Productivity at Home

We all know the advantages of working from home – being able to cook dinner while researching that report and taking the dog for a walk in between calls. Thanks to
technology, more people than ever are working from home – the number of home-based businesses in America was up to 18.4 million last year, and over half of small businesses in the U.S. are home-based.

The problem many women have when working at the home office? Staying focused.

“Create a work environment that works best for you, give yourself regular breaks and stretch,” suggests Christine Durst, co-founder and partner of Staffcentrix, LLC and co-
author of Work at Home Now. Durst also suggests making a to-do list for the next day. Organize it by importance and make sure to leave time for “putting out fires – those unexpected urgent tasks or interruptions.”

 What more can we do?

Keep it running smoothly: you need a clean space, backup hard drives and a wireless printer, according to Bloomberg Businessweek.

Stay on track: try to keep the same work hours and don’t let neighbors or children distract you, suggests Microsoft.

Establish a routine: Suite 101 recommends that you respond to e-mails at a set time each day, dress appropriately (don’t stay in pajamas) and know when to take a break.

By Caroline Cox

“The big secret in life is that there is no big secret. Whatever your goal,
you can get there if you’re willing to work.” Oprah Winfrey