VirtualVocations

Working at Home with Distractions

Working from home comes with a variety of distractions. Even while holding a day job for an employer, you have to deal with distractions. You will always have to handle specific client request that may keep changing every day or something new being added.

Distractions can ruin your day totally if you allow it to happen. As long as you are aware that there will be certain distractions, it will prepare you for how to handle them. When you are distracted, a simple thing to do is to ask yourself if it warrants immediate action or not. It may be something that holds no instant action on your part and you can get back to it at any time during the day. However, if it is something that needs your immediate attention, make a note of what you were working on. Write it down on paper. Handle the distraction with appropriate timing and then get back to your task.

If you have to take a phone call from the client, go ahead and do so, but make sure you mention your time constraints, if any and if it is something that you can get back to them about, don’t spend too much time on the phone. Set appointments with your clients to go over work accomplished, their additional needs and a time when you will be able to follow up with them. This will put things into perspective and you will be able to manage your day better. Complete one project before moving on to the next. Don’t overburden yourself and expect to not have distractions. Pace yourself and you will get more done in less time.

Your client is looking for you to produce certain results and they will not take any excuses about distractions. In other words, you cannot complain to your client that you have been distracted. If you manage your schedule and your projects well, your clients won’t even a distraction to you because they will know exactly what you are working on at all times. Giving your clients periodic updates will make the process easier for you.

Create milestones of project completion before you begin the project. Make your own “things to do,” list and do the most important things first each day. Be mindful of deadlines that can catch up to you in no time.

Try to do your personal projects on the weekends, so that you won’t have to be distracted with those things during client business hours.

Posted:Monday, November 05, 2007