It was an easy decision to work at home: no more wasted time commuting, no distracting co-workers, no more productivity-busting meetings. You’d have more time to spend with your children and maybe even a few stolen moment for yourself, but now that you’ve set yourself up to be a work at home mom, there’s new set of challenges to face: ringing telephones, friendly neighbors stopping by to chat, that pile of laundry that needs to be folded and put away—and the list goes on. How can you work efficiently and still reap the benefits for work at home moms?

Environmental Factors First

Your work space is essential. Set yourself up for success by designating a separate work area to help keep work and home responsibilities separate. Ideally, you’ll have access to a private office or workroom, but creating a workspace in the corner of a bedroom or the kitchen will suffice.

Equip your work space with all the supplies and materials you need. Refuse to lend your work materials to your children even if it means buying duplicates of some items. This way, you won’t have to conduct a house-wide search for your stapler, copy paper or best pens. If possible, work with your door closed so you can focus your attention on the task at hand.

Set a Schedule

Determine how many hours you need to work each day, and write out a schedule that includes both your personal obligations and your work responsibilities. If you forget to factor in that dentist appointment or the time it takes to get the kids settled in after school, you’ll find time slipping away from you.