At last, you've realised your dream. You no longer have to take part in the morning and evening commute, you don't have to get involved anymore in petty office politics and you are free to do as you please - you're working from home.
Mostly, it's down to common sense but all too often what seems like common sense is only viewed with the benefit of hindsight.
Firstly some dos.
Do talk it over with others who live in the house. This is after all your and their living space and all parties need to have agreed that part of the family home can be used this way.
Do check it out with your insurance and mortgage companies as there may be clauses that need amending or could even prevent it. It's unlikely but check it anyway.
Do take into account the type of business you're running. If you're providing a service or information, space for a desk is all you really need but if you're selling products, where are you going to store them? A garage and a spare bedroom full of cartons might not be appreciated.
Do be disciplined. When you no longer go out to work, that fact that you still need to work can get sort of lost. See your day as still a working day. Decide how many hours you want or need to work and then stick to them. There has to be flexibility in this of course, otherwise a major advantage to working from home is wasted, but some sort of regular work pattern is best.
From my experience, I know of people working from home who need to feel that they're in work mode to operate and who dress as if they're going to the office. Not necessarily the suit, collar and tie but in a dressed down, smart casual way. Sitting in front of the computer or on the phone in pajamas just doesn't work for them. If it does for you then that's a bonus and a saving on clothes bills.
Now some don'ts.
Don't be distracted. When you're employed, you work according to your contract. You arrive and leave at certain times and you do the work that's expected of you in that time. Working from home has many potential temptations and distractions to undermine that ethic. There's something you want to watch on the TV, it would be a great day to take the dog to the park, the CD/DVD collections needs cataloguing, the lawn needs cutting - the list is endless.
Don't publish your home telephone number. This is very relevant if you're promoting a website which shows your number. The web is global, even if you're only operating within your own area or country. I speak from experience as I've been woken in the early hours by people calling from the other side of the World and answering business calls when you're still half asleep isn't a good idea! Get a dedicated business line and an answering service.
Don't become too isolated. It's important to remember that most likely you were part of a community when you went to work. You had colleagues with whom you discussed last night's tv, and who shared a common goal with you in that you worked together with the same aim. When you work from home, that goes. You can still have contact over the telephone or via email but unless you have a home that's the neighborhood drop-in coffee shop, you will not be meeting many people. Understand this and make time and space for human contact.
Working from home is a bonus. Make the most of it but be aware of the potential hazards.
by: Andrew Poole
Article Source: ABC Article Directory
Andrew Poole was CEO of a Financial Services Company in the UK and is now creating his own Internet Marketing venture For your FREE copy of the definitive 'How to' guide for budding Internet Marketers, visit: http://www.homeworkinternet.com/
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How to set up a home office ...
Before you set up a work station at home, check out our Seven Top Tips on how to work from home:
Your Home Office
Ideally, you will have a spare room to create a home office. If not, a corner of another room, will be fine as long as you are not constantly distracted in the family fast lane. Set up your kitSet up your computer, files and phone to give you maximum comfort for long hours. Have enough plug points for PC, printer, phone, scanner, mobile charger, fax machine and answer phone. Even better get an all in once mod con to save on a jumble of cables and wires.
Pick your desk location
You should be able to see the door of the office from where you are sitting or at least more of your surroundings. Beware of facing the garden and the bird bath – too tempting to watch the world go by! A hard chair will give you backache so spend a little extra on a good one.
Working Hours
Working outside 'normal' working hours helps to balance your work and home life so don't feel guilty dashing off to take the lads to footie after school, as long as you get your work done. Catching up in the early morning or later in the evening works well, but also watch out for going OTT. Make sure you close down and walk away at some point or the family will go hungry.
Have a breather
No matter what kind of work you do or what home you do it in, you can go bonkers if you spend 24 hours a day at it. Get out, whenever you can, to clear your head and to see other people. Use lunch time as a good break to pop down to pick up groceries for dinner, step outside to feed the birds during your coffee break or walk the dog around the block to clear the cobwebs. This is also a great way to mull over a document or get inspiration for new ideas.
Keep in Touch
Have no fear that your social life at work comes to an end if you leave your office to work from home, in fact in some cases your relationship with your colleagues may improve. Email is instant but be careful of 'funnies' – they can eat up a huge chunk of time. Chat through business issues by phone and meet for a quick bite every now and then.
Goal scoring
Give yourself little goals and objectives and then reward yourself when they are complete. Make sure family and friends know your hours or days of working at home and stick to that. Don't be tempted to pop over for a coffee or cook a large meal. Give yourself this time as a reward for getting up early on a Monday to finish a long-winded report. Or if you score well with a new client take five to put your feet up before the school run. Whatever incentives work for you, use them to motivate yourself to balance your time around your other responsibilities.
If you have any suggestions on working from home, please submit your articles to grace@remoteemployment.com.
Your Home Office
Ideally, you will have a spare room to create a home office. If not, a corner of another room, will be fine as long as you are not constantly distracted in the family fast lane. Set up your kitSet up your computer, files and phone to give you maximum comfort for long hours. Have enough plug points for PC, printer, phone, scanner, mobile charger, fax machine and answer phone. Even better get an all in once mod con to save on a jumble of cables and wires.
Pick your desk location
You should be able to see the door of the office from where you are sitting or at least more of your surroundings. Beware of facing the garden and the bird bath – too tempting to watch the world go by! A hard chair will give you backache so spend a little extra on a good one.
Working Hours
Working outside 'normal' working hours helps to balance your work and home life so don't feel guilty dashing off to take the lads to footie after school, as long as you get your work done. Catching up in the early morning or later in the evening works well, but also watch out for going OTT. Make sure you close down and walk away at some point or the family will go hungry.
Have a breather
No matter what kind of work you do or what home you do it in, you can go bonkers if you spend 24 hours a day at it. Get out, whenever you can, to clear your head and to see other people. Use lunch time as a good break to pop down to pick up groceries for dinner, step outside to feed the birds during your coffee break or walk the dog around the block to clear the cobwebs. This is also a great way to mull over a document or get inspiration for new ideas.
Keep in Touch
Have no fear that your social life at work comes to an end if you leave your office to work from home, in fact in some cases your relationship with your colleagues may improve. Email is instant but be careful of 'funnies' – they can eat up a huge chunk of time. Chat through business issues by phone and meet for a quick bite every now and then.
Goal scoring
Give yourself little goals and objectives and then reward yourself when they are complete. Make sure family and friends know your hours or days of working at home and stick to that. Don't be tempted to pop over for a coffee or cook a large meal. Give yourself this time as a reward for getting up early on a Monday to finish a long-winded report. Or if you score well with a new client take five to put your feet up before the school run. Whatever incentives work for you, use them to motivate yourself to balance your time around your other responsibilities.
If you have any suggestions on working from home, please submit your articles to grace@remoteemployment.com.
Remote Work
Remote Employment is a brand new online recruitment site specialising in remote working and home based appointments, professional jobs working from home, home based career opportunities, high quality office-home job combinations and flexible work positions that can be effectively managed away from the office.
Register to find professional, jobs working from home and self employed home based business opportunities. Search to find Candidates, Freelancers, Consultants and creative projects.
Register to find professional, jobs working from home and self employed home based business opportunities. Search to find Candidates, Freelancers, Consultants and creative projects.
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