Break away from the computer for a jog around the neighborhood every day. Do these kinds of things and the sense of personal fulfillment you create will go a long way towards making you happier and more productive. For most people real creativity happens when they connect with others, look at things in new ways and develop alliances and partnerships to make things happen. Keep an open mind and look for new opportunities. Kriegel works from his home in Muir Beach in Marin County, near San Francisco, and believes technology can be both the bane and the blessing of the home office.
People have to think high tech and high touch.
One without the other simply won't work. Whenever I take the time to meet friends for lunch, we all wonder aloud why we don't do it more often. There may be 24 hours in the day, and you could decide to work at least 16 of them. But that probably wasn't your goal when you struck out as an independent professional. Graphic artist Wanda Hale, working from her home in Palo Alto, Calif., finds it helpful to keep a daily journal of her hours.