The work-at-home gig isn't an easy or a glamorous one. As with any uphill battle, a plan is worth its weight in gold. That's why I follow these ten rules - or, as I like to call them, the Ten Commandments of the Work-at-Home Mom. 

1. Send your mate an occasional naughty DM. 

Get the rest of the rules on my blog at TulsaKids.com. 

OK, so this is my and my husband's idea of fun, but what I'm say here basically is this: Find a way to reconnect with your mate as often as possible. It doesn't have to be a lot of time - five minutes counts - and it doesn't even have to involve text messages that you have to have your best friend swear to delete before your grandmother finds them in the unthinkable event that something were to happen to you and your love bunny. Sometimes a simple joke and a good laugh together is all you need to meet in the middle after a long day of working within the same four walls in which you also spend your evenings. 

2. Wash behind your ears and put on some clothes. 

When you work from home, sometimes it's a little too easy to slum it in your PJs all day. Don't do that. Rather than make a beeline for the desk in the morning, hop in the shower. Then, dress in something that you wouldn't be embarrassed about if someone were to drop by. My bet is that you'll find you make more widgets when you're wearing a nice pair of jeans and a starched cotton dress shirt than when you're sporting your bunny slippers and yesterday's work-out clothes. Ew. 

3. Be upfront with employers and/or clients. 

If you work for yourself, be straight forward with those with whom you work about when you can be at your desk and when your presence in the backyard is absolutely required for the prevention of emergency room visits. They'll appreciate the heads up. 

4. Don't overcommit. 

On the same note as the previous point, don't make promises to yourself or anyone else about what you are and are not able to do that you can't keep. 
