How to ignore the dog, the doorbell and the dinner and actually get some work done!

February 29, 2008

This blog post is dedicated to my husband Roo who after a busy day out at work comes home to me and my mess and still loves me!

Tips on working at home:

Waking up. Set the alarm for a realistic time. If you can’t actually wake up for the 6am alarm, don’t set it. If you can’t manage the first task you have set yourself for the day you might wake up feeling disappointed. When I am ambitious in my alarm setting, unless I have to get up for something, I don’t. Then I wake up an hour later feeling angry and disappointed with myself. When I set the alarm for a later time, I wake up and continue my day with a more positive approach.

Working hours. They don’t have to be 9am - 5pm. Find a routine that suits you, be it midnight to eight in the morning or after lunch through to late evening. As long as you are getting the work you need to get done, done then do your own thing.

Getting started - just start. The hardest thing to do sometimes is to start work. In amongst the housework, walking the dog, cooking the dinner etc is the nagging feeling that you should be working. Pretend the rest of the house is not there and just get started. Frustratingly the one thing I want to do (getting on with my art work) is the one thing I put off until I have done everything else.

Saying No. It’s really difficult to say no to people especially if you are a people pleaser.
- Don’t answer the home phone if you need to concentrate - have a separate line for work calls and check the home phone for messages later.
- Get a sticker for the door if you frequently have sales calls etc.
- Let friends and family know you are working.

Getting the work done. Make a list - do the quickest and easiest things first and then move on to the time consuming jobs. You will then know you have made a good start, have a sense of achievement and the other jobs won’t be on your mind.

Have a break! Don’t forget to have a break. Eat well, get some fresh air, get out of the room you have been working in and relax!

Entry Filed under: Art. Tags: 'artist working at home', 'tips self employed', 'working at home', artist, discipline, self employed.

3 Comments Add your own

1. Niko | March 3, 2008 at 4:44 am

Saying No is very simple, but its very difficult. you need discipline.
2. Annie | March 17, 2008 at 4:28 pm

Hi Rachel. Hope you are well. I just had to comment when I read this - every day I struggle with all of those things! So your tips are very useful indeed - I think I will print them off and put them on my desk as daily reminder!

I find that when I’m working, the house (and everything else!) is on my mind and when I’m doing the house, work is on my mind. I do find that work lists can really help to focus me as long as I get stuck in to tasks early in the day. I find that if I can achieve some work objectives in the morning (and see them “crossed off”) I can do “all the other stuff” later and not feel quite so bogged down.
The silly thing is that I am a procrastinator but once a task is started I normally really enjoy it and wish I’d started earlier!

As you mention the other problem is people! They are a nice problem but nonetheless if you should be working then people have to know. If you were in an office your friends wouldn’t expect you to pop out for morning coffee so they shouldn’t mind if don’t do the same working from home. I have recently been telling friends that I can’t always come out to play, as I have work to do. It is working out well and they are very supportive. But as you say, I also try to make sure I have a break - especially on a lovely day a walk on the beach is so re-energising!

In case you don’t recognise me I changed my name from Mainstone to Watkins - we snuck off down to Devon in December and got married!)
3. jackie Cardy | May 5, 2008 at 5:53 pm

‘Saying no’ ..or hide.
I have lovely friends but they think I’m doing nothing at home and call for an hour …and a half….and a walk..
but I don’t want to put them off in case they stop visiting.

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