Survival tips for running a productive home-based business

You are one of the many solopreneurs out there, and you just know that the competition is really stiff, so every morning, as you wake up, the first thing you do is sit in front of your computer to begin another day’s work.

As you check through your emails, you notice a tonne of work facing you. However, somewhere in the back of your mind are the million and one things that have to be done around your home, and, as reluctant as you are, you tear yourself away from your computer to get stuck into those boring household chores.

Just like any other day, you rush around trying to get as much done as possible, and in between the laundry and the dishes you rush back to your computer to check emails, all the time wishing that there were more than 24 hours in a day. It is very obvious that to become more productive, you need to divide your time between your work as a solopreneur and everyday life duties.

1. A good place to start is to make a list of all your household chores, decide on which day you are going to do them and at what time, and then stick to the schedule.

2. Put your list onto your refrigerator where it is the first thing you see in the morning. Concentrate on your list of chores, and get them done in the time you allocated yourself to do them.

3. Make sure that you stay focused on the job on hand, and don’t think about those emails that are waiting for you.

4. If you are fortunate enough to have a laptop, make your work more interesting by working away from home sometimes – at the local park, at the beach or at any of your favourite spots.

5. Very importantly, if you, as a solopreneur are serious about your work, make sure that friends and relatives know how serious you are, by telling them that you are not available during the hours that you want to work.

6. Remember to take frequent breaks during your working day – this will keep you refreshed and more able to stay focused on what you are doing.

7. Working from home can sometimes result in you becoming one of those people who live their work – don't let this happen to you – set time aside each week for yourself, to get away from your projects and the household chores. In other words, have some fun in between all the work that you cram into each day.