1. Have a separate phone line for business. This saves you from having to compete with your teenager for phone time. It's also a lot more professional -- kids and spouses who pick up the phone with a "Hello? Who is it?" can't compare to you answering with a "Good morning, XYZ Company. How can I help you?"
2. Keep your work in your work space. When you work at home, business tasks can easily spill over into your living room, kitchen, bathroom, even bedroom. This isn't healthy for you or your family. Keep the non-working spaces of your house sacred so you can relax when you're out of the office.
3. Establish set hours. You don't have to work 9 to 5 if that's not your style, and your business doesn't need to keep traditional hours. But having some established routine -- whether it's 6 to 3, 2 to 10 or midnight to 7 -- helps you work more efficiently and plan more effectively.
4. Show you're professional. You don't have to dress in suits but answer your phone professionally, keep the talk shows off the TV and resist the urge to chat with the neighbors when you should be in the office. Your business will have a better chance at succeeding if you treat it like a real business.
5. Consider a post-office box. If you don't want to give out your home address for business purposes, consider a post-office box. It not only keeps your personal and business mail separate, but can sometimes allow you to get your mail earlier in the day and accommodates a lot more bulk than most home mail boxes or slots.
6. Brighten your day. Adequate light is a must for a home office. If you can, set up your work space in a room that has a good-sized window with a view. If a basement or windowless room is your only option, invest in some good lighting so you don't end up feeling as if you work in a cave.
7. Take breaks. No one can work effectively 18 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year without a break. It's not healthy, it's not good for your family and it's not good for business -- it will burn you out. So schedule time for fun, even if it's a Saturday afternoon at the movies.
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