To Do Laundry or Work?

I am hard at work, concentrating on the paperwork that I have right in front of me.  Then I look up, and notice that there are dishes on the sink.  Oh what to do?  It will only take ten minutes to clean those dishes…and I have work to do.  But ten minutes will be a short break…

So I start cleaning.

I look at the sink and the pile is gone.  Then I notice that the counter could use some cleaning.  That will only take 2 minutes.  No big deal.

So now the counter is clean.  But there are toys in the family room, and I need to pick them up…and this goes on for another 45 minutes.

So now I have spent an hour cleaning the house.  Not working on what I actually get paid for.

Distractions are so easy when you work at home.  Looking at all of the stuff that you want to do, that you feel you have to do.

When you work at home you really need to figure out what you have to do, how much time you need and then dedicate that time to working.  How?  Set a timer and work for a certain amount of time.  What can you handle?  10 minutes? 20 minutes? An hour?  Whatever you can do.  Then take a break.  Only for 10-15 minutes and then get back to it.

It can be very hard – and you can easily be pulled in different directions.  How do you deal with distractions?