As a virtual assistant and web designer who works from a home office, I occasionally (ok, frequently) have to work extremely hard to stay focused and not throw too much time away checking out the latest videos from my favorite made for Youtube talk shows or filling out silly bulletins on myspace cause someone I went to junior high with might get their feelings hurt if I don’t!
Always having this struggle in the back of my mind, I was happy to find someone else copping to these bad habits and better yet offering some possible deterrents in Training Yourself to Work from Home.
In the post, T.O. Whenham gives some advice on several issues facing the home office pro. He had this to say relating to my addictions:
Problem: Too much time spent surfing.
Solution: Try two browsers. My friend is an avid internet user and finds watching videos on YouTube far more addictive than preparing an expense report. He needs to use the internet for research and communication, but every time he opens up his browser, he heads to his favorite fun sites instead. I suggested that he use two different browsers. He uses Firefox normally, so he should keep that one for personal surfing. He should then use Internet Explorer for his business surfing. His business browser won´t have any of the bookmarks that his personal browser will, so he won´t be as tempted. By separating the two uses, he can more easily discipline himself to work when he needs to work and play when he has the time. It´s not foolproof, but you need some self discipline to work at home. This just decreases how much you need.
In my opinion, great advice! Then again, this was a post from back in May that I found by surfing del.icio.us. It’s tough to not be distracted when part of your profession requires you to stay up to date on what’s going on around the web and constantly seeking inspiration for blogging and articles.