If you run your own business, chances are you are familiar with working from home.

While having a home office can sound like a dream, many entrepreneurs find it a challenge to get much done when they are surrounded by the day-to-day distractions of home life.

Fortunately, anyone can learn how to be more productive when they work from home.

Here are 5 simple hacks that will help you get more things done if you are a business owner who works from home…

1. Set a schedule

Working from home allows you to work flexible hours and make allowances for other day-to-day activities and appointments.

However, if you want to be truly productive working from home, you should create a schedule and stick to it as much as humanly possible.

You should aim to start and finish work at a set time. If you have trouble being consistent, it might help if you bookend the work day with a fixed event that can’t move. For instance, let’s say you drop off your child at school at 8:45 am. Then, it’s a 15 minute “commute” back home — no pitstops or diversions — and work starts promptly at 9:00 am.

Do this enough times, and your brain will automatically shift into work mode as you walk through the door after school drop-off.

You should also make a point to schedule an end-time for your work day. If you are undisciplined about this, you run the risk of never leaving work because you literally live at the office.

Make sure you “turn off” when your work day is scheduled to end so you can maintain work-life balance and avoid the risk of burnout.

2. Take breaks

In addition to scheduling your start and end-time at work, make sure you schedule in some breaks.

It might sound counter-intuitive, but taking proper breaks will help you sustain a higher productivity level for the full duration of your work day.

According to Dr. Travis Bradberry, you will attain the most productivity if you take a 15-minute break after every hour of work. Working in sprints like this will help you get more done in less time and leave you feeling less fatigued in the long-run.

Make sure when you take a break, you take a real break — away from your work station. Try to get some movement or fresh air and sunshine for a few minutes if you can.

3. Do not multi-task or take detours

When you’re at work, be only at work.

Resist the urge to throw in a load of laundry or wash the breakfast dishes. Those things can wait until after office hours. 

Train your yourself to either be in “work mode” or “home mode” — never both at the same time. 

Many of us have been fed the lie that says we can multi-task and be just as (or more) productive but the truth is we can get more accomplished if we just focus on one thing at a time.

Do not allow yourself to get distracted by email, social media, or phone calls. Check your emails only twice a day, screen your calls and let them go to voicemail unless they are super urgent, and limit your social media scroll time. Take care of all these messages at a designated time so they don’t interfere with your work pace.

Staying disciplined when you work from home is a habit that can require a lot of practice, so don’t worry if you struggle with it at first.

4. Optimize your work space

If you live in a home with a large family, pets, or limited space, carving out a dedicated work area might be a challenge.

Nevertheless, an optimized workspace will make all the difference in your productivity. 

Your ideal work station is quiet so you can take calls and hear yourself think. It should be well-lit and well-ventilated. You should have a big desk and a comfortable chair. 

You would ideally be able to close a door to limit distractions or hold meetings. And, because we live in the era of video calls, your office should look presentable on camera.

Some entrepreneurs build a work shed in their backyards, or convert a garage or basement into an office, so they had more privacy for their work life.

Whatever solution works best for you, do your best to make sure your work station is off-limits to anyone who isn’t involved with your business, as that can mess with your productivity.

5. Take care of your mental and physical health

Your health is no small matter, especially when you are a business owner.

If you don’t work, your business doesn’t work — it’s just that simple.

If you make exercise and nutrition a daily practice, and make it a point to get plenty of sunshine and sleep, you will notice that your focus and productivity will improve.

As a bonus for working from home, you have more options to build health and well-being into your work day.

For example, you can stretch and go for short walks on your breaks. Take your dog if you have one!

You can get a standing desk for your work station. According to the Orthopaedic Hospital of Wisconsin, a standing desk will not only help you burn calories, but will improve your posture, reduce back pain, and improve circulation and mood.

One of the best things about working from home is you can limit exposing yourself to toxic people. According to Monster, a toxic work environment can lead to stress, burnout, and resentment. When you work from home, you are in a strong position to set boundaries from negative and toxic people to protect your mental health.

If you find it difficult to be productive while working from home, try setting up a work schedule and sticking to it. Include meaningful breaks in this schedule. Resist the urge to multi-task. Never do household tasks during work hours. Optimize your work station for productivity. Take special care of your physical and mental health. With practice, these hacks should become second nature to you, and your productivity will improve.