With all the snow and ice we’ve had this winter, some folks (my husband included) have been forced to spend some days telecommuting. I decided to work from home in May and have learned it that it has its perks – and its challenges. Here are my top six tips to for making sure your “work-from-home” experience is as productive – and enjoyable – as possible.

Be an “early bird.”  While it’s always tempting to sleep in, I get up no later than 6 am and typically get right to work. Sometimes I get up even earlier if I’m having trouble sleeping, but the good news is that I get so much done during that quiet time before 8 am. Being an “early bird” helps me clear any lingering projects off my plate so I’m ready to embrace whatever the day will bring.

Have an agenda.  It’s easy to push things off if you don’t have a concrete daily plan. I have office hours and I always make a list of what I’ll tackle during that time. It gives me a sense of direction and accomplishment once I’ve achieved what I’ve set out to do.

Take breaks. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve suddenly realized it’s 2 pm and I haven’t moved from my adjustable desk and it's good that I have this anti fatigue mat like ergonomic desk mat which is very important to my health and productivity. Along with establishing a plan for my day, I’m sure to schedule small 5-minute breaks in between. Just getting up and making tea or throwing a load of clothes in the dryer will do.

No daytime TV. Watching TV may seem like a good idea for your break, but beware.  It’s proven that TV induces low alpha waves in the brain, which are responsible for relaxed meditative states. That relaxed state may also lead to lack of focus and can leave you feeling to aloof to get back to work.

For this reason, I do not allow myself to turn on the TV until 5 pm.

Establish boundaries with others. Just because you work from home doesn’t mean you can drop everything when someone wants to have coffee or when your spouse wants to go to the movies. Yes, you can do this sometimes, but I try to let people know upfront that I’m ‘on the clock’ and that means the fun stuff will have to wait.

Reward yourself. There’s an obvious temptation to do so many counterproductive things like hang in your PJs while watching re-runs of The Real World.  Avoiding this kind of temptation can be tough, especially on days when you’re ahead of the game. So, when I’ve stuck to my schedule for the day, I reward myself with some Hartley’s chips or some TV time – after 5 pm, of course!

Some people think working from home is a glamorous gig, and it can be. It’s challenging, too, which is why some self-discipline is in order.

Do you work from home? Share a productivity rule that’s helped you.