Enterprise Nation

When you work from home, distractions loom from every corner. These invitations to procrastinate can cost your home business time and money. So watch out for common diversions and fend them off with these distraction-smashing tips.

When I tell people that I work from home, they often say that they'd love to, but don't think they could handle the distractions. You could argue that there are, in fact, fewer distractions than in a conventional workplace. There's certainly no commute, unless you work in a garden office (then it's negligible), and there are no water cooler moments, office romances or gossip.

Increasingly, however, technology is bringing these kinds of distractions into the home office; household appliances become the playthings of the procrastinator and while opportunity may only knock once, temptation leans on the doorbell.

In my five years of working from home I've fallen victim to these common diversions, but also developed ways to avoid them when I hear their siren call.

If you find yourself easily distracted, here are the things to look out for and the ways to avoid them:

1. TV

By night, an imaginarium of the living room; by day, a Pandora's box of distraction. The television set is the appliance most commonly associated with homeworking diversion. Does your finger itch for the remote control when you work from home?

How to avoid:

Look at the TV schedule. If daytime TV is more appealing than your work, maybe you really should take a break! Tape something the night before or load up the BBC iPlayer and schedule an episode for your lunch break. But don't reach for that dial until it's time!

2. The fridge

A moment on the lips, a lifetime on the hips? A week working from home and your hips might just buckle. Do you find that its elevenses every hour of the day?

How to avoid:

Don't stock up! One of the benefits of working from home is not having to do a weekly shop when Tesco's at its most heaving. I often pop out when I need something, like more bread or milk. It gives me an excuse to leave the house, get a little exercise on the walk to the shop and it means the fridge isn't always packed with goodies. If you've more than one mouth to feed, however, fill the fridge with healthy foods, then everyone's a winner!

3. Housework

Procrastination looks for an excuse to avoid work. And when you work from home it can too often fix its eyes on a basket of laundry, a pile of dishes or an unkempt garden. Do you start work only after you've done "one last thing"?

How to avoid:

Remember that homeworking is not houseworking! If you live with others, set expectations. Be clear that you work in the day and don't have time to do the laundry. Or, if you must, negotiate with your cohabiter, so that you share the workload, and use that time to multitask. Great decisions have been made over a kitchen sink!

4. Being a slob

The occasional duvet-day won't do any harm, but weeks in your pyjamas, blinds down, heating up, can't be good for your productivity. Do you shy away from web cam meetings, because you can't remember the last time you washed your hair?

How to avoid:

Dress for success! Or at least shower. The important thing is to be comfortable, but if it's 2pm and you're still in your PJs, the height of comfort can quickly turn into the depths of self-loathing. Don't throw out your slippers, but - please - but some trousers on and you'll feel much better.

5. Social media

According to research Twitter and Facebook costs the UK economy £1.38 billion in wasted time. Do you fritter on Twitter when you should be working?

How to avoid:

What the research doesn't say is how much social media benefits the UK economy. While some people use Twitter and Facebook to waste time, there are a good deal of businesses using social media to promote their products and services, maintain relationships with customers and clients and keep abreast of industry news and opinion. Use social media wisely and it could hugely benefit your business.

And don't feel too bad! The web is a great place to overcome feelings of isolation that might come about when you work from home.

If you feel like you're turning to social media, the duvet, housework, the fridge or the TV set more often than not, maybe you do just need a break!

What do yo think?

What's a source of distraction for you when you work from home? And how do you avoid temptation? Let us know your tales and tips in the comments below.

San Sharma
Social Media Consultant and Web Designer, Author, Moonwalker, etc.

Photo credit: fuß ball welt meister schaft 2006 by dr. motte