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Make A List And Check It Twice

On December 1, 2006 the Chicago Sun-Times ran a story with a headline that stated "New stats show women from all income levels are not going back to work." This is not surprising at all; from direct sales and network marketing companies to affiliate programs on the Internet and everything in-between, more and more people (women AND men) are realizing there might be a better way, kissing their bosses and the corporate ladder good-bye, and trying their luck at creating an income from home.

Oh, but if only it were that easy. Sure, many legitimate opportunities exist out there, but as most of us know, the Internet is full of "get-rich-quick" schemes and scams. But this article is not about that. This article sets out to address HOW to work at home, get things done, and feel some sense of accomplishment.

Of course, there is the importance of having a place in your home to work - whether that's an office, the dining room table, or with your laptop in your favorite chair (although this might subject you to more naps than anything else if this is your "work space"). But more important that having a spot is having a list. Yes, it is imperative to make a To-Do list every single day of items you need and want to get accomplished, and try to stick to it.

Without this, the minutes and hours will seep away into oblivion, and any sense of accomplishment may be lost. It is amazing how many distractions can creep up in an eight-hour period at home. Email and phone calls - just like at the office - are at the top of the list. And while co-workers might not be mingling around to chat or gossip, other potent distractions make themselves evident: the mailman arrives, the fridge hums, the laundry beckons, the errands call, and don't forget about Oprah at 4:00. With all these things - and more - fighting for attention, it is very easy to blow off the things to do today. After all, they can all be done tomorrow, right?

Wrong. Well, sure they can all be done tomorrow but why should they? If these things were on a list for today, then they should be done today. And if they are done today, you will feel so much better than having to think about doing them - and more - tomorrow.

So, here are some tips on how to feel and be productive working at home:
* Make a To-Do list every night for the next day and prioritize the items on the list
* Plan your day. What are you going to do and when? Treat these items as appointments or they will get dropped
* Check your email at set times - twice in the morning, twice in the afternoon, and once before signing off for the day
* Take regular breaks and give yourself time for lunch
* Make set hours for the family - "sign off" for the day with enough time left to spend with the family

Working from home can be very rewarding - personally and financially. But as with everything, it has its trade-offs. It takes time, tenacity, focus and perseverance to succeed in this world. Make a To-Do list and stay focused! Do this and start to watch the other success elements fall into place.

Wendy Jacobson is the owner of Unique-Announce (http://www.unique-announce.com) which provides a unique gift for life's occasions. Specifically, Unique-Announce turns special occasions into front-page news. Each gift is completely personalized for the recipient and occasion being celebrated, and they capture the day and the day's events. All gifts include a headline, photo of the recipient, article about him/her, a "newsline" section with the days top news stories, and cost of living factoids, and the days top movies/songs/TV shows. Perfect for new baby, birthday, new pet, graduation, engagement, new home and a variety of other gift-giving occasions.

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