Working out a home office does have its perks: you are your own boss, you don’t have to get out of the house to work, and you can hang beside the water cooler all day long if you want to. On the other hand, having a home office also does have its disadvantages, which are actually similar to its perks: you are your own boss, you don’t get out of the house for work, and you can have an entirely unproductive day hanging next to the water cooler. Having a home-based business or employment is not for everybody. Being able to work in pajamas is a great opportunity but you will have to be aware of potential pitfalls and be strategically prepared to navigate through them.
Distractions are also a major pitfall when working from home. Small children are particularly adept at barging in with demands just when you are in the middle of an important task. Sometimes, the urge to stay under the covers on chilly mornings is rather hard to overcome. Mundane worries such as having to get dinner or taking out the wash from the dryer can also affect concentration and output. Here are some pointers on how to make working from home work:
1. Practice professionalism and discipline. You need to be a self-starter in order to be productive. Unlike in an office where you can depend on the presence of higher-ups to motivate you to get moving, you will need to rely on your own resources such as initiative and conscientiousness.
2. Maintain office standards. Sure, you can actually draft the entire presentation in your pajamas with no one being the wiser. But on occasions that you need to talk to somebody on the phone or do a web conference, be sure that there will be no noise such as TV blaring or dirty dishes peeking behind you on the webcam view.
3. Set targets for production and outputs—and meet them. Without a boss to check on your output, you will need to set your own quotas. Having concrete and measurable goals will allow you to evaluate how you spend your workday and will prevent you from wasting too much time.
4. Have a proper time for everything. There is a limit to the number of coffee breaks that you should take. On the other hand, just because your office doesn’t close at the end of the workday doesn’t mean that neither should you.
5. Be sure that others in your household understand and respect your working. This could be the hardest thing to control, particularly if you have a large number of people living in your house. When I was starting out, I really resented how my family seemed to think that working at home meant that I was available for quick runs to the grocery or entertaining unannounced guests. It may take a lot of effort on your part, but you will have to make sure that they understand that your job is just as legitimate and as important as an office position.
Generally, working from home is great; it allows you greater freedom and allows you to earn a living without being a slave to the clock or a cubicle. You simply need to possess good work ethics and maintain a mature attitude towards works in order to achieve a modicum of success.
About Author
Katy A. Limbaugh is an experienced news anchors & hosts of a well-known broadcasting company. She draws her inspiration from respected media like NBC, Fox, and CNN. Some of her works include William Lauder, and other company CEO.