Tips For Working At Home - Entrepreneur Skills Articles | Entrepreneur

By: Matthew Hick

On the surface it may seem like the dream job scenario: working in your most comfortable PJ’s; setting your own schedule; ditching that nasty commute; saving thousands on daycare costs. But, is working from home really as great as it sounds? Can you really be as productive with kids underfoot as you can in a professional office? The answer is Yes – and no. For most, the move from professional to home office is a shock. In the beginning, schedules are turned upside down, productivity often suffers, and isolation abounds as your dream of working from home suddenly turns into a nightmare!

Working from home is a juggling act that must be learned before it can be mastered. It is manageable though, if proper planning is made to help make the transition easier.

Creating The Right Work Environment.
The biggest mistake most home workers make, according to statistics, is not taking their new “office hours” as seriously as they did when they worked outside of the home. Scheduling actual work hours is essential to staying on track. Begin and end the workday at the same time each day if possible. Put a “at my desk” sign on the office door to keep family members from disturbing you during work times. Refuse to answer your private phone lines or even front door when you’re supposed to be at your desk. Friends and neighbors have the tendency to think that just because you work from home, you’re available to chat, watch their kids in a pinch, or let the washer repairman into their house. Kindly remind intruders that you are busy at the moment and can not be disturbed.

Creating a comfortable work environment is also recommended.
No one would tolerate working at his or her bosses kitchen table, or sitting on a hard wooden chair versus a comfortable office chair. Equip that new office with the correct furniture, equipment, gadgets and accessories to enable you to do the same professional job you always have. Just because your commute to the office is now two seconds instead of 20 minutes, doesn’t mean that you don’t deserve the same level of professional care as your in-office counterparts.

One final note on this subject: always keep your work area separate from your living space. It’s more professional and more conducive to staying productive.

Set A Schedule – And Stick To It!
Treat your days like an average 9 to 5 workday. Sure, you wanted to work from home to be more available to your family, but if you don’t set a schedule – and stick to it – your work hours will slowly start to creep into precious family time as deadlines loom and work goes undone. Avoid letting unnecessary family crisis or household errands and tasks take up normal work time. Give work a priority. But when the workday is over, leave the office (and your work), behind until tomorrow.

Plan your workday and your workweek according to the projects and tasks that need to be completed. Stick to deadlines! Whether you work as an independent contractor, or under the auspices of a field office, you still need to stay on track if you want to remain successful, and keep your job.

Remain A Professional At All Times.
Just because you’re working at home doesn’t mean that your clients ever have t know it. Remain a top professional at all times. Always act and sound as if you are in a regular office. Keep background noise to a minimum when speaking on the telephone – and never, ever let your children answer your business line! Dress everyday as if you’re headed to the office. You’ll be amazed at how it makes you feel and how much more you actually get done.

Keep It Fun.
Working from home can be very isolating. Gone are the lunches with friends, and the chatter around the coffee pot. Being alone all day, every day, in the same environment where you live can become dull and lifeless. Have a little fun. Go for a quick walk around the block. Take a dip in the hot tub. Go out to lunch with a friend, or have a surprise picnic with your kids in the backyard. After all, isn’t that what intrigued you about working from home in the first place? More time to enjoy life and work? Enjoy your newfound freedom, as long as it doesn’t stop you from getting your work done in the first place.

Working from home can allow you the flexibility to go on school field trips or skip out of the office early to enjoy a warm sunny afternoon in spring, and have more time for your family by eliminating long stressful commutes, but it does take some planning and understanding on the entire family’s part to make it a success. Take your job seriously. Give it your best, and you’ll find that you can get more done in less time, giving you more freedom than you ever imagined.