Whether you own a full-time, home-based business or your job allows you to occasionally work from the comfort of your home, there are many things that can distract you from getting your work done. This article attempts to pinpoint a few of the more frequent, general types of distractions to be watchful for as you go about your daily business of working from home. It also offers suggestions on how to successfully handle them.

Imagine how much more productive we could be if we never had to deal with distractions in the workplace! But we do, and some days they seem to come from all directions. And don't think that working from your home means they'll occur less often or be easier to handle. In fact, I think the opposite is true: there will be more. You'd do well to expect to be distracted in the first place, because it IS a home, first & foremost. People do their "living" there, interacting with others & being themselves. The secret to effectively handling the distractions is simple: be flexible.

With that said, before we dive into the various distractions that might come your way, let's look at the all-important "Work Schedule" and the flexibility it affords you.

WORK SCHEDULE: As you probably are aware, it's very important to set up & maintain some sort of regular work schedule. And no, you don't need to install a time clock, but you must have a reasonable schedule laid out that you plan to keep. If you have a job that allows you to work from home, more than likely you may already have a set schedule. If you own a home business, however, your schedule can be more flexible. Either way, I doubt there are many out there that who can merely "pick and choose" when they want to work and also be successful at it. I know for me, I need some sort of structure in my day. Set up a work schedule for yourself. It doesn't have to written in stone, but it should be something you are willing to try to maintain.

The great thing about working from home is that you can set this schedule around the most important aspects in your life: family. You might also consider times you spend enjoying hobbies or traveling, that you probably wouldn't have the freedom to do with an ordinary job. So have a work schedule set up, but be reasonable. You have flexibility working out of your home more so than any other office in the world, so take advantage of it. You'll need to maintain some down-time, too.

Now for the "short list" of distractions I've seen:

IMMEDIATE FAMILY: Yeah, I know - you started your home business to be with your family. That's GREAT, but you must also get work done. If you just started working from home, your family will surely want to see how you are doing and offer help (TIP: TAKE IT! Get your family involved in contributing to the household in this way. It's a great life lesson.). But they may also think that since you're there 24/7, you are free to just do as you please. While you have the benefit of being able to stop to meet someone's immediate need, you must remember to get back to your schedule as soon as it's reasonably possible, if you want to be successful. Show your work schedule to your spouse and children (you did make one, right?). Let them know that during this time you're "at work". Remember: be flexible, but not a pushover for distractions.

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