Here's a story of someone who's currently working from home and tips on how to adjust easily if you are planning to run a home business or do a home based job.

You have to be mentally prepared to work from home," Wateland said. "It's hard to make the transition from the office to working from home."

About 20.7 million people did some work at home as part of their primary job, according to the latest figures from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, released in September 2005.

Whether its telecommuting or running a home-based business, keeping a strong work ethic in the nontraditional office setting is difficult. By keeping a schedule, taking periodic breaks and maintaining a work-life balance, it's possible to stay on task and be productive in a home work environment.

Keep distractions minimal. June Michalski, owner of June's Interior Design in St. Cloud, has worked out of her home office for about 40 years.

Michalski said noisy items, such as a television or radio, should be turned off during the workday.

"The key word is dedication when you are in your home," she said. "You have to be dedicated just like you would if you would get up and go to an office."

Wateland has a television on the opposite end of his office but never turns it on when he is working, no matter how tempting it is. The caller ID on his home phone helps him ignore unwanted phone calls when he's working.

Stick to a schedule

John Taylor of St. Cloud said keeping a regular schedule is key. Taylor has been telecommuting from home for his job at a Twin Cities technology firm for about two years.

He sets his alarm for 6 a.m. to get into his home office by 7 a.m.

He takes an hour break for lunch about 11 a.m. and then continues to work, setting up conference calls for the afternoon.

"I'd much rather be able to finish my work by 3 p.m. and have the evening to spend with the family than have to do work when my kids are home," Taylor said.

He said having a routine reminds him that he is still a working professional and needs to get tasks done, even if a nap sounds tempting.

Make a task list

Between shuttling the kids to day care and school, Wateland makes to-do lists for work so he can complete his tasks. The list gives him goals to work toward each day.

And if he doesn't complete everything, he doesn't beat himself up.

"What you don't get done one day will get the next day," Wateland said.

Dress for work

There are no pajamas, no sweats or rolling out of bed with messed up hair for Michalski during the work week.

She said she dresses professionally each day because she meets with clients daily, and it helps get her into the mind-set that she is in a working environment.

"Your mind is functioning in a professional way when you are surrounding yourself in a professional setting," she said.

Take breaks

Wateland leaves his home office often each week, meeting with his partners at a local coffee shop, attending networking luncheons or meeting with clients.

It allows him to clear his mind and get encouragement from his partners when meeting them face-to-face.

Taylor will bring his laptop to local coffee shops to work occasionally because he likes to have the human interaction with people, even if it's not direct.

"I like being surrounded by people, even though I may not be talking to them," he said. "For some reason, it just makes me feel more motivated to work."

Keep them separate

Michalski said she closes her home office door at the end of the day and does not enter until the next work day, treating it just as she would if she had an outside office.

Even though Wateland has a flexible schedule, he found that he was still on call for work at all hours, cutting into family evening time.

He has decided to turn off his work phone after 6 p.m.

"The traditional time structure goes away," Wateland said. "I like the flexible work schedule, but I can't be married to my phone."

via St. Cloud Times