Working from home is great on so many levels. Not having to commute saves money and time and can actually make you happier, and if you want to work in sweats or pyjamas, you can!
But, how do you keep from getting distracted with domestic duties? How do you handle a friend who stops by unannounced in the middle of the day? How do you get anything done if you have the kids around?
Lets have a look at some working from home best practices:
Identify what needs to get done every day and make sure to do it.
As long as I have a plan on how to complete the list of daily tasks on my personal to-do list, it doesn't matter if or how I may be interrupted, as long as I get things done by the end of the day.
The act of writing down and completing tasks is a rewarding task in and of itself. In fact the pleasure we feel as a result of this is called the Zeigarnik effect. (Find out more HERE)
Use cloud based and browser based resources.
Ensure that you and your admin are using Google Drive as much as possible to share files This way you can log in from anywhere and never need to worry about having your files with you.
Similarly, use the Training Portal to access support materials online rather than printing documents and having to search for them in the home office.
Get dressed.
Seriously. Getting dressed makes the home office more like a real office, and tells and reminds everyone, especially you, that even though you may be sitting on the sofa reading, browsing the Web, or talking on the phone, that you are actually working.
Make a stoplight for family members.
Hang or tape coloured paper on your office door. Tape the red light up when you cannot be disturbed and the green light when it's OK to come in. Yellow light means to check first, this way children, no matter what age, understand the message and can play along.
Invest in creating a comfortable office.
It may sound trivial but it's not, think about how much time you'll be spending in your office. Buy yourself a comfortable business chair, you'll be more inclined to stay working. As a result, you'll be more productive.
Be clear about your working hours.
Agree your working hours and 'switch off' after your day 'finishes'. You're no good to your family if they never get to see you!
Don't go to non-work appointments in the middle of the day.
Try to make doctor and dentist appointments just as you would working for the company. First thing in the morning, last thing in the day to minimise disruptions to your workday.
Pretend you're not home.
Don't answer your home phone or door during business hours, that way, you're never tempted to chat or take time off or slack off in any way, and remain focused on business.
OR Enjoy disruptions.
While some remote workers eschew personal visits during the work day, others take the opposite tack. So when people drop by, try to live life and see them unless you're with a client of course.
Get in-person time with co-workers.
Get facetime with your Admin and manager more than the mandatory 121, don't stay in a little bubble. Crete have a ton of visitors and BDM sessions you can attend to get out and socialise with the team.
OR Use Google+ Hangouts.
While it's ideal if you can occasionally meet in-person with coworkers, admins and mangers sometimes it's not possible because teams are separated by geography. In that case, video chatting is the next best thing, with Google+ Hangouts being an excellent medium for doing it. You can meet with up to 10 people for free, unlike Skype in which at least one person in the group has to have a paid subscription for meetings between more than two people. It also lets you do things like share your screen with others or pull in apps such as SlideShare or Cacoo to draw or give presentations, respectively.
Enjoy your flexibility.
Find your focus wavering? Break away to do something different. Because your work schedule can be as flexible as you need it to be, sometimes it's important to walk away. It's amazing what 30 minutes reading, tidying or walking can do for helping boost creative juices, who knows, maybe the solution to a clients problem comes to you whilst loading the dishwasher!
Buy a noise-cancelling headset.
The last thing you want is to be discussing a KFI with a client and have the doorbell ring or police sirens blaring the background. You want people to think you run a tight ship, and have all of the necessary resources at your fingertips. People can't visualise your home but they can certainly visualise an office, and that is exactly what you want them to see and hear.
Check in with your admin and your manager several times a day.
You're tasking an Admin throughout the day, so check you're both on the same page at least three times during the day: A morning call, a quick check in after lunch, then a recap of the day when you're close to finishing.
Considering Working from home?