8 Helpful Tips if You Work from Home
Like many of you I work from my home (at least for the most part during the year).
In this bonus I’d like to share eight of my own favorite tips that make it easier for me to get things done and handle challenges that can arise from a working from your home lifestyle.
- Start your day in a good way
When you go to a regular job or to school then someone usually sets your schedule. You have to be there on time and you have stuff to get handled or a class right away when you arrive.
When you work from home on the other hand you set your own schedule. You tend to spend a lot of time alone. So it becomes even more important to stick to a morning ritual each morning that lets you start your day in a productive and positive way. Instead of falling for temptations and spending your whole morning on doing very little actual work just because you are checking out some cool stuff online and so on.
- Guard your time and attention.
When you work from home you can usually set your own hours for the most part. However, other people sometimes start to think that you are available anytime just because you can set your own schedule. But what they may not think of is that you still have to put in your hours of work each day. And you cannot always be ready to go to run errands or do what the people around you feel like doing.
So be assertive and firm. Say no when you don’t have time.
If there are other people at home when you work then as best you can try to work in a cone of silence anyway. Tell them that you will be working for the next two hours and that you should not be disturbed unless there is something urgent. If there is a door, close it. Just because they have time off and want to socialize does not mean that you do not have work to do. So be kind but also make them see that you have to get things done just like they do.
- Get out and get some fresh air.
It’s easy to get stuck and spend most of your day at home working. That’s not very healthy in the long run. Make sure that you get out and get some fresh air and sunlight. Take a few of your 10 minute breaks or one of your longer breaks each day to get out and do stuff outside.
- Make sure you get social time.
When you work from home you need company and social time. It is easy to become a bit isolated at times and spend a lot of time alone working on your latest project.
Be careful about that. You need to hang out with other people to renew your energy, creativity and simply to feel good. So make sure that you follow the structure in The Art of Relaxed Productivity and spend evenings and weekends in good company.
- Appreciate what you have.
While it can sometimes feel lonely and boring to work alone from home there are also things to be grateful for. Yes, you have to work – often quite a bit – but you can set your own hours a lot of the time. You can sleep in while other people are dragging themselves to work. You can spend a rainy day comfortably at home while the other people have struggle and mutter with an umbrella in hand. You can work in very comfy clothes and barefoot if you like, something that you may not be able to do at many regular jobs.
So make a habit of looking at the bright side and appreciating the position you are in. This will make it easier especially on days when you feel bored or lonely and may wish you had a regular job.
- Create a workspace that makes you feel comfortable and makes you focused.
As mentioned in the Art of Relaxed Productivity, asking yourself better questions provide better answers. A great workspace can make a huge difference since you spend so much time there each day.
I personally have a comfortable place to sit and a simple desk with my laptop on. On my wall there is a small white board where I write down my reminders such as major goals and inspiring mantras. On another wall there are three photos of bamboo and a very still lake. Under the three photos it is written: quietude. That is about it. Very simple and with nothing to distract me.
You may choose different solution that suits you. Maybe something with more images. Or plants and flowers. Or paintings and various folders to store incoming and outgoing mail, documents and various papers.
So ask yourself:
What kind of person works in an environment like your environment?
And how would the person you would like to work like shape his or her work environment?
And don’t forget to keep your work space tidy, no matter how you choose to design it. Because a tidy and calm work space helps you relax and focus.
- Make sure you manage your fundamentals of energy.
Take advantage of your opportunity and sleep as long as you need.
Make sure to exercise a couple of times a week at least.
Don’t forget to eat. Don’t forget to drink enough water. Eat good and healthy lunches and breakfasts. And give yourself a treat from time to time, I for example order takeout sushi for lunch once a week.
- Create a work room or work area.
This will make it easier to mentally separate work hours from relaxing home hours and help you to not wind up in the grey zone. If you don’t have a room, try finding a corner or a space in one room that can be your designated work area.