When I started my own consulting firm, I began working from home, not out of desire, but out of necessity. That was almost 30 years ago. And while technology has certainly improved, the real barriers to working remotely are still the same, how you manage your time and your self. So here are five ideas I had to employ  to be successful – and you will, too.

1. Have an Organized, Dedicated Workspace – Think about how you work and what kind of information or tools you will need close at hand to be efficient. The best option would be to set up one room as an office. Lacking that, clear the kitchen table and find a way to set up and break down the office every day. The goal is to create a quiet, ergonomic workspace that you can go to which tells your subconscious, “Here is where I work.”
2. Set the Household Ground Rules – When I started working from home, we had small children who were at home with my spouse. While it was exciting to have Daddy/spouse at home, I needed to communicate to them that Daddy/spouse was at work and that needed to be respected. If you have others living with you, it will be important to come to an agreement that you need to be left alone to get work done. Perhaps they need to stay out of your room or do their work/play in another part of the home. Don’t be shy and get this done right away.
3. Block Out Time Segments – As always, meetings will demand many of your time segments. But the real concern is how you manage the blocks of time that are left. Because of the number of new distractions that will assail you (mine is the refrigerator), you will have to be much more disciplined than at the office. Block out sections of time for project work and get focused on them. I like to use the idea of a sprint where I give myself an amount of time to work on a certain task. For example, I will take 45 minutes to write this article and I set a timer. When the timer goes off, I take a short break and assess where I am on the project. Also, time blocks will allow you designated time to visit with others in the household. This can help prevent future interruptions.
4. Stay Connected – You may find that working remotely causes you to become more distant from others at work. This is not good for your mental state or your creativity. Set times to meet with people whose company you enjoy. These conversations, even if done remotely, will stimulate you and keep the walls from closing in.
5. Master the Technology – New meeting platforms are popping up all the time. In my consulting work, I deal with about five different ones. They are great tools but each is a little different. Get used using them and take some time to understand the differences and how each one works. These will be you major conduit for staying connected with the outside world.

Working remotely is very different from the office environment you are used to. Get yourself organized and disciplined by following these five tips and you will find that you are able to be very productive with the bonus of spending your commute time with those you love.