Do you work from home, or is it your ambition? The concept of working at home is one that is much loved for many reasons, including not needing childcare, less transportation costs and spending more time in your home; however, it can have its challenges, too. How many of the rules for working at home do you obey?
Review Your Situation
First, find out if your role can work from home. In every organization, there will be some people who are needed in the office, and some who can work from home. If you need to transfer, it’s time to start thinking about putting in that request! It’s also important to consider if your personality will suit a working-at-home situation. You’ll need to be self-motivated, dedicated and not worried about missing out on office drama. If you are forever putting work second for shopping or meeting friends, or if you miss office banter too much, you are unlikely to be successful.
Own Your Office
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A cluttered workspace is a cluttered mind, so free up as much room as possible. Put the printer out of sight, use online fax services and invest in a comfortable chair. You will need to feel at home and ready to work, but you’ll need to feel at work, too. Decorate your space on the office you’ve always wanted to have, and you’ll never fail to switch to ‘business mode’ as you sink into your executive chair.
Stick To a Schedule
Keep a schedule, and stick to it. An online calendar that can be edited and accessed by those in the office can be helpful, Keep a hard copy schedule of meetings, appointments and deadlines, too. You can check this regularly to make sure nothing is forgotten, and it’ll prevent all-night sessions because you’ve forgotten that important report due tomorrow!
Establish a Business Mode
If you work at home, the boundaries between working and relaxing can become blurred. Don’t allow friends or family to visit you during work hours, don’t answer personal calls and don’t check personal emails. A recent survey suggested workers spent more than four hours on Facebook each day — just imagine what that will do to your productivity! Keep anything that is likely to ‘steal’ work time until after your working day is finished. You wouldn’t go home to vacuum or stop out to the shops if you were in the office, so try to avoid doing it at home — even if it is irresistibly tempting!
Seek Change
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Working from home shouldn’t be all work and no play. Occasionally relocate to a coffee shop for a change of scenery, and still engage with your colleagues through work email. Make sure you still spend time with others, or you might find yourself feeling isolated and alone — something which is a big cause of home-workers returning to the office!
