Working from home, running your own business can seem like the ultimate dream for many people. When you've got the freedom to do what you want when you want it is very easy to get side tracked.  But running a successful business from home requires heaps of enthusiasm, dedication, hard work and lots of self motivation. However, sometimes it can be hard to motivate yourself and with no ‘big bad boss' breathing down your neck it's easy to let things slide.  So how do you motivate yourself and get the job done?

1.  Improve Your Working Environment

Nobody likes to work amongst piles of paperwork or be stuffed into a corner under the stairs.  When working from home we often squeeze our work station into the smallest area, generally in a room without a view.  Even if you can't have a sea view, there is a lot you can do to improve your area.  Bring in a plant or a flower, put up pictures of your family or somebody who inspires you, have a work playlist on your iPod.  Basically, if you feel happy and inspired, you'll get more done.

2.  Stop Procrastinating

We've all got that one piece of work that we've been constantly moving to the bottom of the pile.  You know the one, the one that's going to take you ages, years in fact – probably your accounts or some other paperwork that needs doing.  Schedule in some time to get this done, mark it on your calendar and do it.  And you know what?  I guarantee it won't take you as long as you thought and won't be half as bad as you're anticipating.  If you definitely cannot find the time to get this horrible job done, then make time to find a long term solution – outsource it.

3.  Take Time Out

When you work from home it is so easy to let it take over your life.  However we all work more efficiently if we achieve a sensible work-life balance.  If you usually use your keyboard as a plate whilst eating your lunch, don't; eat your lunch in the park today.  If you play an audio book to your son to get him to sleep whilst secretly checking your emails, stop; take time out.  Try to get a structured work routine in place.  Obviously many home based businesses are successful due to the sheer number of hours people put into them, however by taking a breather you will find your creative juices start flowing once again.

4.  Write Down Your Goals

Failure is not an option when your way of life depends on it.  Set yourself short term and long term goals, write them down and put them somewhere visible.  Make sure your goals are realistic, challenging and definitely achievable through hard work and determination.  Tell your friends, staff, colleagues, the milkman or anybody who'll listen about your goals.  Sharing them will make you want to achieve them even more.  Achieving them is a fantastic self motivation tool and will spur you on to achieve them all.

5.  Reward Yourself

When you worked that dull 9 – 5 job the light at the end of the tunnel was the measly 1.5% Christmas bonus you received.  Who rewards you now?  When we are building our businesses it can be difficult to reward ourselves financially, however we can reward ourselves in other ways.  When you've achieved a goal reward yourself with a little time off, perhaps an hour to do nothing other than read a paper.  When you've done that hideous job you've been putting off for a year reward yourself by taking time out to watch a film that you've wanted to see for ages.  Rewards don't have to be financial; in fact a great reward is just a little ‘me' time.

Working from home and for yourself can be hugely rewarding.  With these self motivation tips your home based business is sure to be a success.