Working and Writing from Home

Have I told you how hard it is to work and write from home?

So many of my friends are like, "Awesome! You work from home."

Yeah, not so much.

I'm a typical, Type-A workaholic. I have mellowed over the years, but still my initial inclination is to work, work, and then work some more. My employer loves that about me; my family not really. Working from home does have advantages:

1. I can set my own hours.
2. I can take a lunch with a friend at a moment's notice.
3. I'm available to my son's almost whenever they need me.
4. I don't have to worry about child-care if my sons are sick or off from school.
5. I can work as much or as little as I want on any given day.
6. I can work in my pjs or sweatpants if I want.

But there are also some disadvantages:

1. My email is always on and I feel compelled to answer work emails even if it's after hours.
2. There are no "after hours".
3. My work is constantly on my desk or in view, 24/7.
4. I can take a lunch with a friend at a moment's notice (sometimes it's hard to say no.)
5. I can work as much or as little as I want on any given day.

I'm sure there are more for each list, but these are the first and foremost in my mind today.

Don't get me wrong; I love, love, love my job and the flexibility that it brings. I love being my own boss (essentially), but I do have to learn to say no to myself when it comes to work. I do try hard to take Fridays off, but most of the time I do end up working at least a half day.

When I write, I have to have designated "writing" days, and I don't usually write at my desk. I'm easily distracted by email especially, so I write (most of the time) on my netbook sitting in our big window in the living room. I am inspired by nature and by having it a glance above my screen keeps my juices flowing.

Do you work from home and write? What are your strategies for keeping on task and meeting deadlines, either work or writing?