Working home can be both a blessing and a curse.  If you are fortunate enough to have plenty of work coming in as a freelancer, it can be a blessing.  Struggling to make ends meet and never leaving the house can make for a totally different experience.  A few tips for making the most of your mornings when working from home is the focus of this article.

Keep a Regular Schedule

When you work from home, it can be tough to get started.  There are no time constraints in general, you have all of your personal distractions ready and available to do their worst, and you don’t generally have to worry about co-workers.

However, keeping a regular schedule can go a long way toward ensuring that you maximize your time.  Treat your day like a work day at the office—keep regular hours and schedule breaks and lunches.  When you organize the use of your time in this manner you will soon begin to feel more productive.

Treat Your Home Office Like the Office

Many people you know probably envy the fact that you can make some sort of living working from home.  They imagine waking late, working in their pjs, etc.  However, you should do your best to stay away from making this misconception a reality.

When you wake up, act like you’re going to work.  Shower, get dressed—even put shoes on.  These minor things can make all the difference when it comes to preparing  yourself for a productive day at work.

Don’t Open All the Windows

Unless you need it constantly open, don’t leave your email window open.  In fact, close as many windows as possible in order to avoid distractions.  The Internet is full of distractions and you can very lose an hour to unnecessary surfing.  Keep the windows closed and check your email at regular intervals.

Make Time for Down Time

Luckily, being at home affords you the luxury of tending to hobbies and other diversions when you are in desperate need of a break.  Grab your guitar, take a quick bike ride—anything that you can do to effectively manage stress without losing the rest of your day.  Resting your eyes is important if you work with computers, so make sure to rest your eyes and recharge your batteries away from the glare of the laptop.