Working from home is a privilege many are seeking to try.  Some of the benefits are easy to see.  Less money is spent on gas when the commute to and from work is cut out.  Parents can spend more time with small children and save on childcare bills with a home-based job. 

There are other benefits of working from home that may not be apparent right away, but they soon take shape.  Working from home can be less stressful.  The political climate of the office is a distant memory.  The only attitude you have to deal with is your own.  You have more freedom to organize the work day to suit your needs.

But, where can you find a work from home job?  There are more people looking than there are jobs, but that doesn’t mean you won’t find one.  When you do find one, however, being prepared to act will make all the difference.

Begin with your current employer.  Many employers are willing to pay someone in their office to work from home.  That cuts your commute and their overhead.  Even if coming out of the office wasn’t an option before, your work ethic and good track record with the company may get them to extend such an allowance.  It wouldn’t hurt to ask.

It is helpful to know what type of work you are looking for.  Someone who enjoys sales could then move to established sales companies that specialize in the home business model.  That includes some that you probably know well:  Mary Kay, Arbonne, The Pampered Chef, Partylite.  You pay upfront for a starter kit, but the company offers support for new sellers and all the helpful information they can throw at you.

Look to the Internet.  There are reputable sites that offer jobs without a commute.  The well-known job search engines can help you:  Monster (www.monster.com), Craigslist (www.craigslist.com), CareerBuilder (www.careerbuilder.com), Yahoo! HotJobs (http://hotjobs.yahoo.com), Media Bistro (www.mediabistro.com). 

If you are a freelancer, there are also places for you.  Writing, website design, programming, and other specialties can find freelance jobs online.  Sites like eLance (www.elance.com), Associated Content (www.associatedcontent.com), Constant Content (www.constant-content.com), and others offer opportunities for freelancers to make some money.

Another way to find work from home jobs is to join forums.  Forums for stay at home parents, stay at home moms, and working at home parents provide support as well as information on job leads and how to run your home enterprise.

Working from home is possible, but you have to do the legwork to find the job opportunities that are right for you.  Any of the sites mentioned above can start you on the right track.

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Working from home is an ideal choice for many. Whether you own your own business or your employer allows you to telecommute, working from home offers many conveniences and freedoms that a traditional office job does not. However, working from home also offers many challenges; the primary challenge for many is staying focused and motivated.

Step One: Create a Workspace

Staying focused and motivated when working from home requires a home office. Yes, maybe the kitchen table or the couch could work. However, placing yourself in those locations is just asking for distractions.

When you create a designated workspace, your frame of mind changes immediately when you walk into it and sit down. You’re mentally more ready to focus. Make your workspace comfortable enough that you enjoy being there yet not so comfortable that you want to be there when you’re not working or that it becomes a place to hang out.

Additionally, when you create a workspace, your family will take your working from home more seriously. It becomes easier to set boundaries. When you’re in your office, you’re working and you’re not to be disturbed.

Step Two: Create a Schedule

Okay so maybe one of the things you love about working from home is that you don’t have to create a schedule however a schedule will help you stay focused and productive. When you create your schedule, remember to schedule in breaks, household chores, time with your family and meals. It’s easy to say, “I’m going to work from 10-4” however actually sitting there and working for six hours is going to be a lot more difficult. Give yourself breaks and downtime during the day. When you schedule in your distractions, your working time is much more focused and it’s easier to stay focused because you know you have breaks to look forward to.

Additionally, make sure to schedule days off. It’s easy when you work from home to work from the time you get up until the time you go to bed seven days a week. It’s a sure way to suffer burnout quickly. Plan vacations, days off, and time for yourself to stay motivated.

Step Three: Eliminate Distractions

Make a list of distractions. Perhaps it’s laundry, your children, your friends calling you for coffee, appointments and errands. Make a list of these distractions and then find a way to eliminate them.

For example, if your children are a distraction, then how can you plan your day around them? Can you trade childcare days with other parents who work from home? Can you hire a sitter for part of the day? Can you work around their naps?

Staying motivated and focused when working from home is possible. Rather than modeling your work from home life around what you feel you should do, take a look at your reality, your needs and personality, and create a work from home life that works for you. It takes a little planning and premeditation to get the job done.

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Who knew that the state of your office would affect the state of your mind?  Simplifying things around your office, whether at home or in a building, will lead to greater peace of mind and a more productive environment.

Your office doesn’t start off in a mess.  The desk is clean, papers are in piles, and you can see the telephone.  Every time you walk in, you are ready to work because everything looks so neat.  Over time, all of that usually changes.

For a home office, clutter is a unique problem.  The clutter is not only papers and mail for your business but also other people’s stuff:  kids’ toys, newspapers, kids’ homework, and odds and ends.  The possibilities are endless.

It has been eluded to that an out-of-control office space can lead to a depressive state of mind.  The process of finding what you need when you need it is frustrating.  The thought of taking the time to slim down those towering piles of paper creates anxiety.  Dealing with that adds to the pressure of work deadlines.

Help is on the way.  Here are five tips to change your view in and of your office space.

1.  Do a little every day. If your office is already a mess, the problem won’t resolve itself in a day.  You don’t have to take a vacation day to clean your office.  Instead, create a plan of attack detailing what decluttering tasks need to be tackled around the office.  For the first week or so, those piles might still seem daunting, but relax in the knowledge that you are whittling it away.

2.  Stop junk mail at the door. Junk mail has a way of piling up…everywhere.  Most people hit the highlights of their mail as they walk to their desk or back in the house.  Anything that you know is an advertisement, throw it away right away.

3.  Make use of filing cabinets. They are there to help you.  Use hanging folders inside to organize invoices, finished project paperwork, requisitions and more.  If the paper is in a filing cabinet it is off of your desk.  Easy to read labels assist you to find any of this information later.

4.  Go paperless. In today’s society, more and more businesspeople are throwing off the paper for the virtual.  Instead of keeping dozens of paper invoices, create computer files for the information.  If you need a copy of the invoice, it’s as simple as accessing the file and printing it.  To avoid losing the information, back it up on a flash drive or hard disk.

5.  Put everything in its place. Every home or office has a junk drawer.  That’s where the odds and ends we can’t be bothered with organizing seem to end up.  Instead of creating a black hole in your office, find a place for everything right down to the paper clips, and stick to it.

Organizing a mess is not easy.  However, once you’ve decluttered that office you will feel better about working there.  Make a deal to avoid future clutter by using the above five tips.

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It seems like every working person’s dream is to leave the office and set up shop at home.  Before you get too used to the idea, however, think it through and know what to expect so the experience is as great as you imagine.

1.  What kind of work will you do at home?

It is never a good idea to leave a job without a plan.  Setting up a freelance business means a time lag between contracting with a client and getting that first paycheck.  Line up work ahead of time so your business is already on line before you leave your day job.

2.  Can your finances survive the move to a home office?

Some jobs allow their employees to stop commuting and perform their duties using the Internet, fax, and phone.  If you are quitting a day job in favor of starting your own business, sit down with the family and gauge your financial situation.  Consider establishing an emergency fund to cover any unexpected expenses or normal household bills until the home business starts bringing in money.

3.  Set office space apart from the rest of the house.

You might have visions of sitting in your pajamas at the kitchen table while working on the computer, but that gets old really fast.  Your productivity will likely give way to cleaning the kitchen, fixing breakfast, and watching television.  A room dedicated to your home business is the best way to maintain your focus on work even though you are at home.

4.  What equipment is needed to run a home office?

Before you pull up stakes, be sure to purchase all the items you’ll use in the home office.  The basic essentials include a separate telephone line, a printer, a fax, a computer devoted to business, and of course a desk and chair.  Hit the ground running with your home business.

5.  How will you manage the children?

Moms who start their own home business get to spend more time with their kids.  But, as good as that sounds, the kids can also distract you from doing the work you need to get done.  Decide how you will handle work time and family time before you come home.

6.  The battle between housework and office work is never ending.

Just because you are at home doesn’t mean you have time to do all of the chores.  Your primary concern is getting the home business off the ground.  Between you and your family, discuss what is expected of each person.  You might be home but it is in a working capacity.  Everyone can pitch in with the work.

Working from home has its benefits but they come from being prepared.  Before deciding to leave the work force and come home, know what to expect.

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