So you’re “Working from Home” now always accompanied by exaggerated finger quotation marks and a smirk was the standard response when I first started working from a home based office a decade ago. More insightful family and friends expressed concern as to how I would fare away from the many stimulations of a bustling office environment. Back then whilst not being exactly avant garde working from home was certainly far from the norm.
But times they are a changing and now as office space becomes more scarce and technology races ever forward, more and more people are working from home and embracing the joys of the life-work blend that home working offers. So for anyone considering the home based fraternity here’s my tips for happy home working:
- Create a dedicated working space, however small, where you can work effectively and with focus, the kitchen table or the sofa are not the most conducive settings.
- Set daily objectives – and make sure you meet them.
- Do what you need to do to get into a working frame of mind, getting dressed shouldn’t be seen as optional.
- Invest in the right kit, whatever it maybe -fast broadband is a must for most people.
- Get out of the house from time to time to meet with clients or colleagues, or simply go for a walk at lunchtime.
- Only do the things you would do if you were in the office, don’t allow yourself to become distracted by household chores.
- Pick up the phone, you will likely have fewer conversations during the day, but they will be more purposeful and more enjoyable.
- Make use of technology, Skype is great for virtual meetings, and seeing other people helps to keep you ‘connected’.
- Working from home can revolutionise your life, embrace the freedom and flexibility which is proffers (keeping point number 2 in mind) and make it a win -win for you and your employer.
- Invest in some good coffee!
