Comments on: How to Stay Focused When Working at Home

By: Wendy R

Wendy R — Thu, 04 Nov 2010 23:01:13 +0000

This is a well written article with some really good advice. I also like to “work in spurts”. I have three kids and one of them stays home with me all day while the other two go to school. He is not that tough to work around, but there is a need to stop for breakfast, lunch and some playtime. By the time 2:00 rolls around, I’m off to go pick up kids and it really gets “busy” in my home.

I like to work a few hours in the morning and at night when the house has settled for the night. It works best this way.

By: PV Reymond

PV Reymond — Sat, 27 Mar 2010 20:36:51 +0000

Hi Holly,

I couldn’t agree more, you touched something really important.

I think that it is important that you analyze the techniques and strategies others are using and then test them to see if they work for you.

Also, you have to adapt them to your business and give it your personal touch to stand out from the crowd.

Being unique and different is crucial in any business.

As you say, if you make a promise you have to deliver on it… if you over deliver it is even better because your customers will be happy and they will come back to you…

It is a principal that Napoleon hill called going the extra mile.

To succeed in this kind of business you have to build trust and credibility because people buy form those the belive in and trust.

On the other hand, you have to make things easy for your visitors, if you have lot of stuff on your site that confuses them, they never come back.

Thanks,
^PV Reymond

By: Lock Chee Hoong

Lock Chee Hoong — Mon, 18 Jan 2010 17:20:18 +0000

Use sticky notes, write each task on ONE sticky note, organize them according to priority and paste the most important one at the corner of your PC or laptop.
Then after the task is completed, throw that away and replace it with the task with the second highest priority.

With that Sticky Notes staring at you constantly in the face..you will be compelled to get rid of it.

Try that and see if it works /

By: Bill Vlasak

Bill Vlasak — Wed, 30 Dec 2009 14:35:40 +0000

That is the same Josh as commented here.Worth checking out his site.

By: Bill Vlasak

Bill Vlasak — Mon, 28 Dec 2009 05:35:27 +0000

Staying focused with as many things that you do ,Holly,must be difficult.It is certainly one of my weaknesses.Add to that a noisy household with a grandson and dog and 500 e-mails a day I am amazed I get anything done.
Speaking of outsourcing,if you remember the name “Josh.Josiah” ,he started an outsourcing company in the Phillipines for chores like article writing and spinning and other IM tasks.He did this not so much for personal profit but to help fellow educated countrymen to use their talents in various occupations to make money on the internet,such as writing in topics of their expertise.Since English is quite prevalent there he has offered to give out free article samples “To-Order” via a survey.After that I am sure the rates will be more than reasonable for outsourcing various tasks and still deliver quality.If you are interested or anyone else is,e-mail me and I will forward you Josh’s contact details.
Now there I focused on at least writing this comment in one sitting ;I didn’t have any distractions.Then it is midnight.

By: josh

josh — Sun, 27 Dec 2009 10:22:44 +0000

A great tool that has helped me organize my life is a Mind Map software. I notice that as entrepreneurs, we generally are flooded by ideas – a blessing if used wisely, but a major setback if uncontrolled. Ultimately it still boils down to asking my self – “Will this activity, email, program, etc help in my over all vision.?”

Another is starting my day right with routines that I generally don’t want to do, but I know if started right – my day is just beautiful. If I have a good day, then the week will be splendid. If we have a great week, the month will also be wonderful – then the year. It what currently call “the Law of the First Moves.” Easier typed than done, that’s why a coach or someone to keep you accountable, will be a key asset.

So in a nutshell
1. Mind Map Software
2. Regular routing – if you want to break a habit, kill it in 30 days.

By: Cary Bergeron

Cary Bergeron — Tue, 22 Dec 2009 16:15:06 +0000

I find that working from home can be very difficult as well. Sitting in front of your computer and hammering out content, links and code can be mind numbing.

I like to take a break in the late morning and get some exercise in. After that I work for a couple more hours and take a short lunch. This helps to break up the work and get me out of the house as well.

By: Vance Sova

Vance Sova — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 23:04:30 +0000

Hi Holly,

I still struggle with distractions and the chief among them is email.

I started to unsubscribe from many lists, especially from those that hammer me almost daily with information and sales pitches.

One tip that I like is not checking your emails until the last 15 minutes on the computer.

This is hard to do but by far the best solution to getting absorbed in sorting emails and reading them. For me it could take hours.

Working in spurts is also a good idea as you suggest.

I tend to spend hours behind the computer and getting up and stretching every hour or so does wonders.

Vance

By: Walter

Walter — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 00:34:49 +0000

Working home is no easy task for me with my one year old son. I always have to take care of him when my babysitter is not around. Even though, I try my best to work whenever there’s an opportunity, like when my son is sleeping. I think it is effective if we can be flexible in matters of concentration.

When I sit on my computer I focus to gain concentration, when I’m interrupted, I let go and take note of where I am or the idea I have on mind. This way I am able to regain back the momentum I had prior to the interruption.

By: Jenny

Jenny — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 19:21:01 +0000

Holly,

The first paragraph describes me to a tee (sp?), the lack of direction at times can be very overwhelming.

I appreciate the tips and plan on using some of them. Recently I a have found myself bouncing from one thing to another.

I find that taking breaks in spurts helps me the most thus far. However, I usually end up taking power naps:)

Thanks again for the advice!!

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:37:48 +0000

Thanks Anna for that great advice – and I think you’re right about outsourcing so that you can pay for your freedom and so you can do what you enjoy doing online. That is awesome!

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:29:43 +0000

Hey Davin – you know what is strange? When I have projects to do for others – I work hard to get their project completed in a timely manner. When I am doing a project for myself, it is more likely that I will take it easy and not always push forward to complete it as fast. It’s strange – but I think that’s why Toggl (and why the Action Enforcer software you use) works well. i guess it helps to have a deadline or to be timed.

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:19:16 +0000

Wow that’s great Roland. I love that you do this each night before the following day. Also, you are right that you shouldn’t over-task yourself. I read that if you can accomplish just one major thing each day, you will feel inspired and continue on with your accomplishments – all the small goals equal big results.

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:18:07 +0000

Thanks for the tip Tom! Great idea – and I need to start doing this every day – I know it will help.

By: Holly

Holly — Tue, 08 Dec 2009 18:16:49 +0000

Jenna, that is so funny! “If there was a job that required you only to start projects and other people would finish them, it would make me the happiest person in the world!” – I think I’d love this as well! I wasn’t always this way – but have been like this a lot lately. I hope to get more focused!