Telecommuters and work at home professionals aren’t immune to stress. In actuality, working from home can be more stressful than punching a time clock. Having a 9 to 5 has it’s own anxieties: uncooperative co-workers, unappreciative bosses, low-pay, and the list goes on.

People who work for themselves maintain a measure of control, which is a good thing. But being in control opens the door to an entirely new set of responsibilities. You’ve got to find customers, retain customers, and complete work to client satisfaction. And then there’s the challenge of keeping your work life separate from your home life

Here are a few tips to help you reduce work at home stress and hopefully find a happy balance.

1. Plan Ahead: The biggest mistake I made during my first year as a freelance writer was neglecting to plan my days. I didn’t have a schedule, and I worked whenever the mood hit. In the end, I found myself working around the clock - mornings, nights, weekends, you name it. A schedule not only helped me stay on task, but I was able to accomplish more within a shorter time span.

2. Take Frequent Breaks: If you don’t take breaks and relax your mind, you’ll get hit with a serious case of burnout. The best aspect of work from home life is the ability to set your own schedule. But this doesn’t mean you have to punish yourself and work non-stop. If you prefer to work in the evenings or on the weekends - fine. Just be sure to leave your mornings or days free.

3. Fight Greed: I don’t consider myself a greedy person. But, there have been times when I knowingly took on more work than I could handle. Freelancing is unpredictable. Business can boom one month, and go cold the next. And having multiple projects provides peace of mind. Still, everyone has their limit. Learn your limit and eliminate stress.

4. Get Rid of Distractions: There is nothing more stressful than being ready to work…but unable to work. You can’t prevent every distraction. But you can at least limit the number of distractions throughout the day. Turn off the cell phone, ignore a few text messages, or put the kids in daycare.