Many people find that working from home is preferable to the daily commute to the office. No more traffic jams or crowded trains, no need to get up so early and fewer distracting colleagues looking for your help. However, if you’re not used to it, home working can be difficult. Without the structure associated with travelling to the office, home-life and work-life can begin to meld. This in turn can mean that you can begin to not give work your full focus when working and never completely switch off from it when you’re not.
A quick google – other search engines are available – will yield myriad suggestions for effective working from home. Here are just a few:
Get dressed
As daft as it sounds, actually ensuring you’re properly dressed will help get you into a working frame of mind.
Create a dedicated work-space
Whether it’s the kitchen table or a desk somewhere, having a specific comfortable spot where you work will help you get into work-mode when you’re there regularly.
Know your hours
Start and stop at your scheduled times. That way you know when you’re “on” and when you’re “off”.
Set expectations
If you live with other people, particularly children, it can be difficult for them to understand that you’re there but not available. Be clear about when you can and can’t be interrupted. That way you can focus on your work, then fully present with your family when work is done.
Be available
Make sure you’re checking and responding to whatever work comms you receive as promptly as possible; that helps to ensure we can work effectively together and builds trust within the team.
Keep in touch
When you’re in the office the usual banter can help dissipate stress and smooth the rough patches. Being on your own, with no one to off-load to, can make situations feel more intense. Regular team catch-up calls are important, but also make sure you keep in contact with your colleagues through the day, use email/chat/phone/etc, even if it’s just to say “Hi”.
Take regular breaks
Make sure you get up and move around and have a break from the screen and ensure you have your lunch break
Posture is important
Most homes are not equipped with health & safety approved office workspace. To ensure you don’t spend all day slumped in front of your laptop, think about working in a way that helps you posture. Use inexpensive methods (think cardboard boxes on your table etc) to get your laptop to the right height. Also consider using a couple of extra boxes to create a “standing desk” to help you keep more mobile. Some people have even gone as far as creating a “treadmill desk” to keep them active whilst working.
So, if you get things right you could find that working from home, whether full-time or part-time, provides you with the ability to structure your work in a way that suits you better, but may also be financially advantageous too.
