Work at Home Tips: How to Separate Work from Play

When you work at home it can be harder to maintain a professional presence. You need to make it a priority to separate work time from play time.

This can be done in a variety of ways. It requires a certain mindset for one, and it also requires the following practical tips:

• Keep your office space separate from your relaxation space. This will help define when you are at work and when you are at home, so to speak even though you are technically always at home.
• Allow yourself a few short breaks throughout the day. This will help you become more productive than trying to work while fatigued for longer blocks of time. Also realize that home workers are allowed a break, but not too long of a break!
• Make sure you not only designate work time from play time but also keep a regular and consistent schedule. This may not be possible 100% of the time whether you work at home or outside the home but the goal is to stick to the same routine. It increases ability to produce and accomplish tasks.
• Close yourself off from distractions. It would be best if you had an office area that has a door. If you do not have that luxury, then try to arrange your work hours when most people in your household (if any) are gone.
• Keep your work area and desk as clean as possible. You would be surprised how much this helps you focus. A cluttered work area is said to represent a cluttered mind, so free your self from it!
• Keep your personal phone off. If necessary, even keep your business line on silent for awhile if you are in a project of which the deadline is rapidly approaching. You can always return your phone calls later if need be and if someone gets upset…well…you can’t please everyone can you?
• The more disciplined and focused you are the more productive you will be. Do not forget that work is not everything, as it should not come before your family, friends, and other important people.
• However, you should also make sure you keep it high on your priority list. Your clients depend on you and you are just as much of a professional as an office worker.
• Make a list of important tasks and projects to be done. The satisfaction of crossing them off is usually out of this world for most people.