How to Work Effectively from Home.
Whether you are working remotely one or more days per week, or full-time by choice, or because of the current pandemic, it is important to ensure that you are set up to be productive. Create a designated workspace with the right technology and tools. Find ways of dealing with kids, pets, and other potential disruptions.
Know the ground rules
It is important that your employer spells out the ground rules and ensures that you have the appropriate equipment, such as a laptop, as well as network access, passcodes, and instructions for remote login, even two-factor authentication. Be sure to work out any problems that might impede your work. Does your employer require a nine-to-five schedule, or is there flexibility? Are you allowed to work on public Wi-Fi? Which tech tools such as Zoom, Slack or Microsoft Teams for communication, or Trello for project management or timekeeping software do you need?
Set up a functional workspace
Not everyone has a designated home office, but it is critical to have a private, quiet space for your work. If you can, separate your work area from your personal spaces and use it just for work, not for other activities. Also remember that there might be a tax benefit for you if you meet all the requirements. Ask your tax practitioner or hr/payroll department for more details.
Get the internet speed you need
If you have kids, make sure that they do not slow down your internet and download speeds.
Minimize distractions
If you have a barking dog or garden services working outside your window, consider investing in noise-cancelling headphones. And if the kids are home and you are without childcare, see if you and your spouse can take turns with care which may mean you have to talk to your manager about working evening hours.
Plan extra social interactions
Some folks love the thought of working in solitude, but even the most introverted among us can start feeling a little claustrophobic after a few weeks at home, alone, staring at the same project for long hours. It can get lonely. Be ready for that and try to schedule some connect-with-the-outside-world time, like a lunch date, a video chat with a friend, or an exercise class.
The Bottom Line
Working from home can be exciting, empowering and even profitable, provided you are realistic about the pros and cons. Whether you are a freelancer, a company part-timer, or a full-time employee who just does not hit the office on certain days, it is a way to escape the daily grind. But there are added responsibilities that come with freedom, not to mention planning, foresight, self-discipline, and focus. Oh, yes, and hours of uninterrupted hard work. As many home-based employees will tell you, it is not easier to work from home, it is just a different location.
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