With all the resources anyone could ever need available online, more and more individuals are developing successful careers from the comfort of their own home. While at-home careers present numerous perks be your own boss, set your own schedule, do what you love, work in your own space there are also several aspects of working from home that make it more challenging. As your own boss and your own employee, individuals who are able to succeed as freelance or at-home careerists must possess considerable self-discipline. Working from home means the potential for daily distraction, lack of motivation, and possibility of laziness. To truly succeed with your at-home career, try these four strategies to stay focused and driven from day to day:

Create a Strict Schedule

One of the most difficult aspects of working from home for most people is maintaining a consistent and productive schedule. Of course, creating a schedule that you are able to stick to is also one of the most important aspects of working for yourself and from home. Without a consistent (and strict) schedule, it can be very easy to put things off and fall behind. Because you are working from your home, a place that traditionally accommodates leisure time, it can be challenging to uphold a traditional 9 to 5 work schedule. However, it is often good advice for new professionals trying their hand at-home careers to treat the first few months like a traditional job. If your schedule permits, start working at 9, take an hour lunch at noon, and then stop working at 5. This will help you adjust to the idea and feel of working from home. Once you have found your footing in your home office, try adjusting your schedule to something that suits you and your work better. However, once you have developed a schedule that works for you, be strict with yourself. Maintain that schedule in a consistent and focused manner, so that you can be as productive and effective as possible with your time.

Keep an Orderly Work Environment

For individuals who are used to working in sterile cubicles and bland office buildings, working from your home office can be very similar to culture shock. Working from home will certainly take some adjusting time. To foster your at-home career be sure to create a working environment that encourages focus and drive. Put careful thought into the location and layout of your work space. Pick a room or area in your home that is separate from all of the heavy traffic spots. Don’t attempt to complete your daily work in at the dining room table, in the TV room, or in your bedroom. Find a spot that can be solely designated as your home office. This way, both your mind and body will associate that space with deep thought and hard work. Be sure that your workspace is well lit and clutter free. Decorate the space with things that put you in a state of mind that is calm and focused, but also energized and motivated.

Take Motivational Breaks

For some, one of the trickiest aspects of working for yourself is staying motivated with your work. Without a boss or supervisor around to keep tabs on your progress and encourage you, it can be difficult to find the self-motivation needed to truly succeed. Because individuals who work from home have to demand so much focus and determination from themselves, oftentimes these individuals will overlook the importance of breaks and downtime. Be sure to work productive breaks into your daily work schedule. Take a 10 minute break to surf the web for relevant things to your work a few times a day. This can be a great way to take constructive breaks throughout the day and to stay motivated and driven with what you are working on. Breaks are an important aspect of everyday work. Without regular breaks throughout the day, individuals become easily distracted and work less effectively. Don’t overwork yourself. Take breaks that require a little bit of movement and a different type of thinking. Try to keep things related to your work, but do not exhaust yourself on any given subject.

Author Bio:

This guest post is contributed by Patricia Garza, she is a freelance writer and she loves to writes about gadget, technology, design, social media, e-learning related articles at online university rankings . She loves receiving reader feedback, which can be directed to: garza.patricia656 @ gmail.com.