The first thing most people ask when they find out I work from home is, "How do you get any work done? I would always be finding something else to do if it were me!"

Well, I actually have the opposite problem. One of the biggest challenges I face as a career-at-home mom is leaving work. I love what I do, and there is always more work than there is time to get it done. So I actually have to focus on maintaining balance in my life and not working too much.

For me, overcoming this tendency to work too much is a constant challenge, especially as my business grows and more exciting opportunities come my way. I have learned to say "no" to business opportunities and projects when I really don't have the time, and I always try to be realistic about what I can accomplish in the time I have available. I also now have a team to help me, so I can delegate work, which allows me to accomplish more without spending more time.

I discovered that I am not alone in facing this challenge. It is a common struggle for successful career-at-home moms. My guess is this drive and strong work ethic is a big part of why successful career-at- home moms are successful. But there are other challenges we are face when we run a business out of our home.

In surveying home-based business moms, here are the five of the top challenges they report facing, along with tips for overcoming them.

1.  Knowing when to stop working and "leave the office" at the end of the day

When you love what you do—and you definitely want to build a home-based business that enables you to love what you do, it doesn't feel like work. So sometimes, you don't feel the need to stop working, or you get so caught up in what you're doing you don't even realize what time it is.

Tips to overcome this challenge: Create a schedule. Know when your work hours are and when it's time to focus on your family or the other priorities in your life. And do your best to stick to that schedule. This is one case where creating some structure actually provides you with more freedom.

2.  Getting side-tracked by distractions

Let's face it, there can be many distractions when our office is in our home

Everything from email, to the phone ringing, to laundry, neighbors and housework. And these distractions prevent us from being efficient with our time and getting our work done. The result very often is we end up working more hours than is ideal.

Tips to overcome this challenge: Turn off the email notification and only check email a few times a day. Don't answer the phone during work hours; let voice-mail do its job and return calls all at once when it's convenient for you. Follow the scheduling option recommended above and schedule time for laundry and housework and socializing with neighbors or anything else that distracts you from your work.

3.  Juggling time with kids, your spouse or partner, and work

As home-based business moms we wear many hats, and of course we want to be the best we can be in all of those roles. This can be a real challenge and can lead to burnout if you're not careful.

Tips to overcome this challenge: Stick to your schedule, and make sure you have time carved out for all the people who are important to you, including yourself. Put your child in daycare part-time or hire a teenager or babysitter to come in for a few hours a day to take care of your kids. Work while your kids are in school or sleeping. If you plan your time, instead of just letting each day unfold, it will help ensure that you are taking time for all the things that are important to you.

4.  The "B" Word:  Balance!

Nearly every home-based business owner struggles with this one.

Tips to overcome this challenge: Reframe it! Balance means everything is in perfect equilibrium. As a mom you know that's probably never going to happen. Accept that and instead of striving for perfect balance, strive for harmony. Know that some days you'll spend more time working and some days you'll spend more time being mom. As long as in the end, it works for you and your family, that's all that matters. Sometimes just removing unrealistic expectations can solve the problem.

5.  Making a full-time income working part-time hours

One of the draws of having a home-based business is the idea that you can actually work less and make more. However, many home-based business moms don't realize this benefit. Instead they find themselves slaving away to a business and not earning enough.

Tips to overcome this challenge: Make the most of the time you do have to devote to work by focusing on the highest return-on-investment (ROI) activities first. Avoid filling your day with busy-work and focus on being as productive as possible. That often means doing the big tasks first, or stepping outside your comfort zone. You'll also want to consider ways you can leverage your time by hiring subcontractors or assistants to do the tasks that aren't a good use of your time. And you may want to consider how you can create and sell products, or serve groups of people instead of just serving clients one-on-one.

Know that if you are facing one or all of these challenges, you are not alone. They are faced by nearly every home-based business mom at one time or another. The good news is, they are easy to overcome by following these tips.

Do you face these challenges? If so, what have you done to overcome them? Share your comments—this post isn't complete without YOUR perspective!

(C) 2009 Debbie LaChusa
Debbie LaChusa is the founder, president and CEM (Chief Entrepreneurial Mom!) of the National Association of Home-Based Business Moms (NAHBM). A former marketing executive, Debbie began her work-at-home journey 20 years ago when her daughter was born. She has run her own home-based business since 1998, has coached thousands how to market their own home-based businesses, and is the author of the book, The Career-at-Home Mom. You can learn more and register for your Free Membership in the National Association of Home-Based Business Moms at http://www.nahbm.com