Its easy enough to spot the pros of working from home, but those of us who actually do it day in and day out know how challenging it can be as well. Working from home requires discipline and motivation. Here are five tips to help you stay on track:

1. Separate work from home – This could include: having set hours or a designated “office” space where you will be uninterrupted. Working from home makes it easy to eye some of the daily house chores lingering around. While it might seem like taking a few minutes to clean the dishes is a good idea, be cautious of the amount of time it might really take to finish a chore or the possibility of getting side-tracked.
2. Get Comfortable – While some people work better by getting up, taking a shower, and getting dressed as though they’re heading to the office – don’t feel ashamed to work in your pj’s every now and again. Surround yourself with a calming and supportive environment – light music or the scent of a candle. Personally, I surround myself with art or visually stimulating items. Try to keep your desk or workspace organized and uncluttered. Have a comfortable chair that supports your back. Remember to take a break every now and then to stretch your muscles or walk around.
3. Get inspired – My job requires me to be creative but sometimes my brain needs a little help. When I need a creative catalyst I look through design books, magazines or scan for unique websites. It’s more difficult to get inspired when you are in a bad mood so remember to have fun and take advantage of things that pump you up! If the opportunity allows, work outside for the day or play some loud music!
4. Get out of the house – whether its for work or play. If the house is cramping your style, and you have access to a laptop, head out to your local Panera for free wi-fi access and a bite to eat. Can’t get the juices flowing; get out and play. Take a quick walk, run an errand, attend a networking event, or visit a friend. I once took a 3 hour break from my day to go bowling with a few friends. After getting back home I made up for my time spent out. The work I did that day came to me without a struggle and I felt good about it at the end of the day.
5. Set goals and reward yourself for completing them – Allow yourself to sleep in an extra 30 minutes after putting in a few extra hours the day before. While a huge advantage of working from home is a flexible schedule, make sure you’re conscious of what needs to be done and don’t lose sight of items you need to accomplish that day. Make lists and set timers for things such as e-mail, social media, small chores, etc. that might give you more of an opportunity to lose track of time. Or ask a friend to “check in” on your progress for the week. Sometimes knowing someone is depending on you, will keep motivation alive.

Need further ideas of how to stay on task while working from home? Franklin Covey is holding a FREE seminar on September 21st that outlines The 5 Choices to Extraordinary Productivity. Visit their website for more details.

Tags: creative, creative design, creative ideas, creativity, GDBD Creative Design, GDBD Design, Good Dog/Bad Dog Creative Design, how to stay inspired, How to Stay Motivated Working From Home, motivating ideas, tampa graphic design, tampa website design