The single most important trait for success in a work from home environment is self-discipline. In this article, investor Daniel Calugar comments on how to know if you have it and how to get it if you don't.

Working from home has become the "new normal" for many employees. Whether temporarily or for the long term, it has become standard practice for an estimated 42 percent of American workers. Many companies are eyeing this new arrangement to determine if it might be a workable cost-saving measure going forward.

Not every worker is cut out for a work from home job. Some don't like it because they crave social interaction. Others simply can't because their job depends on physical interaction with their customers, clients, or patients. Many, however, see working from home as a dream come true; no commute and work in your pajamas.

The key to a successful work from home arrangement depends largely on the nebulous character trait called self-discipline.

Here are some useful tips for evaluating your self-discipline and suggestions to develop more of it.

Avoidance versus Resisting

When faced with a potential temptation, do you rely on your strength to resist, or do you deploy avoidance strategies? Self-disciplined people have learned to effectively avoid what they know they should resist.

Relying on resistance alone as a strategy will eventually lead to failure. We all have weak moments. Keeping your environment clear of television, non-work related reading material, or anything else that may distract you will greatly increase your chances of staying on task when working from home.

Are you satisfied with your life?

Studies have found that higher levels of self-discipline were linked to higher levels of satisfaction in life. Self-disciplined people are more confident in who they are and, in the long run, get more of what they want in life.

It's okay to have lofty goals, but if you find that you are constantly feeling unsatisfied with your life, you may want to stay away from a work environment that requires the confidence that comes from being self-disciplined.

Take stock of your life. Consider where you are compared to where you came from. Measure your determination to stay the course and accomplish your goals, but give yourself credit for what you have accomplished and recognize the good things in your life.

Do you enjoy doing hard things?

An important element of self-discipline is relishing the sense of accomplishment that comes from pushing yourself to do hard things. Like an athlete, you must see yourself as being in competition with the parts of yourself that want to lounge on the couch when you should be working. If you are self-disciplined, you will recognize this desire to accomplish hard things as part of your personality.

If, on the other hand, you are comfortable taking the easy road, working from home may not be for you.

Try pushing yourself to do something you are resistant to; run a race, master a skill, lose that last 10 pounds. You can teach yourself to enjoy doing hard things, success upon success, one step at a time.

About Daniel Calugar

Dan Calugar is a versatile and experienced investor with a background in computer science, business, and law. He developed a passion for investing while working as a pension lawyer and leveraged his technical capabilities to write computer programs that helped him identify more profitable investment strategies. When Dan is not working, he enjoys spending time working out and being with friends and family. As a pilot with over 2000 hours of single-pilot experience flying business jets, he enjoys flying volunteer flights for Angel Flight.