Are you distracted when trying to work from home?

Oh how easy it is to be distracted when you're working from home.
True, you don't have your coworkers talking about last night's
Dancing with the Stars or showing you photos of their children.
However, you do have other distractions, like last night's Dancing
with the Stars and your very own children. How do you handle them
and still manage to be productive?

It isn't easy.

Here are seven tips to avoid distraction and prevent interruption. These are the same steps I use in my Lotto Magic business at http://www.teamlottomagic.com.

#1 Create work time and set limits. Get a do not disturb sign if
you need to. Just make sure everyone knows you're working and not
to be disturbed. It ís helpful if you can create special times
during the day that are devoted to work and special times that are
devoted to family, chores and errands.

#2 Close any and all computer applications that aren't directly
related to what you're doing. Yes, that means Facebook and Twitter
too! And of course close your email unless you're checking it.

#3 Speaking of email, stop checking it every five minutes! Check it
three times a day, max. Check it once in the morning, once in the
evening and once during lunch.

#4 Turn off your phone or set specific ring tones for important
numbers and ignore all other calls. Google Voice is a great tool
because you can have voice mail messages sent to you as text
messages. That saves you time during your lunch break because you
can check your voice mail and your email at the same time.

#5 Remove the television and the radio/stereo from your office if
they're distractions. Generally, television is a distraction for
most people. However, some people find it easier to work to music.
You decide. You know yourself better than anyone else. If music is
a distraction, remove it from your work environment.

#6 Plan ahead. Take the dog outside before you settle down to work.
Use the facilities and grab some food and something to drink so you
don't have to get up while you're working.

#7 Set time aside for chores and errands. Laundry, dirty dishes and
grocery shopping can wait, right? However, if you haven't set aside
time to get them done they'll loom over you and distract you from
getting your work completed. Schedule time for them and the stress
is removed. You can focus on being productive.

Distractions are a part of working from home or anywhere else. As
they arise, you'll need to figure out the best way to manage them
and prevent them. Enjoy the benefits of working from home for what
they are and the amazing freedom you do have.