OK, so it can be a bumpy ride financially.  But it’s got some great benefits

- barbeque every lunch time

- time to take the dog for a walk whenever

- eating al fresco in the garden every morning

- wash your car or do some gardening on your break

Discliple is required, but the summer definitely reduces the temptation to watch tv with the sun hitting the screen making daytime TV redundant.

I justed made a milestone but now I’m all jittery and slightly disorganised as I haven’t started a new larger task.

Instead I’m fiddiling around adjusting things and doing maintenance - all of which doesn’t see to compare to the milestone I just made. 

I’ve been trying to faze in some fun time at the poker table for work breaks (nothing serious, I play freerolls or with free points).  After work I’m promising myself some playstation and 8-ball fun for 30 minutes to help me stay focused.

Green tea is helping too. 

I guess the main thing I have to say is have a plan and a focus.  My MindMapper software is keeping me pretty in check there.

But I do love working at home, it rocks.

It’s important you have an agenda.

Today as example

- drive the wife to her college

- get breakfast on the way back, eat while driving (saves time)

- walk dog

- work on the stock market data for 1hour to 90 minutes

- lunch / dog

- work on web work for 2 hours+

- back to pick up the wife from college

- walk dog

- dinner

- work on video work for 2 hours +

With a solid plan and direction, you will accomplish something that day and be self satisfied you hit your targets.  No planning, no results.

Trying to work at home with the new puppy is a nightmare.  Great for the dog, I can let it outside every 60 minutes….but he can’t be left unattended.

Fortunately, there is such a thing as a dog ‘crate’ - basically a small prison for the dog he he!  But he sees it as secure, so it’s not a problem.  After some 2-minute whining I can get back to work.  I tried the laptop and the dog but it didn’t work out, before I knew it he was peeing and eating everything.

 - On a sunny day, it’s impossible to work in the sunshine.  Blinds and a fan are essential.

- On a cold day, that cup of green tea or coffee makes the day go in so much better.

- Get distance from household chores and the TV.

Working at home can easily become a nightmare.  Make sure your chores are done or they are going to be done after 5pm.

The biggest distraction of working at home now is the Internet…..it can interfere with your motivation.

Surfing video websites, looking at Autotrader for a new car, playing online poker.

So anyway, just discipline yourself with daily targets and put on some decent ‘go work’ music (e.g.not laid back classical or anything).

Self motivate, it should be the first thing you think of when you wake up in the morning before you hit your desk prior to breakfast.

Can it be honestly said playing online poker is a distraction from working at home?  After all, if it’s a freeroll it costs nothing and you can play in the background…..

For the bigger prizes, you need full focus, nothing worse than being in a big hand and the phone rings!

Would suggest not playing poker during work to be honest, especially if you get deep in a tournament, then lose…wasting 4 hours of your life lol.

Conclusion - it IS a distraction.

I’m fairly well disciplined - but I find ‘other’ chores interfere with working at home.

These are - the supermarket shop, the gym, cleaning, the laundry and cooking.

I try to do these things when I’m on a break or fairly early in the day….get it over and done with so you can focus on work.

If you know you have to clean the kitty litter or take out the trash prior to work, it’ll de-focus you, even subconsciously.

When working alone in your office all day, it’s nice to have some chat but at a relax pace where you can get on with various things and chat.  MSN Messenger definitely bridges the gap - unlike a phone call that demands all your attention, chatting sporadically to friends on MSN is non-disruptive to work and non-invasive.

A nice way to send URLs to eachother too and you can keep up the community spirit and motiviation.

I speak to 3-4 friends regularly on MSN and it gives you another motive to get to your computer and stay at your computer.