Today there are more and more work at home moms. If you have one of the corporation’s coveted work at home positions or have started your own business, then your journey has brought you to a familiar place–home. So, what’s next? Determine if your house is work friendly. Follow these tips to ensure your home is set up to facilitate work demands and/or business needs.

Prepare your family. The idea of preparing your family for the transition to working at home is an under-emphasized gesture. For stay at home moms turned entrepreneurs, it may mean giving up cherished time with kids so that client orders can be fulfilled. It may also involve working later than usual which could throw off even the most well-intentioned family schedules. Provide enough details to make your family feel comfortable with the changes to their daily routine. This will help to head off problems in the future.

Set boundaries. Inform your friends and family members who live outside the household that you will be working at home. Be clear about what this means for both you and them. For instance, let them know that working at home does not mean that you can watch their kids or run their errands. Be firm about what you will and will not tolerate.

Assess your accommodations. Walk through your dwelling and picture yourself working at home. Are you energized by the sight of clean and tidy rooms or are you distracted by clutter and lingering home repairs? Working at home requires discipline and focus. Make sure your surroundings will motivate you to continue to work and stay on task.

Make a “To Do” list. Jot down all of the things you would like to change about your surroundings: clean the house, get rid of clutter and address nagging repairs should be at the top of the list. Prior to working at home, inconveniences may have been tolerable for months on end; but going forward they may be unendurable. Your “To Do” list will serve as a map or plan of action to create a work-friendly house.

Identify the home office or work area. Locate a room in the home that can be used specifically for work. Use a spare bedroom or a bonus room that has a door and a lock. If you don’t have an extra room, identify an area in your home that can be transformed quickly and efficiently for work. Use a folding screen to section off a corner in a room and set up a cubicle. Be sure to add setting up the home office or work area to your “To Do” list.

Do a trial run. Test your new work environment by spending an hour alone in this space on a weekend. Figure out if this area will indeed work for you. Is it too hot or too cold? Does the sound of traffic outside the window annoy you? Take advantage of this time to work out any kinks. Make changes as needed to your work surroundings to ensure you stay focused and get off to a great start.

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Tracking Daily Tasks