If you have your own business, then, of course, you have full decisiveness about the place you work from. But even if you’re an employee, working from home is a very achievable dream.

Of course, in a corporate job, there might be strict home office rules you need to follow. But in any other case, you may have a significant impact on your working environment.

Sometimes all you need to do is ask. Just ensure your employer that you’ll get the job done.

It may take some time, though.

My job started as a “normal” office job, but after a while, I’ve started to ask for a home office more and more often. Since it worked, now I have full flexibility about it.

When you’re good at what you do, you have more negotiating power to ask for things that are important to you.

PS. Recently, the home office has been a must for many people because of the coronavirus outbreak. If you’re one of these people, make the most of your time at home. Find out what works for you.

First, think about the equipment you’ll need. Don’t get surprised by technical trivialities that could make your work impossible. A good computer is usually enough.

Second, make a list of tasks you want to accomplish in a specific time or on a particular day. This will help you track your progress and get focused on what needs to be done. Try a “three things a day” rule—I wrote about it in this post.

Third, prepare yourself mentally. You’ll have more flexibility, but also more responsibility. Be ready to take full responsibility for your results.

If you change your working place from an open space to your home, the difference may be quite huge. You step out of the busy office life, all the gossip, the unimportant meetings—and you step into a room with only your thoughts (or sometimes with your family around). There are definitely fewer distractions and more possibilities to focus without being interrupted.

But it doesn’t always work this way. If you live in a city center, your working hours may bring more noise and interruptions than you would expect. If you live with your family or roommates, you’ll probably have many occasions to talk, and it can be difficult to set boundaries.

And this brings us to another topic …

One of the advantages of an office job is the fact that you often break out of your role as an employee the moment you leave the building. Without access to your computer at work and without your colleagues around, you change the environment completely.

When you work at home, separating work from leisure time is difficult. Some people tend to overwork, others let the time slip through their fingers. Finding a golden mean can be difficult. Besides, it’s hard to relax in a place you associate with work—therefore, creating some work areas and living areas in your home is crucial.

If you have a home office while working full-time, you probably have no problem differentiating working days from weekends and holiday time. But when your salary is based on the effects of your work (e.g., sales), or you work as a freelancer, sometimes you deny yourself the pleasure of having a day off or going for even a short vacation.

Wrong! Having regular days off is crucial if you want to stay productive. Without time to relax, you don’t allow yourself to distance yourself from your work and think about the big picture and some strategic moves. I have my best ideas when I’m not working—you should try it, too!

Also, don’t forget to relax during the day. Going for a short walk, meditation, a yoga/sports break, or simply drinking delicious coffee for a while, can help you gather your thoughts and clear your head.

Nevertheless, beware of the notorious …