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I can only answer the second part of the question.
> ...How do I keep from rearranging the
> furniture in the house or doing my spring cleaning when I'm
> supposed to be working? I'd like to know what's worked for other
> people.
There is no magic method...it does take discipline. The way I did it
was to create a routine. My routine was to get up at 7:30, take a
shower, make the coffee, get dressed, go to the room where I had my
office and shut the door. I wouldn't leave except bathroom or kitchen
for more coffee. At 11:30, take my lunch for an hour, run any errands
(post office, quick grocery shopping), but be back by 1:00 and
continue the routine until 6:00ish. It helps if you have a phone in
that office that is used only for business so you aren't tempted to
pickup the home phone if it rings during work hours. The less
opportunity for distraction, the les chance it will happen.
You'll find that friends and family have a problems with the concept
of being home, yet being at work. They'll figure that if you are
home, you're home. You'll be asked by kids and friends to do things
during the day that they wouldn't normally ask because you'd be at
the office. My problem was a friend that would constantly call and
ask if I wanted to play golf...he worked nights. You need to be able
to say no.
My biggest problem was not the interruptions during the day, but
getting out of the office at the time I'd normally leave work and not
return during the evening...it's tempting. If you don't do this,
you'll find that you are working everyday and every night.
John Posada
Senior Technical Writer
?Never be afraid to try something new. Remember that a lone
amateur built the Ark. A large group of professionals built
the Titanic.? - Dave Barry
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