Working from home has never been easier. If you have a computer, an Internet connection and maybe even a webcam, you can turn a corner of your house into your office.

Last month, the U.S. Census Bureau reported the number of people who work at home topped 11.3 million in 2005 – an increase of 2 million from 1999. It’s quite likely we’ll see another increase from 2005 to 2010. Thanks to the recession, people are doing contract or freelance work from their homes; some may be starting their own businesses right at the kitchen table. Plus, as more companies practice corporate sustainability, allowing employees to work from home at least some of the time is a way to lessen their environmental impact.

Working from home sounds glamorous (think: sending e-mails in your PJs and taking a nap in the afternoon), but in truth, it can be just like working in the office if you have the right discipline and focus.

Tips to make working at home work for you:

1. Create a physical workspace. If you can, designate a spare room as your office. If you home is tight on space, pick a corner of the den or a section of the kitchen and try to create a physical barrier between your office and the rest of the house. Use a decorative screen or a bookcase to section off your space.
2. Set office hours. Just as you would report to an outside office from 9-5, set your own home office hours. One of the benefits of working from home is the flexibility, so maybe your hours are 7-3 or 10-6. Determine what works best for you and stick with it. This helps you focus on getting work done during those set hours and helps you turn work off at the end of the day.
3. Be disciplined. It can be tempting to do the laundry, dust the living room or flip on the television, but remember your work hours and stick with them. Make a list of what must be accomplished before lunch. Then, make another list of what must be accomplished after lunch. This can help you stay on track.
4. Don’t live at work. When you home office is literally just down the hall, it’s easy to knock out a few e-mails after dinner or finish a report at midnight. It’s important to turn work off at the end of the day – close the office door or shut down your computer.
5. Get out of the house. Working from home can be solitary, so make it a point to find ways to interact with others. Meet clients or customers at their office. Join a lunchtime networking group. Pack up your laptop and work at Starbucks for a couple of hours. Give yourself 10 minutes to check Facebook or Twitter so you can a little interaction with the outside world.

What are your tips for working at home?