5 Productivity Tips for Working from Home

5 Productivity Tips for Working from HomeThinking about telecommuting? Although working from home can offer more flexibility than being in a traditional office, you still have to meet your employer's deadlines and expectations - and that takes discipline.

"Today, telecommuting is something that enters many of our work worlds, [so] we should all create spaces at home that are conducive to working there," says Heath Boice-Pardee, EdD, associate faculty member at the University of Phoenix School of Advanced Studies and community manager of the PhoenixConnect® academic social network.

Here are Boice-Pardee's tips for being productive at home:

1. Set boundaries.

A potential drawback of not being in an office is having no line of demarcation between your work and personal life. One way to avoid this is to set firm boundaries.

"Have a dedicated workspace," Boice-Pardee stresses, preferably with a door you can close to reduce noise and interruptions from the rest of the household so you can concentrate on your job. "When my family comes into my [home] office," he says, "it means my worlds are colliding, and it causes me anxiety."

He also recommends keeping separate phone lines and email accounts for work and personal use, and turning off work-related accounts outside of business hours so you can decompress at the end of your workday.

2. Maintain a schedule.

Although it's tempting to sleep late or run errands instead of working - don't. "It's very important to develop a schedule," Boice-Pardee emphasizes. "Maybe you'll get up at 7 am and do household chores until 8:30, then work until 11. You can take lunch or go to the gym for an hour, and then get back to work."

Telecommuting also can make holding meetings a challenge, especially if you work with people across multiple time zones. Flexibility is key, Boice-Pardee says, suggesting that people in the East schedule conference calls in the afternoon or early evening to accommodate colleagues in the West.

3. Be professional.

Just because your colleagues won't see you doesn't mean you should dress down, according to Boice-Pardee.

"While I don't wear my best suit when working at home, I can't be productive in my pajamas," he says, stressing that wearing business clothes and working at a desk or table instead of the couch can help you stay in your "work brain."

4. Stay connected.

Working from home can be isolating, so it's important to get out in order to remain productive, Boice-Pardee advises. "Work at a coffee shop or library, or have lunch with someone," he says, which can motivate you when you're feeling stir-crazy.

If you work from home full time, the need for face-to-face connections can be even more important, he notes. He recommends meeting with colleagues at least once or twice a year, even if you must travel. "You can conduct business via email or on the phone," he says, "but there's no replacement for building relationships in person."

5. Avoid diversions.

Your home has all kinds of distractions that can derail your best intentions to focus on your work. "Turn the TV off so you aren't tempted to watch it all day," Boice-Pardee advises. He also suggests that parents of small children get help with child care.

It's possible to do light housework during work hours and still be productive, Boice-Pardee believes, but he says juggling work and chores is not for everyone. "Some people," he notes, "just aren't made for that."
-By Jill Elaine Hughes

Working from Home: Its Harder Than You Think

For 2 years now I have had the opportunity that many people dream of. I get to work from home. When I mention what I do to people I get a wide variety of responses. Some think I'm the luckiest person alive with the greatest job in the world while others snicker, thinking its a euphemism for being unemployed. The numbers of people working from home has increased dramatically in the last decade. As technology improves, working from home will likely become a viable option for more people.
I enjoy the privileges of working from my home and all the financial benefits it brings. However, as great as it is, people fail to realize that working from home presents its own challenges and is a lot harder than people think.
Home is Full of Distractions
When you find your work from home job one thing that you will soon realize is that the house is full of distractions. There is the T.V., stereo, pets, children, games and a whole host of other things that will distract your mind from working. To make a success of a work from home venture, you need to set aside the times you are going to devote to your project. I am fortunate to work directly for a company that operates 24/7 so I can make my schedule how I choose. Some weeks I like working early mornings while others I sleep in and work later. The point is you need to find what works for you and set aside those hours for work just as if you were at a job.
You're Always at Work
When I first started working from home, I was amazed at how tired I was. Not physically but mentally. A fellow work from home colleague pointed out my problem. I had my work area in my bedroom. My thinking was I would get far more done if I worked in a place where I was comfortable. The problem however is that I could never switch off from the job. I'd try watching TV or relaxing with my work computer staring me in the face. I soon found I was returning to it, doing reports or other work tasks. It is true you need a comfortable work are but this needs to be separate from your living area. You need a place that when you are finished you can shut the door and leave for the night. Once I set up a separate office area I found I felt much better.
Isolation
Isolation is another problem many face when working from home. When at home you lack the company of work friends and colleagues and your life can become quite lonely. The problem can be even worse for those that are single. If your work from home, establish a social network both online and off. Make sure you don't lose contact with the outside word.
I have thoroughly enjoyed working from home and can't imagine doing anything else. However it has taken me some time to get the right balance and learned to discipline myself to make the venture a success.

Motivation and Working from Home

Working from home can be one of the most rewarding ways to develop your business. It can also come with a fair amount of unavoidable challenges. One of the most challenging issues facing work from home professionals is staying motivated! Self discipline and maintaining motivation is one of the most common reasons work at home businesses fail. It is fair to say that it can be quite difficult to maintain self discipline without a boss lurking over your head. It is far to easy to get side-tracked and lose focus when you are on your own. However, understanding the framework behind motivation might make a difference. Bear with the psycho-babble just for a minute., it will shed a new light on motivation. Coming from a psychological point of view, the framework for staying or increasing motivation is meeting your psychological needs of competence; autonomy; relatedness. In a nutshell, autonomy refers to one's ability to make choices for themselves . Competence is the possession of a required skill, knowledge or capacity and relatedness is the process of kinship or being connected to someone with like-minded goals (Reeves, 2009).
Keeping these psychological needs in mind, here are 5 Tips for meeting those needs and increasing your motivation.
1) Structure is important, but so is balance. Make a schedule that works for you, you are in charge. Make sure you schedule time for yourself and those that are important to you. Listen to your favorite music, meditate or just take a walk in the park. Getting in touch with your soul opens up your creative channels and increases energy levels.
2) Don't let daunting tasks overwhelm you. If you break large projects into smaller more "do-able" tasks, the less likely you are to get burnt out. Stepping away from a large project and then returning to it later brings on new perspectives and new ideas. Breaking it down and setting mini deadlines will allow you to complete a quality project while still meeting your final deadline.
3) Keep Learning - You have already proven you have the competence necessary to start your own business, but never stop learning. Take a class in something that interests you, begin a new hobby or check out an educational video from the library on a topic that always interested you. It doesn't have to take much time or cost any money to educate yourself. Learning only increases the capacity for the creative process.
4) Start networking with like-minded people. Find a blog or forum that peaks your interest. Learning from others and bouncing ideas back and forth is a great way to get those creative juices flowing. Networking is not only a great way to enhance creativity but it is also a great way to meet prospective clients. Certainly, money and new business is always a great way to enhance motivation.
5) Think outside the box and expose yourself to new cultures or things that are outside your comfort zone. A culture shock from time to time reinvigorates the senses and often leads to a curiosity of cultural differences. Go to a renaissance fair, volunteer at a homeless shelter or rent a foreign film, whatever you enjoy.

Working from Home – Tips and Tricks to Make the Most of Your Time

When I started working from home, over a decade ago, legitimate jobs were very scarce. However, over the last 10 years, the market has changed and many more businesses are incorporating the home worker into their staff.
The biggest obstacle you have to face when working at home is you. You have to become your own boss, even if you are working for a company. Here are a few lessons I have learned along the way that will help you if you are just getting started in your own work at home position.
Make a designated work area: Without a space designed for your work, you are liable to get side tracked. If you work at the kitchen table, you might find you need to do the dishes instead of the report your boss needs. Having a home office is necessary for you to be the most productive.
Set your work hours: For me this isn't optional, I work the same hours as my co-workers who are in the office, which is 8:30-5:30. However, if your job is flexible, make sure you designate your hours so you can tell family and friends, who may try to stop by, that these are your work hours. You may find it necessary to use a time tracker, especially if you are freelance or work odd hours. There are software programs such as easytimetracking.net, however be aware that most of these come with a subscription cost.
Remind family and friends this is your job: For me it took a while for my family and friends to realize that I was actually working and not just at home watching soap operas and eating Ice cream. Eventually, most of them got it, but I still have the occasional friend who will call around 1pm in the afternoon and act surprised that I am still working.
Take breaks: Honestly, I still struggle with this one. Oftentimes, lunch is in front of the computer while I am working. I am trying to be better at taking a lunch break, walking outside on the porch to get some fresh air. Just the act of standing up and stretching your legs every hour or so is not only beneficial but also crucial.
Respect your employer: If you are on a salary position, as I am, remember that your employer is paying you to work for them during that time. Not to play on the computer, watch television, or clean house. You need to respect your employer and the position you have and give them the time they are paying for.
A few simple rules and guidelines, and working from home can be a successful endeavor for both you and your employer. If your employer doesn't offer work from home opportunities and this is something you are interested in, check out ClarkHoward.com. He gives a list of legitimate work-from-home opportunities.