The dream of many employees is to sit around their homes in their pajamas and work off of a laptop. Okay, while some may have different visions of how working from home will go down, you get the picture.
If you’re someone with an offer to work from home, will you take it? Whether working for someone or running your own home business; avoid distractions.
For many individuals, the biggest distraction in working from home can be themselves. No matter how hard they try, they find a way or ways to distract them. As such, the work never gets done.
In order for you to be a productive home worker, what will it take?
Being Disciplined and Focused
So that you are able to get the most out of your home working opportunities, remember these tips:
- Discipline
Above all else, can you stay disciplined enough to work out of your home?
For instance, what if you live blocks from the beach or downtown? Will you tempt fate to go off and relax under the sun or explore the shops and other businesses?
Staying disciplined means your work will always come first no matter what temptations. Remember, it is that work keeping a roof over your head in the first place.
Once you’re done with your work for the day, feel free to go out and relax and explore as much as you want.
- Focus
Staying focused while working from home can be tricky at times.
Among the disruptions you can have:
- Children wanting your attention
- Your significant other is also demanding your attention
- Having work done on your home or apartment all the time
- Unwanted phone calls
As for those unwanted phone calls, you do have an option or two there.
One trick is doing a reverse phone search.
Such a search allows you to find out where that call or calls originates from. Often, it may be telemarketing, something you likely do not have time for.
It is also important that you let family and friends know that work from home is not a joke. Some people feel as if those working out of their homes have all kinds of time for things other than their jobs.
In a nice way, be clear that your work time is important to you.
- Hours
Finally, the hours you set at home are important.
While you may very well have flexibility with those hours, try and keep as close to a 9-to-5 schedule as possible. This is even more so if those are the hours you worked for others in the past.
The last thing you want to do is veer off course of what you’re used to for the most part. If working for someone from home, remind them you are not a doctor on call 24/7.
Some employers might think that to be the case since you are working out of your house.
The same holds true if you run a business out of your home. You do have other things to do on your non-work hours.
Remember, earning money for your business is what keeps you solvent.
Whether the work from home is for your employer or for you as a self-employed individual, make it count.
About the Author: Dave Thomas covers small business topics on the web.
