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marigoldg
Forums Member
Joined: 25 Oct 2009
Posts: 1
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#1 · Posted: 25 Oct 2009 16:47
Many people think that working at home is a walk in the park and that they can work for just a few hours and put in only a little (if any) effort. But, take it from someone who has been working as a freelancer for the past three years, it is not as easy as it sounds.
What I have found is that while I get the benefits of setting my own hours and making my own decisions about what work I will take and what I will turn down, I still have to put in the hours approach working at home like a job.
This means that when I am working, distractions have to be at a minimum. At first I set up my desk in the living room where I could watch TV and still work. Nope, didn't work at all. Now I have set hours and my own office in our house and when the door is closed, it means "unless you are dying or the house is one fire, enter at your own risk!"
This is what I do and what works for me. Any suggestions and tips from others out there?
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Marigold Grace V&M Enterprises Text linkEncouraging Independent Living Through Enterprise
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getagrip
Joined: 20 Feb 2006
Posts: 2087
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#2 · Posted: 26 Oct 2009 11:34
If you have a lap top, you can go to a cafe with internet access. Also, it helps to create a to do list about the things you need to get done, or just set aside a block of time for a couple of hours to get your work done - it can help to allow yourself to take a break every hour or so.
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happywife
Joined: 14 Aug 2007
Posts: 1526
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#3 · Posted: 26 Oct 2009 23:35
Yes, I learned that I'm not very productive when I have the TV on! 
To do lists are great. I get in and out of the habit far too often. When I start falling too far behind schedule or correspondence piles up, I remember to get back to the "to do" list. I love checking things off the list.
I find I'm most productive in the quietest hours of late night. Unfortunately, that means I inevitably end up staying up too long and feeling tired the next day. 
I really need to take your tips to heart and isolate myself in quietude and get more things done.
Thanks for the reminders,
Angie
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kasandrakline
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Joined: 28 Oct 2009
Posts: 10
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#4 · Posted: 29 Oct 2009 15:47
I am a stay at home mom, that works from home with my three year old. Talk about distractions...  But that was the whole reason for the at home business. I also have an 8 year old that is ready to go out the door at 7 a.m. for school. I start my work online around 4 a.m., stop at 6 a.m. to get him ready for school, by the time he leaves, it's time for my 3 year old to get up. She's a grumpy butt in the morning and takes her time waking up, so I have another hour before breakfast and getting dressed. My point is this... you have to stick to a schedule but still have a little flexibility. What's the point of working at home if you can't enjoy it? Your right, it becomes difficult at times, but when one of my children is sick.. I don't have to call into work... my life does not revolve around my work schedule.. my work revolves around my life schedule.
Good Luck to one and all at finding what works best....
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timbonderud
Forums Member
Joined: 3 Feb 2010
Posts: 76
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#5 · Posted: 19 Feb 2010 17:25
marigoldg
Working at home can be like that, you have to find a company that gives you great training and support and gives you the ability to virtually run with almost full automation. This would greatly reduce your time involved. Take Care.
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Tim Bonderud Entrepreneur And Online Marketing Strategist. You will get to see how easy it is to work from home and make money online Go Here Now |
talfighel
Joined: 17 Mar 2007
Posts: 1015
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#6 · Posted: 21 Feb 2010 10:18
You have to find the right time everyday to devote to your business. Yes, you set your own hours but you have to find enough time during the day to be in the "business zone".
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residualcash
Forums Member
Joined: 27 Oct 2008
Posts: 82
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#7 · Posted: 22 Feb 2010 10:30
What you've done is what many fail to do that keeps them from excelling in a work from home opportunity. Most treat it like a hobby and get hobby results.
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1life1fire
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Joined: 16 Feb 2010
Posts: 17
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#8 · Posted: 22 Feb 2010 19:50
Hi Marigold!
I also find that I work much better without distractions of any kind. I can't even have the radio on! LOL!!
A to-do-list would probably be a great idea... my problem is when I start working on 1 idea... half way thru I get another idea... then another... then another... I wish I could work at lightening speed so I could just finish one idea before I get another... and start bouncing around trying to get 3 ideas done at once. That's when it gets hard....
So I just go take a quick few minute break and think about each idea that I was working on ... and prioritize.
Hope this helps!
Dan
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OnlineIncome
Forums Member
Joined: 16 Nov 2009
Posts: 18
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#9 · Posted: 23 Feb 2010 23:28
I find working in a room with no one else in it and no distractions is best. I also work better when my desk is clear of clutter and natural light is coming through the window. Don't know why that is but have always been that way. When I think of ideas of how to market my programs I have a white-board and paper in front of my to make sure I write down my ideas straight away. This was when I go to market my programs later on I can have more niches to expand my programs to.
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robinincarolina
Joined: 11 Mar 2009
Posts: 497
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#10 · Posted: 24 Feb 2010 10:30
I get up early, and do my online playing before my daughter gets up. Then I take her to school and shut down my online playing when I get home. I will listen to a couple of really up beat songs and then go to work. My desk too is right beside 2 french doors with lots of natural light.
I take breaks and throw in a load of laundry, load the dishwasher etc. Then time to get the daughter again at 3. Come back home, sometimes resume working til night, sometimes I break for a happy hour.
2 days a week I have to tend to my handicapped elderly mother. I could not do this with a 9 to 5 job. It's a routine, no tv though, ever.
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 3056
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#11 · Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:40
robinincarolina: It's a routine, no tv though, ever.
except at night to unwind, although for me a brisk walk works great in the evening...
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mountainmom5
Joined: 30 Aug 2007
Posts: 3056
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#12 · Posted: 24 Feb 2010 11:42
1life1fire: A to-do-list would probably be a great idea... my problem is when I start working on 1 idea... half way thru I get another idea... then another... then another... I wish I could work at lightening speed so I could just finish one idea before I get another... and start bouncing around trying to get 3 ideas done at once. That's when it gets hard....
That SO is me... it helps me to stay on track if I have a list of what I would like to get accomplished every week.
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timbonderud
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Joined: 3 Feb 2010
Posts: 76
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#13 · Posted: 24 Feb 2010 17:40
marigoldg
Yes many people think it is a walk in the park, when you first start many and many hours have to be put into building it up, then a schedule has to be written up in order to stay on track just like any business the use of a daytimer is a nice touch, whether its a classic paper one or online daytimer, which by the way is nice because then you can access it anywhere theres internet and will always know what you had planned for business strategies that day. Remember to have a passion for what you are doing, this is the difference between success and failure of your business. Take Care.
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Tim Bonderud Entrepreneur And Online Marketing Strategist. You will get to see how easy it is to work from home and make money online Go Here Now |
HobbiesMann
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Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 17
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#14 · Posted: 25 Feb 2010 12:51
I agree, my work from home business takes all my effort. I can take the easy way out and that may give me more free time but then what's that sense in that if it causes me to earn less income.
I have to keep myself motivated constantly. It's tough when I am so easily distracted.
Because I work from home I can work any hours I want. By that I don't me less hours, I am talking about working hours where I don't get distracted. For me that's at 5am Mon. - Fri.
My work day is done by noon and then I can do whatever I want.
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HobbiesMann
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Joined: 30 Jan 2009
Posts: 17
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#15 · Posted: 25 Feb 2010 12:53
getagrip
I have a laptop so my wife and I can still work on our web sites while we are travelling. It's so much better than taking notes and waiting until we get back home again.
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wahgo
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Joined: 25 Feb 2010
Posts: 24
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#16 · Posted: 25 Feb 2010 20:06
Lots of great ideas posted about working efficiently from home. There is a time and a place for work and a time and a place for family. My number one strategy is closing the door to my home office so I won't be disturbed when I'm working and then closing the door again when I'm leaving my home office at the end of the day. Otherwise the separation between home and work will get blurred.
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