By NICOLE GARTON
Gannett News Service

Padding to work in pajamas, swapping a bumper-to-bumper drive for a walk down the hall telecommuting can be the perfect solution for those who wilt in an office setting.

But working at home requires lots of self-discipline and it can be hard to keep going without the daily feedback you get at the office. After all, who's gonna know if you take a two-hour bath break or dawdle with a book instead of writing that report?

If you're finding it hard to stay motivated at home, try some of these suggestions:

Set up an office
Whether it's an entire room or a cubbyhole, separate your office from the rest of your home.

"I need to be in the office. If I sit at the kitchen table and (work), I'll look around and see things that need to get done, like the dishes," says Denise Shaw, a vice president for SunTrust Bank in Nashville, Tenn., who telecommutes two days a week.

If you can't spare a room, section off a corner with screens, bookcases, a coffee table or a sheet hanging from a wire, says Denise Gore, owner of OffSite Works. Decorate it with family pictures and make it comfortable.

Develop a routine
If you don't have a routine, people seem to be constantly interrupting you, Gore says. Set aside specific work hours.

The entire household, including your kids, needs to know the office is off-limits while you're working. Tell friends and family members you won't be taking personal calls during business hours.

Get in the mindset
Driving to the office triggers a mental transition from at-home mode to work mode, Gore says. You'll need to find a replacement trigger. For Shaw, the switch occurs when she starts checking her e-mail.

"I turn on my laptop and get into my e-mail, and honestly, it's as though I'm at work," she says. "I don't even notice my surroundings."

Set mini-goals
"Tell yourself, `When I get this done, I'm going to take a longer break and stroll outside and have a cup of coffee,'‚" Gore says.