Working from home has many benefits. No commute, comfortable surroundings, and the freedom and flexibility to work as you choose. More and more people are swapping the office for the home office, but it isn’t without its challenges.
How can you stay motivated working from home? How can you juggle your home life and work-life when the lines get blurred? Take a look at these five tips to help make working from home work for you.
1. Establish a routine
Routine is important for productivity, and the sooner you set yourself up with an effective working routine at home, the better off you’ll be. Set yourself working hours that you can stick to, to help you get into the mindset and establish a working pattern. You can adjust your hours in line with other things you have happening in the week, as long as you make sure that everything gets done.
2. Be professional
Sometimes you have to dress the part to be the part, so instead of working from the couch in your pajamas, put on some work clothes and sit at a desk. It’s only a small difference but it will boost your productivity. If you’re running a business from home then it’s very important to maintain a professional edge. A mail forwarding address, dedicated meeting space and separate business accounts for your phone and finances are all vital for portraying a professional image. This is important for dealing with clients as well as helping you to be more focused.
3. Invest in the right equipment
Working from your home office allows you to decide what equipment to use, offering many possibilities. To avoid frustrations and to ensure you can do your job effectively, it’s important that you invest in the right tools and technology. Make sure you have all of the right home office essentials to help you create the right working environment. Don’t forget to add in a few luxuries too – a top-of-the-range coffee machine and a luxury ergonomic chair are worth treating yourself for. When you are investing in equipment, try to aim for maximum home office energy savings and design it to run as efficiently as possible.
4. Keep work and home separate
While working from home is a great way to try and regain your work/life balance, it’s easy to find yourself working too much or not enough. While it’s great that you can do laundry during the day, you need to make sure you keep things separate and manage your time effectively. Keep all household chores for your break time and make sure that once you clock off, you don’t go back to the home office after hours. Having a clear separation will benefit you and your family and ensures working from home doesn’t cause negative effects.
5. Remember to take a break
When you’re working from home, you also need to take your health and wellbeing into consideration. Regular breaks and vacations are important, particularly if your job means you don’t get out of the house enough. During your lunch hour, try getting out of the house and going for walks, and consider using a co-working space once in a while to help beat isolation. It’s important to take care of your mental health when working from home to help you avoid burning out.
With the right drive and attitude, working from home can be a breeze. Use these tips to help you find the right balance and turn working from home into a positive step for your career.
Image Credit: Kaboom Pics under Creative Commons