
Working from home has many faces. A remote corporate job may create a very organized work environment while running an online business is usually a crazy ride with a lot of flexibility and mixed emotions. My life is a mix of both, so let me introduce you to all the things you should know about working from home.
If you read my blog, then there’s a big chance that you would love to work remotely and/or incorporate more flexibility into your everyday life. And indeed, recently more and more people have an opportunity to work from their homes.
I’m aware of the fact that in many corporate jobs, home office means doing boring stuff like answering emails, or only moving a computer mouse from time to time while cleaning your apartment.
Nevertheless, I assume you’re more ambitious than that, and you actually want to work from home effectively. Whether you’re an employee or you have your own company, you probably want to create the best possible work routine and have great results.
Before we move further, I need to emphasize one thing: the home office isn’t for everyone. Some people (including me) love it because they enjoy working without any outside pressure. And some people genuinely hate it because they don’t want their home to be associated with work.
Working from home is a blessing to self-disciplined, creative people—and a nightmare for those who love the clear boundaries between work and leisure.
Ok, so let’s dig into tips!
1. How to find remote work?
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.
2. Preparation: the gear, a to-do list and the mindset
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.
3. Energy management
Don’t manage your time, manage your energy!
Most of us don’t care about this topic because we don’t have control over our daily schedules. At corporations, standard office hours apply to everyone, no matter if they prefer to work in the morning or late at night. And this is why many people aren’t effective in their jobs, and therefore, aren’t happy with their careers.
A home office can be an excellent opportunity to test and find your perfect work schedule. This is what freelancers and business owners do every day. Their job is project-based, so they simply need to get things done, whenever, wherever.
When you have a home office, you usually can work whenever you have the most energy.
If you’re an early riser (like me), you can work in the mornings, and chill out later. And if you’re a night owl, you can have lazy mornings, but your most productive time begins when early birds nod off.
You can also relax in between chunks of work. Your choice!
4. The flow state
When you manage your energy well, you may experience a so-called flow state. It’s a very powerful mental state where you feel great and you are very productive: you’re focused, your goals seem clear, and you believe you can achieve them.
As you can imagine, being in a flow state enhances creativity dramatically and brings excellent results. Nevertheless, creating a flow of work isn’t easy, and it requires focusing on productivity and reducing distractions.
How I get into a flow state? I start a day with the most unpleasant task, I work on one thing at a time, and I use a 15-minute rule and Pomodoro technique. Read more about my productivity methods here.
5. Distractions
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 …
6. The blurred line between work and home
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.
7. Relaxing and days off
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 …
8. Time wasters
Social media and TV streaming platforms are great tools, but they can be huge time wasters! To avoid unnecessary distractions, turn them off completely, or even use some apps that block social media.
It’s easier said than done, so don’t be also too hard on you. If you know that denying yourself entirely from social media or TV will be too much of a challenge, plan your “distraction time”: set specific times of day to do whatever you want and don’t feel guilty about it. Watching one episode of your favorite show on Netflix is totally ok if it helps you relax. Just make sure it won’t escalate quickly into 10 episodes.
How about you?
What are your experiences with a home office?
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