Making working from home work

The changing economy has many us of working from home. It does not matter if you have started your own business or your company is allowing you to telecommute; the problems of working at home are all the same. Below is a guide of things to consider when working at home.

1. Work time is work time- If you have a telecommuting job or an at home business chances are you will be conducting your business 9 to 5. It is really imperative that you let your kids know and neighbors who will drop by just because you are now home during business hours you are still at work. If you have the luxury of setting your own hours do so within a structure of some sort. Trying to do laundry and work will not improve your productivity? Mixing child rearing, housework, and kids, and work is better left to domestic super hero’s then common mortals.
2. Don’t under do it or over do it.- Most of us know if we are inclined to be workaholics or slackers ;and this will effect how well we can work at home. Mentally set limits to how much free time and work time you are going to allow yourself. Working every waking moment will leave you less productive and inclined to burnout. Working too little may leave you without income or without a telecommuting job.
3. Plan your space and supplies- Plan your home office in a way that gets it out of the main traffic areas of the house. If you can not have an office in a room off by itself make sure everyone in your household knows that the kitchen table is your office during work hours and should be treated as such.

Before your first ‘work day” at home think of all the supplies you would need at a regular office. There is nothing more frustrating than to be in the middle of a project and finding you lack some essential item.

Organize your desk in a way you would at a normal office. Don’t let the kids’ History project live on your desk because they were using your computer. I also found I ate more at my desk at home than I did in the office. I found it helpful for the crumb in the keyboard factor and the weight factor to ban food from my own desk.

Working from home is not as exotic as it sounds, but it can work for the benefit of you and your whole household with a little planning.