7 Tips for working from home
Working from home isn’t for everyone.
Some people are suited to working in an office full of people while others thrive in remote settings.
If you fall into the latter group you may prefer working at your own pace without being confined to an office space.
If you can remain disciplined in an unstructured environment then working from home could be for you. But it won’t be easy, the temptation to sleep in or randomly go grocery shopping could lead you astray.
You need to have focus, determination and self-control. So before you leave the office environment, you need to do a thorough introspection to find out if you are actually suited to working from home.
Here’s what you should consider when you work from the comfort of your home.
Do you have enough self-control?
If you’re a person who lacks self-control then working from home might not be right for you. You might end up doing your laundry or watching an hour of TV while sitting in your comfy lounge suite, instead ofworking.You wouldn’t do this in an office setting, so why do it while working from home? If you know that you’re a person who requires a structured work environment then you should consider other alternatives.
Set a strict schedule
When you’re working from home you can set your own working hours. But you might be tempted to sleep in for an extra hour (or three) instead of getting out the bed. You should treat working from home like you would treat any other job. Set working hours which suit you best. People are different and are more alert and energised at different times of the day. So you must work out a schedule which works for you.
On the other end of the spectrum, don’t make work your life. Set limits and discipline yourself not to work late into the night.Your body needs a break and if you don’t stop working at a decent hour each day you could end up burning out. Your brain needs to recharge which only happens if you get proper rest. Working eight to nine hours a day is enough to get a lot of work done. And knowing when to stop working means you can incorporate quality time with your family too.
Incorporate working hours
You need to set boundaries with your friends. And let them know you’ll be working and they should rather visit after working hours. Random visits or phone calls during the day from friends could cause you to lose time and focus. When your friends come over you’ll end up chatting and might forget the work that awaits you.
Don’t fall into the trap of procrastinating
Procrastination becomes a bad habit when you work from home. It’s easy to become distracted and put off work. You can spend endless hours chatting to friends on the phone or finding out the latest happenings on Twitter. But you need to be disciplined enough to make your work a priority.
Keep out the kitchen
You might get bored while you’re working and end up in the kitchen and start cooking up a storm. But you should keep a safe distance from the kitchen. Take snacks with you to your study or workspace. You’ll also need a water bottle too and this will prevent you from heading to the fridge.
Turn a guest room into an office
Make sure you create a designated work space in your home. This will help you be more productive, have fewer distractions and remain in control of your workload. If work from your bedroom you’ll be tempted to take nap and you’ll lose focus on your work. Set up your workspace with a comfortable chair, adequate lighting and a built in bookshelf where you can keep all your work books and files. Make sure you also close the door so when your family is at home they know not to disturb you.
Change out of your PJs
Get up, shower and get dressed. You don’t have to put on a formal suit but you do need to change from your pj’s to normal clothes. Staying in your pj’s might sound ideal but you might feel unproductive and lazy. Getting dressed will send a message to your brain that it’s time to work and get out of sleep mode.
If you’re a freelancer or writer you might be weighing up the options of working from home or getting an office space, Working from home is perfect if you don’t want to be confined to a desk and want to set your own hours. But you need to have boundaries and rules in place so you remain productive and are not distracted from your work.