Working from home can be an employee’s dream come true. After all, who wouldn’t love a non-existent commute and the cost savings associated with working from home? But having a telecommuting job also has its own set of challenges which can hinder your work efforts. Here are five mistakes telecommuters sometimes make—and how to fix them.

Mistake # 1. I’m going to stay in my PJ’s all day. After all, no one is going to see me.
It’s one of the biggest unsung perks of working from home: being able to wear as much—or as little—as you’d like. But just because you can work in yoga pants day in, day out, doesn’t mean that you should. After all, staying in your furry flannels all day—or worse, not taking a shower—can make you feel sluggish, sloppy and yearning to jump back into bed. So treat the start of each workday as if you were really going into an office. Take a shower and change into something comfortable, yet presentable. After all, you never know when your boss might call for an emergency Skype meeting.

Mistake # 2. You—and your work—are all over the place.
Maybe want to score some extra Vitamin D from the sun’s rays and work from your deck. Or you might opt to make the kitchen counter your home office (after the kids are in school, of course.) Working from home means you can work anywhere in (or outside) your home. When you work all over your home, though, it can make for a scattered mind—and an unproductive workday. Instead, choose a home office space that will cater to most of your needs (such as a quiet area, a sunlit room, space for storing files) and do most of your work there.

Mistake # 3. Your work hours are erratic.
Your kid has an assembly at school. Or you needed to drive your dad to the doctor. There are a hundred reasons why you might need to switch up your work schedule. It’s crucial, however, to keep a semi-regular schedule when you work remotely. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a morning person or a night owl; being consistent will help you focus your work efforts better and get more done. It will also help your boss have a better idea of when you’re available—and when you’re not.

Mistake #4. Your communication isn’t clear.
You were under a heavy deadline and dashed off a quick response to your coworker. Now, she’s giving you the cold shoulder. What gives? Without being in direct face-to-face contact all the time means that even the simplest communication can become easily misconstrued. So be as clear as possible when you email or IM a colleague or boss. That way, there will be no confusion as to what you’re really saying or how you’re feeling.

Mistake # 5. You put on the TV and you’re logged into Facebook. As you’re doing the dishes and playing fetch with your pup. All at the same time as you’re working.
Without a micromanaging boss popping into your office every five minutes, you’ll feel tremendous freedom when you work from home. That said, you need to fight the urge to watch the latest episode of Breaking Bad, check on your bestie’s FB status update and throw a load of laundry into the washing machine—all while you’re trying to finish your work. Sure, you can get social with social media during your break time, but don’t purposely break up your day with incessant—and unnecessary—interruptions. That way, you can stay organized—and on track with your workload.

Just like working in an office, distractions abound when you’re working from home. By staying focused, though, you’ll see first-hand how quickly your productivity will soar.

Jennifer Parris writes about career topics for FlexJobs.com. Working Mother Media and FlexJobs have partnered to help workingmother.com readers find flexible work solutions – such as telecommuting, freelance, part-time and flexible schedule jobs –  for themselves. Learn more here.