What does it take to work at home? What are the biggest mistakes to avoid?

We asked those questions to a man who has worked from his home office for 20 years.  Here’s his advice on getting the most from working at home:

• Plan to go through a transition period. Don’t expect to like home work right away. It can take six months or a year to get the feel for it.

• Remember, you are going to get a ton of work done quickly. When you work from home, there are no time-wasting meetings, no chatting at the water cooler.  “In my first year at home,” our home-working pro explains, “I would be tired by noon, wondering `Why did I run out of steam?’ It was because I had already done as much work as I would have done in a full day in my old office setting.” His solution? “After three or four hours of work, I head to the gym for a workout. Then I come back refreshed in the afternoon.”

• Make the most of your peak mental hours. It can be a good idea to tackle intensive work early in the day, then use the afternoon for keeping records, filing papers and other routine tasks that require less mental edge.

• Don’t chat and socialize during your work time. “When I first started working at home, I was lonely,” our expert explains. “I would have long personal chats with the FedEx delivery person, telemarketers, everybody.”  Now he keeps those contacts short and calls a real friend for a cool-down chat after his day’s work is finished.

• Work in time blocks. For example, you can do your computer inputting for three uninterrupted hours every morning, then check your email for 30 minutes – but don’t mix up the two. Working without interruption dramatically boosts productivity.

• Create a quiet, separate place for your work. “Work space should be work space,” our contact explains. “Don’t take personal phone calls during your working hours. And be careful about playing the radio when you work. For some people, it can be a real distraction.”

• Don’t forget food and exercise. A handful of nuts or a granola bar can help keep energy up during late mornings or after lunch, when energy tends to sag. And some light physical activity – even a walk around the block – can keep you energized and productive.

Reading up on time management . . .

Twenty-five years ago, Alan Lakein invented the science of time management in his classic book Get Control of Your Time and Your Life. His system starts with prioritizing tasks and tackling the most important ones first. That’s great advice for busy people – including those who work at home.