If you are going to be working as a small business owner from home it’s very important that you work at staying focused by setting yourself up with the right strategies. It can be very easy to get distracted when you’re working at home whether you end up cleaning the kitchen, getting lost in a new videogame or spending a long lunch with a friend. Here are some of the strategies that you can use as a small business owner so that you can stay on track without direct supervision working in your home space:
Make sure you have an office
When you have a dedicated space that is devoted to your work it’s easy to get into a mindset that you are clocking in and clocking out. Rather than sitting on your couch and completing a few e-mail correspondence, go to your office and set office hours throughout the day. It can keep you more productive and it can make sure that the rest of your home doesn’t feel like a workplace either.
Eliminate distractions
It can be very tempting to do some online shopping or spend the day on social media. Eliminate distractions on your computer by working as your own IT department can be easy. There are applications like Stay Focusd that can block certain websites after you hit a certain time limit or throughout certain hours of the day. This can help keep you on task while eliminating distractions just as a web blocker would at a traditional office.
Make a schedule and set boundaries
There’s no reason why you can’t have some flexibility working from home, it’s just very important that you set up boundaries to make sure that you will still put in the hours. You can go and see a movie in the middle of the afternoon if it won’t affect your customer service or business. What is important is that you’re making a schedule or adjusting your schedule to put in those office hours later on. Having a set calendar of hours or a time tracker will help you see the hours you should be standing in the office and if you are using those hours effectively. Having a time tracker and a set schedule to have a wondrous effect on productivity.
Consider some of these top ideas if you are working at staying focused as a small business owner working from home. It may take some adjustment being your own supervisor but by following the strategies you can have greater success in the home office.
