5 Tips For Working From Home

The idea of working from home is a dream held by many people. You can dress how you want, drink as much tea as you want, work with the TV or music on in the background, and you get to spend time with your family.

However, some people find it difficult to focus or concentrate when working from home. They find that their productivity drops and they get a lot less done than they need to. This can be inevitable due to kids demanding attention and distractions getting in the way.

However, there is a method to working from home, and achieving what you need to. Needless to say, everyone works differently, and you will need to find the way that works best for you through trial and error. But we’re here to help so we’ve written a general set of guidelines for those who want to or need work from home.

Pick A Place

Try and pick a spot in the house for when you work from home to act as your ‘office.’ The space should be as distraction free as possible, have everything you need to work and be as organised as it can be.

Keep this area free from kids toys or any gadgets that may divert you from what you need to get done.

Create A Schedule

Without a concrete structure and a manager to keep an eye on your progress, it can be difficult to motivate yourself to get your head down.

Draw yourself up a timetable and stick to it. This will help keep you focused and you’ll always be aware of where you need to be and what you need to be doing, so your time-management skills are essential here.

Know When To Switch Off

The idea behind working from home is that it’s more convenient than making the commute to an office every day. However, be aware that because your work and your life are very much in the same place and very much intertwined, you may find it difficult to switch off.

Have set hours for when you start and finish work and make sure that you stick to these, otherwise you may end up working more hours than you should be.

Don’t Become A Hermit

Working from home can mean that you spend a lot of time alone and can become quite isolated. It can also lead to you being known as somewhat invisible by the other people that you work with.

There are times when you need to work from home, or you might relish a day out of the office, but try not to do it too often. Not being a visible presence in the workplace could also damage you chances for a promotion. So make your decisions about working from home carefully.

Be Honest With Yourself

Working from home isn’t for everyone. So before you make the decision to stop coming to the office, think long and hard about it.

Ask yourself if it is in your best interests, or whether you just fancy not going into the office for a while. Will you be able to maintain your productivity with such a loose structure? It’s important to be honest with yourself when it comes down to it. Working from home may note be for you.