Especially if you are a parent, there are tons of advantages to working from home. There is more time to volunteer at the school, pick up kids when they get sick, walk the dog, cook dinner, fold laundry and my all-time-favorite: alphabetizing the spice rack!

However, if you truly want to succeed with a home-based business you need to be consistent in your efforts and very disciplined in your daily habits. Here are some tips to keep you on the straight and narrow:
• Set office hours. Decide exactly when you plan to work and block off that time. Do not let anything other than an emergency keep you from maintaining your office hours.
• Write down your goals. Very few people actually do and yet studies confirm your chances of achieving your goals go through the roof if you have taken the time to commit them to paper.
• Post your goals. Make sure you can see them everyday and consider letting others see the path you have chosen for yourself. Chances are they may have suggestions for you.
• Make lists. Work off a daily list that you keep beside you all day long. For best results, end each day by preparing the next day’s list in advance. That way when you show up for work the next day, you’re immediately prepared for the day.
• Network with others. Find out about the networking opportunities in your area. Make an effort to interact with others in related businesses. Believe me, you’ll benefit by making valuable contacts, picking up practical information, and having an excuse to put on a clean shirt.

I hope these simple tips are helpful to you. Just remember, if you were the CEO of a large corporation, would you tolerate lazy, disorganized employees? Of course not! So now that you are both boss and employee, you’ve got to motivate yourself to do your best work. These tips on working from home should help.