eople constantly comment about my independent-work-from-home business life with cautious trepidation. That is, they don’t think they could do it because they are “too social” or feel that they “lack discipline” (these were two of the repeated reasons I’ve been given).

Being a huge fan of entrepreneurs and small business owners, I am always looking for ways to encourage people who are ready to follow their dreams and start their own gig working from home. Yes, it does take some discipline, but there are ways to set yourself up for success from the start. There are few downsides to working out of a home office but lots of benefits beyond the lack of commute including flexibility and warm, fuzzy clothes. Intrigued? Read on…Here are 5 Tips For Working From Home

1. Designate a specific work zone. If you’re lucky enough to have the space, set up an entire room or section of a room for your office. If this isn’t an option, even a corner of a kitchen table will do, if you make sure that it’s clutter-free and set up properly (think easy-to-reach office supplies and files) when it’s time to be productive. Using the same area every day for work will train your mind and body that when you’re there, you’re on the clock. On the flip side, when you leave this area, it should signal that it’s time to focus on your personal life, even if that means binging on that new Netflix series (no judgement).
2. Remove distractions. One pitfall of working from home is that there are plenty of distractions. For example, if you’re prone to watch TV in the middle of the day, make sure you don’t have a TV near your work zone. Or, your distraction might be your kids or significant other (eh hmm, I am only speaking in hypothetical terms) so you may need to set some ground rules about where he/she “resides” while you’re working. For other overachievers, it might be laundry or housework. While none of these things by themselves is bad, and even constitutes a benefit of working from home, be sure that you are scheduling time for these activities wisely and that it doesn’t interfere with hours you should be writing/designing/emailing/whatever it is you should be doing to make moolah.
3. Set up lunches, coffees and meetings outside your home at least two times per week. Working from home can be lonely, even for the most hermit-like introvert. Purposefully schedule meetings at a client’s office, or arrange to work from a coffee shop with other friends who work from home. This engagement with others breaks up any monotony that could set in and helps your mind work in different ways than when you’re alone all day.
4. Keep learning. Another pitfalls of working from home can be a lack of collaboration and new ideas inspired by others. If you are not part of a team in some  way, look into affinity groups in your area of expertise or training events where you can brainstorm ideas, catch up on the latest industry trends and get those creative juices flowing.
5. Appreciate the flexibility. One of my favorite things about working from home is that I set my own schedule. I can make doctor’s appointments at 10 am without feeling guilty because I know I can work through lunch to make up the time. I can workout at lunch because I don’t have to shower right away when I’m done. And, these types of activities also help break up the day. Take advantage when and where appropriate and be thankful for the opportunity.

In addition to these tips, I want to debunk one important myth (it’s a myth for some, anyway): that is, that you can’t be productive if you work in your PJ’s. I whole heartedly disagree. While my decision to change out of PJ’s is mostly driven by the high volume of Skype calls I have every week, I have found no difference in my work output if I happen to be in flannels and house slippers. And I have several friends who work from home who feel the same way.

So, go on, be bold and jump into the wonderful, wild world of home office life. There are lots of benefits and few downfalls that can be easily avoided. Plus, you get stay in your jammies. You heard it here first.

What other tips have helped you work from home?