Anyone here work from home?

[Kerrytravelers]

There is an opportunity that I may get to work from home. I've always been good at getting work done at home as far as bringing work home from the office. I always did my BA and MA work from home while in college and grad school.

What do you do to keep on focus and not get distracted by the pets, laundry, dishes that need to get done... etc. I know I need a schedule, but I can also see playing with Pitter-pat as a possible distraction. However, I also love the idea of working from home. It's actually something I've toyed with doing, and now that I can actually stay working in education and work from home, it just seems to good to be true- especially when we have kids!

How did you set up your home office and how do you keep focused?

[NewWaveChick1981]

1. You must've read my mind...

I just posted this a few minutes ago. :D http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=105x5845308

[Kerrytravelers]

3. How funny! I didn't see it, I swear! Just call it another case of great minds thinking alike!

And thanks for the link. I read it and I can see exactly what you are saying.

[NewWaveChick1981]

5. You're welcome.

:) There are good things about working from home, and if you can discipline yourself, you can be successful. I was successful at it, but at a pretty high cost---increased stress level and loss of some degree of personal freedom (although it seems counterintuitive). Although there may be some overtime at my new job, I can leave it and drive home and come back to it the next day. :)

[Debbi801]

6. These are very accurate...

I have been working at home (telecommuting) for a month now. The company I work for decided to shut down my facility. Some people were laid off, some were offered the chance to relocate to another state (Ohio) or leave, and some of us were offered the choice of relocating to Ohio or becoming virtual. Most of us offered the choice, picked virtual.

It gets very lonely. And I find it much harder to stay focused and be productive instead of turning on the TV and watching a movie. LOL. But, so far I am managing to meet or exceed deadlines, so it is working out. I find myself putting in more hours without the commute. however. I did discover that it was very important for me to keep a schedule, I get up and get dressed like I was going into the office every day. It is nice being able to fix a real lunch, throw a load of laundry in the wash, unload the dishwasher, etc. during lunch time.

Another thing that helped me was setting up a designated office area.

Good luck and feel free to ask me any questions.

[Kerrytravelers]

7. Thanks.

We've actually figured out how we're going to do a bit of furniture rearranging to make a more office-like setting for me, if I choose this particular situation. I'm not sold yet, I need to meet with them and discuss it further. On paper, it seems great.

I think I will simply have to turn the tv off and the radio (Air America!) on.

[matcom]

2. used to

got up at the same time every morning and DRESSED for work (business casual). that is what kept me focused.

[Kerrytravelers]

4. I was thinking that is what I would have to do.

Sitting around in my pj's isn't very conductive to getting the job done!

[blogslut]

8. Turn a room into an office

Take out the teevee and other such distractions. Commit to a regular schedule. Rinse. Repeat.

Or be like me. Surf the net. Watch teevee. Sit and stare into space. Screw around until your boss yells at you on Instant Messenger. Then work like hell. Rinse. Repeat.

[youthere]

9. Right here.

I only go into the office once a week (if that). I just set a schedule and stick to it. That's it. When I go into my home office I'm "at work" so the laundry dishes and all that waits until I'm "off work". The kids and my husband know my working hours and have learned to respect it.
My home office is set up as just that, MY office. The kids are not allowed to use that computer, no tv, video games, christmas decorations stored in the corner or wayward toys. It is my office and my work environment-with a locked door. If you aren't able to do this, I suggest you find a place in the basement, laundry room, extra bedroom...whatever where you can go and not be distracted by the family, phone whatever.
I also had a private phone line installed-for business calls only.
I usually work for several hours in the morning (I get up before the rest of the family) and for a couple hours in the evenings-usually after the kids go to bed.)Sometimes I sneak in an hour after supper while the kids are doing the clean-up. When they were younger I worked during their naptimes.
I would recommend sitting down with your family and coming up with a schedule (and boundaries!) that will work for you. They are also more likely to respect your schedule if they get a say in developing it. Good luck!

[Fredda Weinberg]

10. I never had a problem

And may be doing it again ... stayed in touch with the office via instant messenger during business hours, but allowed myself to get coding done any time of day. It worked out perfectly because I prefer late night/early morning for serious concentration. I could even nap during the day because the computer was next to the bed; as soon as I heard the 'ding' I was ready.

It became more than a job ... it was a lifestyle I appreciated.