Taking out the garbage is a ritual that everyone takes part of.  Have you ever noticed how different it can be from house to house?

My husband and I were introduced to our ritual by a neighbor.  Since we live on a small court, it is common for the trucks not to pull in all the way and pick up everyone’s garbage.  So we put the grass clippings, recyclables and garbage cans of three homes on a patch of grass not 10 feet long. =-)

On my walk today I noticed a man taking his garbage out.  He had on gardening gloves and was taking rusted old metal cans to the curb one-by-one using a dolly that had seen better days.  His neighbor used a wheelbarrow and garbage bags.

What is your ritual?

Working at home is not like working in an office.  You have no co-workers and you can easily be distracted by housework.

Many experts say a key to working successfully at home is to have a ritual.  They suggest getting dressed like you are going to work and having a dedicated space with a door you can close for your office.

Your office rituals are supposed to get you into the “work mode” and allow you to spend time productively.

For me, the crucial piece of advice is establishing set hours.

Everyone is different.

The important thing to remember is that what works for one person may not work for you.  A work-at-home mom with toddlers needs to have different rituals from someone who has the house to themselves.