You’ve recently made the decision that you will be working from home. While it may seem like all rainbows at first, you can definitely run into some problems if you are not well prepared. To be a successful working from home mom, begin with these 4 important steps

Get Dressed

You’ve been dreaming about working from home in your PJs for months now. It’s finally here. You roll out of bed and head to the kitchen for some coffee and flip on the TV to the morning show. You veg on the couch and decide to work in your jammies today. DON’T! Be sure to set your alarm the night before. When the alarm goes off jump in the shower, and get dressed for your workday just as you would if you were commuting. While it may be tempting to stay in your pajama’s, you will feel much more productive and professional once you are dressed for the day. Never underestimate the power of a shower and clean clothes.

Have a Designated Office

As a mom, you may chuckle at this concept. We rarely get alone time much less have our own office. If you’re anything like me, my office has been turned into the kids’ playroom. It’s time to claim that room back. Be sure to have your own independent space that you are able to conduct business. If you are unable to reclaim your room, be sure to designate a space in your home specifically for you and your work. This may be something as simple as a dedicated place at the kitchen table. Whatever it is make it yours, and let the kids know that it is mommy’s workspace and it’s off limits.

Get Organized

We all like to think of our home as our comfort spots. While this may be true, it is very important to turn part of that comfort spot into a well functioning business. In order for that to happen, you need to get organized. If you are already organized, good for you. If you’re not, it’s time! There is nothing more frustrating than being on an important phone call and realizing you can’t find that quote you planned on discussing with a potential client. You quickly turn from being confident about the call to being completely frazzled as you sift through piles of the kids’ homework, personal bills, and your daughter’s beautiful drawings to no avail. You don’t want to come across as a poorly planned business owner. To prevent this from happening, get organized.

Treat Your Home Gig Like It’s Awesome

Let’s face it. Your home gig IS totally awesome! You get to earn a living while being at home with your kiddos. Be sure to treat your job and employer like you love your gig. Don’t ditch calls. Don’t ditch emails. Don’t ditch meetings. Be available. Prove to yourself that you can be a successful working at home mom. If you can do this, you can do anything!