Getting Started

Working from home can be rewarding, fulfilling and profitable. It can also be frustrating, boring and tedious. Many new work from home pioneers are surprised to find that their work at home jobs can be difficult if they are not prepared for the task. There are a few tips that will help you get started in your next work from home job.

Manage Time Well

If you are used to the 9-5 routine, transitioning to working from home can be a culture shock. Without a specific list of tasks and an ever-present supervisor, it can be easy to waste time and allow your productivity to slip. Creating a schedule of tasks that you need to complete at the beginning of your workday is the best way to track your progress and avoid wasting time. Tracking your time will also allow you to get a clear picture of what your time is worth. You are less likely to spend the day lounging on the couch if you know that it will cost you $50 in lost revenue.

Be sure to schedule time for time for lunch and breaks when scheduling your workday. When you first start as a work from home employee, try to make your schedule closely resemble your schedule at your traditional 9-5 job. You can modify it as you become more used to working independently.

Create a Work Space

When you are working from home, it can be easy to blur the lines between work and home. This is especially troublesome if you have other family members at home who will be competing for your time and attention. Use a spare bedroom, a garage or even a closet as your personal work space. Experts suggest a room with a door to allow you to shut out distractions. Creating a separate area that is strictly for work will discourage you from doing non work-related tasks during your workday.

Let Your Friends & Family Know You’re Working From Home

Friends and family can be some of your best allies or worst enemies when you are working from home. While working from home allows you more time to spend with the ones you love, it can also mean having to deflect requests for personal favors while you are working. Many people who work from home complain that friends call them to chat during their working hours and get annoyed when their calls aren’t answered. Answer your phone in your company’s name during office hours and explain that you cannot talk because you are at work.

Teach children who are at home during your work hours the signals that you are working and are unavailable to talk. Close your door or create a pre-arranged signal that means you can’t be disturbed. Refuse to run errands for friends or do tasks that you would not be able to do if you were working outside of the home.

Don’t Work in Your Pajamas

One of the most frequent images that comes to mind when people think of working from home is the man in his pajamas sitting in front of the computer with a cup of coffee at his side. While it can be tempting to work in your pajamas, most seasoned work at home veterans advise against this. Getting up, showered and dressed helps you get into the mindset that you will be working. Your entire environment should encourage working and productivity, and getting dressed in work clothing will help create the image of a work environment. While it is not necessary to dress in a three-piece suit, getting dressed for work will help you to be more productive and discourage activities that detract from working.

Stick to Your Schedule

It doesn’t matter whether your work schedule is Monday-Friday from 9 to 5 or Wednesday-Sunday from midnight to six a.m. as long as you have a set schedule. Stick to your schedule and don’t allow outside distractions to keep you from your work. Avoid skipping days or switching your schedule mid-week unless absolutely necessary. Staying with your regular routine will allow you to be more productive and earn more money. It will also help to keep you in the “working” mindset that will allow you to stick with the work at home lifestyle in the long run.

Working from home can be both fun and rewarding while also being frustrating and difficult. The key to success in working from home is to remember that the benefits of working from home far outweigh any sacrifices you may have to endure as a result. Working from home allows you to enjoy a regular income while spending more time doing the things that you love with the people who matter most.