Have you ever dreamed of working from home? Surfing the Web over a second cup of coffee, having a conference call in your p.j.’s, grabbing a nap on your lunch hour. Avoiding that sluggish rush hour commute.

Over the past few years, thanks to massive layoffs and corporate hiring freezes, many job seekers have started home-based businesses. According to a 2009 study by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, nearly 55 percent of home-based workers are in the arts, design, entertainment, sports or media field.

From mommy bloggers to consulting and design services, entrepreneurs are forging out new and profitable careers at home.

This is the first in a three-part series that examines the realities of working from home. Founder and CEO of SuccessWorks, an SEO copywriting and training firm, Heather Lloyd-Martin has trained thousands of writers, small business owners and Fortune 500 companies in the latest techniques in writing for the Web. Here, she explains how she has managed a successful home-based business for 15 years.

What inspired you to start your own business?

Lloyd-Martin: I’ve always known that I was a “self-employment” kind of gal. It really messed me up in my 20s – my friends were taking these great jobs, and I kept wondering, “Am I missing something? I hate working 9 to 5 jobs – why do I even do it?”

I spent $250 to talk to a well-known career counselor who told me, “You’re not wired to work with other people.” At that point, I knew that I had to be on my own. I hadn’t figured out what that meant yet, and I was working “real jobs” until I could figure it out and save some money. But once I took that leap, wow, my life changed.

What is a typical day like at your home office?

Lloyd-Martin: I wake up pretty early and check email around 7am I also try to get one task – typically, a writing task – accomplished before 8am. I love feeling accomplished first thing in the morning.

“At that point, I knew that I had to be on my own.”

Around 8:30, I head into my morning boot camp exercise class. Working out is the most important part of my day. I have literally worked my business life around my workout schedule. Part of the reason I love working out is the physical aspects. I feel so much stronger (and have more energy) than I did a couple years ago. The other part is the social network. I work out with a great trainer and a group of really wonderful women, and that helps make the sweating and pain worth it.

Once I get back to the office and take a shower, the workday officially begins around 11:30am. I normally eat at my desk, and take frequent breaks during the day. My day ends – no matter what – at 7pm and earlier if I can (I often can). I make really good lists and tend to stay on track pretty well. There are some days when I feel unfocused, and I try to work on “easy tasks” that day. But in general, I tend to keep things pretty organized. After all, the more organized I am, the shorter my workday – and that’s a great thing.

I’ve found that making to-do lists the night before can be extremely helpful. That way, I wake up and know exactly what I should be doing next. If I start the day answering all of my emails – and getting caught in the “an email came in, I must answer it now” trap, I don’t finish my daily tasks. Email can be highly distracting for me!

How do you overcome spending hours alone each day?

Lloyd-Martin: I’ve been working at home for over 15 years now. What I’ve done is built up a great in-person social network made up of other self-employed folks. For instance, my boot camp class is filled with self-employed women. I’m friends with local small business owners, and that helps too. Plus, Twitter, LinkedIn and Facebook provide a very fun form of social interaction. I know many folks who rely on online social networks more than offline; they love tweeting and Facebooking.

What do you recommend for others who want to start their own business?

Lloyd-Martin: The main advice you always hear is to have money set aside – or another way of supporting yourself – before you launch your business. I would agree that this is an important step. It will take longer than you think to really get your business off the ground and making money, and you need to protect yourself and your family.

I’d also offer some other advice, too…

• First, you really have to do what you love. It’s that important. If you launch a business that you aren’t passionate about just to make a quick buck, it’s going to be a very grueling experience. Running a business is like being in a relationship. You will have incredible highs and incredible lows. You will work much harder than you ever thought you would. But when you love your partner – or your business – the sacrifice and pain is worth it.

• Second, know that just because you’re good at doing X – like writing – doesn’t make you a good business person. Learning how to run a successful business is incredibly important. If you don’t know what you’re doing (or don’t focus on the business end of owning a business,) you won’t make much money and burn out fast. I’ve seen it happen so many times.

• If you can, consider working with a business-building coach. Yes, it will cost you money and time. The investment will be well, well worth it. Your coach can help you overcome normal psychological blocks we all have around running a business, and teach you the most effective way of doing things. You will make more money, faster, if you work with a coach. Heck, even I work with a coach. If you can’t find a coach, find a mentor. Find someone! You’ll learn so much, and sidestep some common business mistakes if you do.

• Finally, it’s important to always carve out self-care time. When you’re just starting out, it’s easy to work, work, work all the time. You don’t see friends because you “don’t have time.” You start eating poorly because you are so focused on your business. Remember, the reason that your business is successful is YOU. If you run yourself into the ground, your business – and your income – will reflect it. Taking time out for yourself is not self-indulgent or lazy. It’s good business sense!

Lloyd-Martin’s newest venture is the Copy Writing Business Boot Camp, a six-week training boot camp designed to help writers launch and maintain a “happy, healthy copywriting business.”

Do you work from home?

More on Working at Home from HalogenTV.com:

1. 6 Workspaces That Promote Calm and Productivity

For a show about people living out their dreams, watch “Jump Shipp” Fridays at 8pm ET on Halogen TV.