Employment Spot

How to Work at Home Effectively

Many people who have tried working from home have found that their productivity and work suffered. Many new parents have tried working at home as a solution to their child care dilemma. Also, with the increasing number of baby boomers in ill health, many people have chosen to work at home to help care for aged or infirm parents. Workers with certain disabilities may find that working from home is the best solution to avoid travel and access problems. Finally, some careers, such as freelance writing, may require that an employee work independently out of an office. Renting office space may be too expensive or inconvenient for a freelance employee, so working from home may be the best solution. Whatever the reason, working at home may present challenges that working in an office or other workplace did not.

For example, working at home may decrease productivity or the quality of work. Some people who have tried working at home find that they cannot concentrate on the task at hand, or they become wrapped up in the duties of home life. Other people who have worked at home find that they must go to another location, such as a local library or coffee shop, to finish their assignments. Here are a few solutions to common working at home problems that everyone who has chosen this option should read:

• Time Management
  Create a schedule and stick with it. This may be very difficult for some people and relatively easy for others. Decide which sort of calendar system works best for you and dedicate some time to customizing it to your needs. For example, some people use computer or Internet calendars, while others like the traditional pen-and-paper method of keeping track of appointments. Time management is a habit like anything else, so commit yourself to the idea of following a detailed schedule for two weeks. It will be easier to follow a daily routine after this habit-forming period.
  
• Minimize Distractions
  For people who work from home to help care for dependent adults or small children, the level of distraction may be unbearable. Caring for minor children or an aged parent is a full time job in itself. If possible, hire a babysitter or home health aide to help you. If not possible, set boundaries for yourself and your children. Tell children they must play quietly in a certain part of the house for a specific period of time. Limit their mobility with child gates, and install a baby monitor so that you can hear them without having to get up from your desk and check on them every few minutes.
  
• Create a Home Office
  You will not be able to succeed when working at home without a dedicated space in which to work. Even if you work from a small apartment, create a desk space that only you use. Many furniture stores offer creative solutions to your small-space woes. For example, you could loft your bed and fit a desk underneath. Whatever your solution, make your home office as efficient and organized as possible. Create a filing system for important papers. Minimize the number of exposed power cords to reduce clutter. Hang a few professional photographs of places you have been or would like to go. Spend 10 minutes of each work day reorganizing and cleaning this space.
  
• Get a Second Line
  Avoid using your home telephone line as your office number. Many phone companies will install a second phone line for relatively little money. Get an answering machine for your new work number and record a professional greeting for colleagues or clients who call. Make every effort to answer this phone during regular business hours.
  
• Dress for the Office
  When you wake up each morning, prepare yourself for the day as though you were going to the office. Dress in a professional manner and groom yourself appropriately. This will help you wake up in the morning and will keep you in the office mindset throughout the day.
  
• Get Out of the House
  Many professionals who work from home are able to save valuable time and money since they do not commute to and from an office each day. Unfortunately, if you live and work in the same location, you may find yourself growing anxious with a case of cabin fever. Schedule time to leave your home each day. It does not matter whether you leave to grocery shop, see a movie or go for a jog, though physical exercise will help boost your energy level and outlook.
  
• Keep in Contact
  If you are a freelance employee or an independent contractor, this advice will apply less to you. For those who work at home as an alternative to heading into the office, stay in regular and effective contact with your supervisor and coworkers. Email daily progress reports and request information from office meetings. You never want your supervisor to feel as though now that you’re out of sight in the office, you are out of mind. Make yourself an essential contributor to the team, no matter where you work.

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