Working from home can be a wonderful experience; you cut out the soul destroying commute and get to spend more time with the people your love. However many people forget that working from home requires strong self-discipline in order to make it lucrative. Follow the tips below to ensure your work from home venture has the best chance of success possible.
1. Ensure you have a designated work space
The biggest mistake people make when starting out working from home is not setting aside a designated area to work. This should be away from the distractions of the rest of the house (so not in the front room, kitchen or bedroom) ideally in a separate room. Having a designated work space means you still have the feeling of being in a work environment, it also means you are less likely to be disturbed and can concentrate on your tasks.
2. Kit out your office with good quality equipment
It is really important to make sure the equipment in your home is of a high standard. Make sure you have a suitably comfortable chair, with good lumbar support. Ensure that any technology you have is up-to-date and able to cope with the added strain of office use. If you use the telephone frequently consider getting a decent headset. Having a designated computer and printer for your home venture is advisable as this means you can keep your personal and business files separate and other members of your household can still access the Internet while you’re working.
3. Make sure you have a good phone line / Internet connection
Home working will in most cases mean utilising your phone line and Internet connection to a much greater extent than normal residential use. Be aware that you will be using the line during core hours and that you may be using a much higher Internet quota, due to accessing more data online. If your company is not providing the phone and Internet services for you, or you are working freelance, it is worth considering a true unlimited package for both your phone and broadband connection, to keep bills under control.
4. Plan out your day
When you are working from home it is easy to lose track of time and before you know it a whole morning has passed and you haven’t much to show for it. It is a good idea to write out a day plan and carefully manage your schedule and even set hourly targets to ensure you make the best use of your time.
Working from home can be a fantastic experience. Many people have found it rewarding and the perfect way to create a strong work-life balance. If you follow the tips above you will be well on your way to making your home-working experience a success.
