A top reason many people choose to work from home is so they can have more time for their family or themselves. Everyone knows that telecommuters and freelancers can set their own hours, and they don’t have to ask for vacation time. But what many people fail to realize is that freelancers often work crazy hours - mornings, evenings, and weekends.

We work at home, and it’s hard to separate the two. If we’re bored or have a quiet moment, it’s tempting to grab our computers and work on an assignment. Besides, distractions are born at home, and some work at home professionals quickly discover that work at home life isn’t what they expected. It’s definitely more enjoyable…but it’s not easy.

You’ve got to promote your business, actively look for customers, handle tedious office-related tasks, and complete assignments to your customer’s satisfaction. And often times, it takes more than eight hours. But there are ways to decrease the amount of time you spend working.

Whether you’re looking to work a four-day work week, cut your work days in half, or simply complete everything within eight hours, there are easy and realistic solutions.

1. Up Your Rate: If you’re ready to work less and be able to truly enjoy a little free time, perhaps it’s time for a pay raise. Look for higher paying opportunities, or increase your hourly or per project rate. You’ll spend less time working, and have more time for other interests.

2. Stay Focus: I’m guilty of this, and that’s why I make a strong effort to keep the television and radio off. Another distraction: the Internet. I can’t tell you how much time I waste on celebrity gossip and news websites.

3. Work Faster: I believe in quality over quantity. Still, it doesn’t hurt to assess the amount of time you spend on each project, and then decide whether you can pick up the pace, and continue to produce quality work. And if a particular project consumes too much of your time, weigh the pros and cons and decide whether it’s time to move on.

4. Put the Kids in Daycare: I know that putting your children in daycare kind of defeats the purpose of working from home. And I know that some WAHM’s are anti-daycare. But my family owns a daycare, so I feel compelled to defend them. Find an in-home or facility daycare that offers instruction, love, warmth, and part-time positions. Your kids enjoy a few hours of playtime, and you get to work uninterrupted for four or five hours.

5. Write a List: It’s easy to get off track when there isn’t clear direction. You may make a mental note of assignments that need completed. But if you don’t put it down in writing, anything goes.

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