Working From Home Tips

Some people dream about the idea of working from home but it can have its pitfalls. Working from home can have its advantages. You can save the time that you would be commuting to and from work.  You are less like to get sick from other co-workers. Your time could be more flexible to do other things. It is a great way to start your own business. There can be some tax advantages and deductions.

There can be some downsides as well. First, there are two extremes that can result from working from home.  One is that you don’t take your job as seriously because you are working from home.  There are more distractions-the dog, kids, your spouse, TV, etc. The other extreme is that your home becomes your office and you don’t stop working.  You feel you are always on call and you jump into action whenever an opportunity arises. You feel you are never off the clock.  This can cause issue with your health and your relationships.

No matter if you are working at the office or at home you can get more work done by implementing technology. Use online meetings to meet with more people without traveling. Adding additional monitors to your computer can dramatically increase your production by being able to view two or more screens at the same time. Use online scheduling with automated reminders. Always be learning to stay relevant in the workforce.

The best thing you can do is to try to find the proper balance.  It takes some time and some discipline no matter which end of the scale you are on.  What can you do to take control?

Here are some tips to be more effective:

• Plan out your work schedule and put it in writing so everyone knows when you are working.
• Have a space dedicated for work.  Be in it when you are working and stay out of it when you are not.
• Limit the distractions while you are working.
• Research and use technology to be more productive while working from home.