First Do No Laundry

I've got to admit that I do a pretty good job of keeping focused on my work as a professional writer while I'm here in my home office. When I'm at my desk, it's just like being in an office at work, and I pretty much ignore that I'm actually sitting in my living room at a $35 Ikea desk I picked up at a thrift store.

But sometimes I really have to stop myself from living the life of someone who stays home all the time. A former colleague gave me the first rule of working from home: never do your laundry during the day. Here are a few rules I try to live by to keep my work day professional.

1. Like my friend said, first do no laundry. I have three loads running right now, but I couldn't help it. I don't have many outfits for the gym, and I go five days a week. I have to therefore keep up with my laundry much more than I did when I just sat around in yesterday's sweats all the time.
2. The fridge is not your friend. Just because I'm ten feet from my kitchen doesn't mean that I can pop up for Pop Tarts when I need a break. Of course, if I worked in a real office, I'd have to avoid the conference room donuts as well.
3. Forget working on your complexion or your unwanted facial hair during the day. Sometimes on a quick trip to the restroom, I catch a look at myself in the mirror. "Hmmm... I could use a quick mud mask," I think. But I really try to resist.
4. Do not pick up a dust rag. This is actually my worst habit while I'm talking on the phone. I pace around the house, and I start dusting, or mopping, or wrapping up the garbage. And then the client says, "Write this down," and I have to rush back to my desk.
5. Watch out for friends and coffee. I'm forever getting sucked into coffee with friends during the work day. I ADORE coffee with friends, and it's hard for me to resist. But sometimes I really need to limit my coffee time or just not go. (Ok, I always go, but sometimes I make myself leave early.)
6. Be careful of personal email. I've talked about this before. Personal email checking, internet surfing, mail sorting, personal calls from friends. All these things distract me from actual work. And if I don't do the actual work, the business does not keep going.
7. When the cat's away, you can get work done. My cat's name is Mickey Mouse, and she frequently becomes insistent that NOW is the time to cuddle. RIGHT NOW. No, really. It's best when I keep her high on catnip or when I keep the house a little chilly so she curls on my bed in the down comforter.

For more ways I waste time, view My whole category on Procrastination....

Comments

[Liz]

So - is this the same small black kitten we picked up at the shelter in Denver? If so, how she's grown!

[GlutenFreeTiffany]

I have a home business too (along with my new outside job), and I "ditto" everything you wrote, plus a few.
1) I still need to get dressed. I don't even take mySELF seriously in my PJ's.
2)Eat breakfast. Otherwise lunch will be early, along with dinner, and hubby will wonder why I am not hungry when he gets home.
3) I can't just "listen" to the t.v. I will always want to run into the next room to see what the nast mother-in-law on Dr. Phil looks like.