Conducting business at home

Buy supplies in double quantities so that you won't have to dash out in the middle of a project to buy an item you've run out of. To distinguish between your business and personal life, dress for work. Don't sit around in your bathroom all day.

Walk to work. walk around the block and back home. You'll get a little morning exercise, and you'll arrive at your office in a more business like frame of mind, refreshed and ready to work.

Maybe no one will see your office, but clutter can draw on your energy. Throw out dead plants, close closet doors, banish the cat from your desktop.

Be firm with people who interrupt.Because you're at home, others may not take your work as seriously as if you went to work at an office.

Handle interruptions just as you would at an office--tell others when you'll be free. If friends call during working hours, resist the temptation to socialize. Arrange to call them back later.

Ideally, your home office should be a separate room, but if one isn't available, choose a corner that will belong to you and you alone. If necessary, invest in partitions to separate yourself psychologically from the rest of the house.

In selecting an area, consider whether there is enough space for a desk and other equipment. Is there a convenient electrical outlet and telephone jack? (if not, they can be installed.)

Your desk needn't be a desk at all. All you need is a surface to write on. Whatever you choose, it should be strurdy and a comfortable height. A hollow door resting on two file cabinets provides plenty drawer space and a good sized desktop at just the right height.