Sunday 13 January 2013

Ten Top Tips for Working From Home

 

 
Expert Author John J Bowen
With more and more people working from home as they set out on working for themselves, here are ten top tips for survival are:

1 - Have a timetable. If you're an early riser, make a point of going no later than 0800 before getting smartened up and some business clothes on; at least smart casual - going native is not clever. If you're smart and looking ready for work, you'll think like work: Behave like a slob and it'll show in your work,

2 - Schedule your day in whatever way works for you, but take breaks. Don't do too long on the computer without stopping to do something different. A brisk walk round the block a couple of times a day is good. It gets the blood flowing and that gets oxygen into the brain. Other 15 minute distractions could include time in the garden doing a little weeding or pruning or to do some prep work on tonight's dinner.

3 - Set yourself deadlines and monitor progress. Plan to get x number of calls made, write x hundred words or to finish certain tasks (or make a start on them). Use a desk diary or put it on Outlook or your phone or whatever, but do have a plan for the day/week/month.

4 - It's easy to forget to eat and drink properly and neither omission will do you any good. Avoid too much caffeine, and eat sensible foods. One way of taking a break I use is to prepare a decent lunch. Take your food break at the dining table as well, sat up properly to aid digestion. Always aim to take your refreshment breaks at regular times.

5 - Try to have a working area set up in the home so that you do, if effect, go to the office and leave the office. It is an important psychological break point. If you don't have a separate area and have to use the couch or the dining table then have a couple of stacking crates that you keep your files and working stuff in so that you can pack away and put the boxes in the corner. You have to maintain separate home and office regimes.

6 - One of our cyber pals talks about life - work harmony. He doesn't like the term Balance in this context and we think that he's right. It is more about harmony in your life and ensuring that you, and the other people in your life, feel good about your lifestyle.

7 - Replace those water cooler moments with some other form of business contact. For me that's a business club. What you need is a couple of hours every couple of weeks where you can relax and chat with fellow business people from a variety of functions. If there are presentations you'll learn from them and get the chance to do your own which practices another skill.

8 - Don't feel guilty about time shifting your hours. If you want to use daylight or weekdays for something personal, as long as you hit your deadlines, do it, but try to make the time in advance by putting the evening or weekend hours in first: It's hard to play catch up.

9 - Stay safe: Take care with cables and extension leads even if you are the only one home. Keep information and equipment secure, and do your back ups. It's your office.

10 - Have fun - otherwise there's no point.

2 comments:

  1. John, I really like this post. So much so that I'm going to print it off and use it! Funny how life works sometimes isn't it.

    Only this morning I was thinking about my (mostly) solitary quest to work for myself online from home, and the challenges of distractions which get in the way of productive work - especially when it involves thought writing etc., then up popped your post!

    I'm reminded me of an incident when a fellow marketer who had achieved my dream of working from home, was in the middle of a webinar when his young daughter burst into his office and announced she had diarrhea!

    At that moment he realised he needed an office away from home but within easy walking distance to separate work from home.

    I particularly like point 6 where you talk about harmony and feeling good about your lifestyle. It's easy to forget a loved one who puts up with you spending your spare time in front of a computer with a dream when you get home from a full-time job and there are young children to think about.

    Thanks again John for the timely reminders
    Richard

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    1. Thanks Richard I too enjoyed this post But loved your reponse and mini story in reply..
      all the best

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