5 common work-from-home distractions (and how to avoid them)

Distraction: Calls and visits during work time

You're at your desk when the phone rings and a telesales cold-caller monopolises your time with her pitch. Then, the door bell rings, and it's the stay-at-home mum from down the road, who thought this would be a good time to stop by for coffee.

Prevention:

Learn to say no. It's the key to guarding your work and family time. Have polite phrases at the ready to deter people from zapping your work time. For example, next time a telephone salesman calls, try saying something like: 'Thank you, but I'm not interested. Oops, I have another call coming in,' and hang up.

Tell the other mum: 'I'm sorry, but today's a work day and I really must get back to my desk. Let's get together when I'm off duty.' And if drop-in guests become a continuing problem, you may have to simply ignore the door bell. (We know work-from-homers who avoid parking their cars in front of the house, so neighbours won't know they're home!).

Distraction: Housework

You're supposed to be making cold calls, but instead you've done three loads of washing, cleaned out the kids' cupboards and washed every window in the house.

Prevention:

Tackle housework during non-work hours. But more importantly, get out of the 'super mum' mindset! Who says you have to do everything yourself? Enlist family members to help with household chores.

Even young kids can help load the dishwasher or sort clothes for the laundry. Older children can be responsible for clearing the dinner table, taking out the rubbish and collecting recyclables. Also, talk with your spouse about sharing household chores, and designate the ones each of you will be responsible for.

Distraction: The skiving urge

You should be working at your desk, but you'd really rather be tinkering in the garden, lounging at the beach or strolling round the local department store for bargains. Before you know it, you're out the door, with stacks of unfinished work projects left behind.

Prevention:

Hang 'Not Now, I'm Working' signs, in tempting areas to nudge you back to your desk. If gardening is your downfall, tack one of the signs to your gardening gloves or tape one to the steering wheel of your car to keep you from heading the beach or shops.

Also, make sure that you promise to reward yourself for jobs well done! You'll have much more incentive to finish work tasks if you know that a bunch of flowers, sea breezes or a new blouse is awaiting you upon completion!

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