How do you motivate yourself working from home?

[ButterpieBride]

I have such a pile of stuff to do, but none of it is absolutely needed, it is just stuff that I should do, iykwim. How can I make myself do it?

Can't give you any help because I have the same problem - will watch and see what anyone else comes up with. Blocking MN and Facebook during the day might be a good start for me, though, so I am bored into doing the things I am meant to do...

I've worked from home for the last 15 years or so.
I used to work with an appointment system, which was easy. But since having dc's and changing professions, I have to keep myself motivated (or I don't make any money!)

I've found it's best to set aside a set number of hours a day to spend working. At the beginning of the week, work out what needs doing and allocate a certain amount of work or specific jobs to those days.

Giving yourself set break times to have a cup of tea, walk the dog, hang the washing out etc helps too.

This is my problem- I can do the stuff that NEEDS doing- sorting out customer orders, etc, it is just the extra stuff- ie the finding of new customers. I get so easily distracted.

One thing I did do today was go on fb and find my friend who does the same job, and we challenged each other to get the most "no" calls in a row. Obviously we want "yes" calls, but it keeps it cheerful.

I do a direct sales job, but I do it as a full time thing, so it is a case of stepping things up a gear- I could easily tick over being a very sucessful spare time type person, but that doesn't match my ambition :D

But then neither does sitting watching daytime tv and eating all day breakfast in a can

I find it works best to set yourself deadlines in a way so that you must deliver. For example: I set meetings where I must appear with certain things done - which ensures I do them in a timely fashion!

I think you have to know your strengths, and weaknesses - mine is procrastination - so the calculated use of enforced deadlines works for me.

And if I'm honest, the social interaction and presence of another person to 'bounce off' helps too.

Deadlines work best for me - I was a journalist before setting up a writing business from home, so when a deadline looms I am on fire - things that are not due to be submitted for another week, no chance!
That probably doesn't help, but it has wored for me and I haven't missed a deadline yet...
One technique I do have, though, is that if a client says they need comething within the next couple of weeks, I tell them I will definitely have it to them withiin 48 hours, thus giving myself a deadline, similar to what Earlybird suggests!