How To Work From Home And Still Be Productive
Working from home can be a blessing and a challenge for anyone. As most, if not all of our clients know, Parachute is made up of several specialists all working from individual home offices.
Yes, that’s right, we all enjoy the flexibility of making our own hours, adventurous lunches, and doing laundry when know when else is around. Lucky for us this type of work environment is where we excel and are most productive. Not everyone works as well in this work model however. Many friends, family and colleagues have asked how we can work from home and still function at our best.
Well, today we’re happy to share our insider secrets!
In no particular order…
Create A Professional Workspace
For some, setting up a laptop at the kitchen table and grabbing the cordless phone is enough to create an efficient workspace. For most of us we need a little more. Take the time to create a workspace that is professional, but not too comfortable. If you make your space too cozy, you may find yourself getting a little too relaxed and your work will start to suffer. Your environment should make you feel like working. If you don’t get that feeling right away, consider moving the furniture around or buying new furniture altogether!
Set Regular Work Hours
We’re guilty of breaking this rule on a regular basis. Try not to work so much that you lose track of your home and/or social life. Though we can often get into a groove and just ride the wave while we feel like we’re being super-productive, it’s best to set regular work hours and call it quits at the end of the day. There’s always tomorrow!
Get An Early Start
One of the biggest misconceptions people have is that working from home will allow you to sleep in and start work whenever you want. This is true. However, to be successful and productive from home you have to remember that the rest of the world is working the 9:00 to 5:00 and if you’re going to manage successful relationships with your clients, you need to be available on their time.
This will often prevent daily distractions if you’re up and at `em bright and early with the rest of them.
Create And Maintain A Solid Work Ethic
Those of us who have ever worked in an office environment know that they are designed around rules and discipline. Some of us may find it hard to work without this daily structure and routine. One trick to being successful while working from home is to create a work ethic that not only is comfortable for you, but also meets all your goals and deadlines. Once you’ve figured out your routine stick with it!
Avoid Distractions
One of the most notorious aspects of working from home are distractions. Definitely the most often asked question I receive when the subject comes up. If you’re going to be productive from home you first need to ignore or shut out any distractions. Not always as easy as it sounds, but once you get into a daily routine you’ll be surprised at how much easier this becomes.
Try to avoid spending copious amounts of time emailing friends, reading non-work related blogs, surfing YouTube, etc.
Set Daily Goals
For some people, setting daily goals is a surefire way to keep on track throughout the workday. As with any workplace there may be occasional interruptions that prevent us from getting all our work done in a day, but with the advantage of working from home you’re a step ahead with the ability to go the extra mile to meet any goals or deadlines you’ve set for the day while everyone else is sitting in rush hour traffic.
Know Yourself
When working from home you may find yourself losing track of time and working far more hours and more often than you would if you could leave your work “at the office”. Pay close attention to yourself and make and effort to take breaks throughout the day to keep your mind fresh and focused. If you find yourself slumped over at the computer staring into space, don’t be afraid to call it quits and get some rest. You can make a fresh start the next day.
Don’t Be Afraid To Say “No”
Sometimes friends or family will attempt to steal you away from your work as they sometimes make the assumption that because you work from home you have complete flexibility and can make up the time later on. Don’t be afraid to say “no” and make them respect your time.
Keep Your Social Life
Working from home can sometimes leave you feeling cut off from the rest of the world, especially if you have no one else to talk to throughout the day. Lucky for me, Charlie is around during the day and always seems to know when it’s a good time to take a break and go for a walk. If you’re not lucky enough to have a dog around that is willing to keep an eye on you, don’t be afraid to meet a friend for lunch or run down the street for a coffee break
Ask For Other’s Opinions
If you’re creating all your work from home with no outside input, it can sometimes make it difficult to solve day-to-day problems, which ultimately wastes your time. Don’t be afraid to bounce ideas of colleagues or ask for their opinion on a matter when you get stuck on something.
Reward Hard Work
As I mentioned earlier, we sometimes get in a groove and end up working a few extra hours if things are rolling along in top gear. When this happens, don’t be afraid to give yourself an extra hour or two of free time the next day. This will ensure you’re well rested and that you stay sharp and on-task when you’re back at it.
Embrace Your Flexibility
One of the most obvious advantages of working from home is your flexibility. Before making use of this gift, be sure to set boundaries and not to take advantage of it. If you can tackle some daily chores or tasks during regular work hours that may save you time later in the day, go for it. Don’t forget you can always make up the extra time later on – within reason of course.
