benefits are huge but they need to be taught to respect your working space and time.

9. Focus on specific tasks

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean it’s time to vacuum or dust mid-morning. Have a schedule and stick to it. If that’s what you want to do in your break then fair enough!

10. Employ yourself test

Keep a note

1. Plan your day the night before.

Have a list of to do things ready the night before of high and low priority. Aim to have things done before they become urgent so you are not always putting out fires. It is always easier to remember the things you need to do next when you are in the flow of activity, and so easier to get back into the zone the next day.

2. Take half a day to plan your week.

This was the hardest one for me to get into the habit of doing. I mistakenly thought that I could not afford to take that time out of my busy schedule. What I found after putting this into practice is that ‘busy’ time is not always productive time. Better to know exactly what you need to achieve and have a week that is already booked up with appointments or activities to move you towards your goal than to be planning minute to minute and just reacting to day to day emergencies.

3. Sharpen the saw.

This is a popular one in the personal development books. Another biggie for me in that I have always favoured the manic approach to work. I would do as much as I could possibly cram in, and stop only when exhausted. People with those kinds of additive personalities especially need to pay attention this one. Take a day off at least once a week. The winning formula is to really take that time. Don’t keep jumping onto email and mobiles as you will not be refreshed. I found the world and the workplace keeps turning even if I go to the cinema for a couple of hours! Put yourself first or you will be of little use to anyone else.

4. Take regular breaks.

This is a discipline for most people. Some thrive on exercise but it seems that most don’t! We lead sedentary lives and the more successful we are with online activities the less likely we are to move around. Schedule in some breaks and do what you love to do. DVD exercise sessions are good to do at home. Sit in the garden and relax for 20 minutes while you eat lunch instead of hunching over the laptop and dropping crumbs in-between the keys! I’m a great one for power napping. Take 20 minutes of guilt free power nap – that is a huge benefit of working from home. You will find that this can add hours of extra productive time to your day. Einstein did it so don’t feel guilty on this one.

5. Limit internet time.

I am a terrible culprit here. I confess to being a skype addict and hop on and off my e mail as many times as my daughter’s will let me near the laptop. This is an obvious one and we know when we’re doing it so the best thing is to just stop! Develop a routine i.e.; first thing in morning check e mails and jump onto skype or whatever your communication tool is. Send the messages you need to send and then get off. Log off so you can then focus on daily tasks without distraction.

6. Resist being on call 24 hours (aka. The superhero syndrome)

Your team/co workers can survive without you – I promise! They may even surprise you and come up with something better than they would have done with you checking on them every couple of hours.

7. Have office space.

Working from home is a serious business. Make the space, even if it’s a desk in the corner of the bedroom.

8. Set the family rules and guidelines.

Your family need to understand that you are serious about this and the benefits are huge but they need to be taught to respect your working space and time.

9. Focus on specific tasks

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean it’s time to vacuum or dust mid-morning. Have a schedule and stick to it. If that’s what you want to do in your break then fair enough!

10. Employ yourself test

Keep a note

ady booked up with appointments or activities to move you towards your goal than to be planning minute to minute and just reacting to day to day emergencies.

3. Sharpen the saw.

This is a popular one in the personal development books. Another biggie for me in that I have always favoured the manic approach to work. I would do as much as I could possibly cram in, and stop only when exhausted. People with those kinds of additive personalities especially need to pay attention this one. Take a day off at least once a week. The winning formula is to really take that time. Don’t keep jumping onto email and mobiles as you will not be refreshed. I found the world and the workplace keeps turning even if I go to the cinema for a couple of hours! Put yourself first or you will be of little use to anyone else.

4. Take regular breaks.

This is a discipline for most people. Some thrive on exercise but it seems that most don’t! We lead sedentary lives and the more successful we are with online activities the less likely we are to move around. Schedule in some breaks and do what you love to do. DVD exercise sessions are good to do at home. Sit in the garden and relax for 20 minutes while you eat lunch instead of hunching over the laptop and dropping crumbs in-between the keys! I’m a great one for power napping. Take 20 minutes of guilt free power nap – that is a huge benefit of working from home. You will find that this can add hours of extra productive time to your day. Einstein did it so don’t feel guilty on this one.

5. Limit internet time.

I am a terrible culprit here. I confess to being a skype addict and hop on and off my e mail as many times as my daughter’s will let me near the laptop. This is an obvious one and we know when we’re doing it so the best thing is to just stop! Develop a routine i.e.; first thing in morning check e mails and jump onto skype or whatever your communication tool is. Send the messages you need to send and then get off. Log off so you can then focus on daily tasks without distraction.

6. Resist being on call 24 hours (aka. The superhero syndrome)

Your team/co workers can survive without you – I promise! They may even surprise you and come up with something better than they would have done with you checking on them every couple of hours.

7. Have office space.

Working from home is a serious business. Make the space, even if it’s a desk in the corner of the bedroom.

8. Set the family rules and guidelines.

Your family need to understand that you are serious about this and the benefits are huge but they need to be taught to respect your working space and time.

9. Focus on specific tasks

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean it’s time to vacuum or dust mid-morning. Have a schedule and stick to it. If that’s what you want to do in your break then fair enough!

10. Employ yourself test

Keep a note

a couple of hours! Put yourself first or you will be of little use to anyone else.

4. Take regular breaks.

This is a discipline for most people. Some thrive on exercise but it seems that most don’t! We lead sedentary lives and the more successful we are with online activities the less likely we are to move around. Schedule in some breaks and do what you love to do. DVD exercise sessions are good to do at home. Sit in the garden and relax for 20 minutes while you eat lunch instead of hunching over the laptop and dropping crumbs in-between the keys! I’m a great one for power napping. Take 20 minutes of guilt free power nap – that is a huge benefit of working from home. You will find that this can add hours of extra productive time to your day. Einstein did it so don’t feel guilty on this one.

5. Limit internet time.

I am a terrible culprit here. I confess to being a skype addict and hop on and off my e mail as many times as my daughter’s will let me near the laptop. This is an obvious one and we know when we’re doing it so the best thing is to just stop! Develop a routine i.e.; first thing in morning check e mails and jump onto skype or whatever your communication tool is. Send the messages you need to send and then get off. Log off so you can then focus on daily tasks without distraction.

6. Resist being on call 24 hours (aka. The superhero syndrome)

Your team/co workers can survive without you – I promise! They may even surprise you and come up with something better than they would have done with you checking on them every couple of hours.

7. Have office space.

Working from home is a serious business. Make the space, even if it’s a desk in the corner of the bedroom.

8. Set the family rules and guidelines.

Your family need to understand that you are serious about this and the benefits are huge but they need to be taught to respect your working space and time.

9. Focus on specific tasks

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean it’s time to vacuum or dust mid-morning. Have a schedule and stick to it. If that’s what you want to do in your break then fair enough!

10. Employ yourself test

Keep a note

roductive time to your day. Einstein did it so don’t feel guilty on this one.

5. Limit internet time.

I am a terrible culprit here. I confess to being a skype addict and hop on and off my e mail as many times as my daughter’s will let me near the laptop. This is an obvious one and we know when we’re doing it so the best thing is to just stop! Develop a routine i.e.; first thing in morning check e mails and jump onto skype or whatever your communication tool is. Send the messages you need to send and then get off. Log off so you can then focus on daily tasks without distraction.

6. Resist being on call 24 hours (aka. The superhero syndrome)

Your team/co workers can survive without you – I promise! They may even surprise you and come up with something better than they would have done with you checking on them every couple of hours.

7. Have office space.

Working from home is a serious business. Make the space, even if it’s a desk in the corner of the bedroom.

8. Set the family rules and guidelines.

Your family need to understand that you are serious about this and the benefits are huge but they need to be taught to respect your working space and time.

9. Focus on specific tasks

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean it’s time to vacuum or dust mid-morning. Have a schedule and stick to it. If that’s what you want to do in your break then fair enough!

10. Employ yourself test

Keep a note

even surprise you and come up with something better than they would have done with you checking on them every couple of hours.

7. Have office space.

Working from home is a serious business. Make the space, even if it’s a desk in the corner of the bedroom.

8. Set the family rules and guidelines.

Your family need to understand that you are serious about this and the benefits are huge but they need to be taught to respect your working space and time.

9. Focus on specific tasks

Just because you’re at home doesn’t mean it’s time to vacuum or dust mid-morning. Have a schedule and stick to it. If that’s what you want to do in your break then fair enough!

10. Employ yourself test

Keep a note of all your completed work tasks for the day. Look in the mirror at the end of it and ask yourself, honestly, whether you performed to the best of your ability that day. The truth will be looking right back at you!