Work at Home Productivity Tips –

 Today is Monday.

I've been trying to get on track all morning.

No Can Do.

I've started in spits and spurts but nothing concrete.

FOCUS GONE SOUTH…

What to do?

Here are a few tips that are pulling me out of lala land, as I type.

1. Ummm.

2. Gotta think about it a little more.

3. After I get another coffee…

4. Just kidding :0)

5. Sort of…

OK, all joking aside, I am going to focus and make a plan, and share it with you.

HERE IT GOES…

1. Listen to someone who will get you motivated and back on track. I'm lucky today is Monday, that means Eben Pagan's 'Wake Up Productive' video day.  I'm downloading it now. I KNOW that will get me moving, maybe even wake me up! Try WAHM in Focus Podcast #8 – The Power of Single Minded Focus, see if it gets you moving. 

2. Get what you need to get done, done. This is part of the real power of having a morning routine or system, it gets things out of the way so that you can have a clear mind – and clear working space – for the day. Can't focus because you're putting something off? Go get it finished right now, and then read the rest of this article. (right now, I can see you :0)

3. Shut off your email, your twitter, your forums, browsing windows, reading material windows that you've been saving for such a time as now. Now is not the time. (shutting down twitter, email, blogs and forums, right now.) Good rule of thumb, shut everything every night and shut down your computer, then you are never tempted in the morning with a collection of windows that you don't want to open, but can't resist -or sometimes even open 'accidentally'. Hate when that happens.

4. Ease your way in. What's on your schedule today? Can you constructively put something off and start on something easy to get you going? Sometimes that's all it takes, is to start. I'm writing this article. I hope it helps you, and I'm sure it will help me to jump into my next project time block as soon as I'm finished, because I'm slowly, even as I type, getting back into focus.

5. Can you shake it up sideways? Can you do your first task, but adjust the time block you've penciled it into. If you always do one hour, can you make it 1/2 hour today without dyer consequences? Do you need a nap? Can you take your break now, relax with no guilt, no pressure, and then hit the ground running refreshed?

6. Or will getting out that timer, getting out your schedule and just getting it moving do the trick. 

7. Clean your desk. If all else is not motivating you, do you need a clear work area? If you have nothing pressing, use a project time slot to do a good chunk of organizing and clearing paper piles and spaces. If you just need to clean your desk, set your timer for 10 minutes and go for it. If you only have 5 – 10 minutes but you need more, get out a box or basket, and do the dump method (dump it in the box and sort it later).

8. Have you showered? Grabbed some water? If not, try that with the full intention of buckling down as soon as your finished. Wanna go full out? Try a facial steam (being sure that the kids are not anywhere that it can spill on them, or you) That is one of the best things I've done lately to wake me up in the morning. 

9. Still not there? Grab your planner, either your day planner, your blog planner, your business planner – what ever you feel like working on. Settle in with a coffee or what ever you drink and do some planning. Nothing motivates me better than making plans. Be sure to remember next action – choose it and do it when you are finished. Feel your success, one step at a time. It will get you moving on the next one too. Already have your plans? Get them out and look at your big picture. And look at your money maker. And get to work.

10.  I'm running out of ideas, I'm raring to get some work done now. But 10 is always a good number for tips so here's number 10.

Sit still and quiet for a moment. What jumps out at you? The number one thing that is nagging you to do. That is probably the monkey on your shoulder that is keeping you from getting moving. Either because it's the one you don't want to do, or because you feel you should be doing it instead of something else that you also feel you should be doing. Set your timer for 10 minutes and work on it. When you're finished, decide if that's enough, or do another 10. Either way, you will probably feel better. 

ONE MORE 

If all else fails, consider an accountability partner.

Sometimes knowing that there is someone out there watching for you can move mountains, and your behind!