Distractions - How To Overcome Them - Part 4

Distracted by Family, Friends & other things?  Not sure which to pay heed to?


9. Family & Friends

As an entrepreneur whose working from the home, you are around your family and friends more. If that becomes a distraction, then things need to change and boundaries need to be set and respected by your family and friends.


Just because you are home doesn’t mean you are not at work. When working, domestic life must not interfere.  Now, I know that sounds cold and it is very difficult to do.  Unless your spouse works outside of the home and it is your responsibility to care for the kids’ needs, communicate with your spouse and help him/her to understand the importance of being able to solely put a specific time frame for work where you will not be interrupted. Negotiate responsibilities in the home and activities for after work time.

If friends are calling on you during work times, inform them of your work hours and let them know that you will not be available until after that time.

Now, it may take a few times of reminding family and friends to respect your work time.  However, if you stand by your decision consistently, it will get your point across eventually.

10. Procrastination

Entrepreneurs, especially those working in the home, can easily begin having issues with laziness and procrastination if they are not careful.  Delaying tasks begin to happen and then scurrying to complete the task by a given deadline occurs.  We talked in previous blogs about procrastination and what it does. 



Procrastination sets up that stress and guilt that we don’t want or need.  Again, set boundaries.  If you have a project to do for work, set a goal or to do list with the steps necessary to complete it and give yourself time for each task.  Then, one by one, do the least desirable task first.  Complete each step until the task is fully finished and plan to complete it before the deadline.

For more information on procrastination and how to deal with it, please search the Blog Archive for Oct. 25.  Join me Monday as we cover additional things that you can do to help with miscellaneous distractions.