Working from home is a great luxury of the Internet age. As many as 1 in 5 Americans work from a home office at least once a week and that number continues to grow year after year. Benefits of working from home include increased productivity and efficiency, lower stress, and decreases costs. Working from home can take a little getting used to, so we’ve curated this list of tips for getting the most out of working from home:
Setup an Office Space
Many people think of working from home as sitting in bed or on the couch with a laptop. And while that might be okay every now and then, you really will be more efficient with an actual workspace. Setup your desk in a room with a lot of light and stock it the same way you would if you were at an office.
Set (and Adhere to) Consistent Working Hours
It’s important to be consistently available. Setting hours is helpful for both your coworkers, family, clients, and yourself. If you know you need to be working from 9 – 5 it’s easier for you to not be distracted by things around the house, like laundry or dishes. Those can all wait until the end of the day.
“Do Not Disturb”
Working from home can be as much of a transition for your friends and family as it is for you. Make sure they know that during work hours, you are unavailable in the same way you would be if you were at the office (emergencies only!).
Communicate. Communicate. Communicate.
The key to a successful work from home experience is constant communication with your clients and coworkers. In fact, overcommunication is the rule of thumb here. Let your coworkers know when you plan to step out for lunch, when you’re available for conference calls, and what progress you’ve made on projects. Make sure the expectations are clear and that you’re delivering on what you’re supposed to be accomplishing.
Get Out of the House
Working from home means you’re going to be spending a lot of time at your abode from now on. Take advantage of the day to get up and go for a walk around the block to clear your head; meet friends or colleagues for lunch, or pack a lunch and eat it in a nearby park; consider working from the library or a coffee shop to mix things up a bit. It’s important for you to have some human interaction instead of just communicating over text and email all day, or else you’ll start to go stir crazy.
Leave Work at the End of the Day
Working from home shouldn’t turn into working at home all the time. At the end of the day, shut down your computer and log your brain off of work time. Maintaining a harmonious work-life balance is still important!
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What are your best work from home success tips?
