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Working from home can be a most effective way to be more productive! Today's open plan offices stop many people from getting their work done. The constant noise, phones ringing and colleagues interrupting can drive anyone to distraction! Many people would dramatically boost their productivity if they could spend some or all of their workday out of the main office and join the thousands of small business owners who work from home. However there are a few rules you need to follow to do this successfully:

Establish a Routine?

Decide on a starting and finishing time. Include breaks.

Plan Your Day

Prepare a 'to do list' each day and action it.

Dress for Success

It's okay to occasionally "chill out" in your daggy old clothes, however you'll feel much better in comfortable casual gear. How you look will affect how you feel and how you perform.

Clean out the Clutter

Keep your work area clean and tidy. You'll work from home far more effectively and reduce the stress levels.

Organise Your Work Area

Have the right tools and systems to work with - an appropriate chair, desk, computer, filing system.

Group Tasks Together

Divide your day into similar activities. Make all phone calls in the morning and work on important tasks. Do errands later in the afternoon after the lunch-time rush or when you go to pick up the kids.

Learn How to Say NO!

Inform your family and friends of your working hours and that because you're working from home doesn't mean you're 'available'.

Take Time Out for You

It can be easy to lose yourself in your work. Take time to smell the roses*and make human contact.

The Final Word

Not everyone can work from home successfully. Some need the daily discipline and people interaction encountered in the office. However, for many others, being able to work from home has greatly improved their productivity and enhanced their lifestyle. They have more flexibility, more time and the opportunity to work much more effectively without all the usual distractions encountered in the traditional office environment.