Working from home is a great way to make a living and support yourself or your family. There are many positions available and employers who offer employees the opportunity to work in the comfort of their homes.
This can be a great solution if you’re a busy mum trying to raise a family and have a career. The following tips will help you better understand how to ensure a positive and productive work-from-home experience so you can successfully navigate your situation.
Secure a Dedicated Office Space
Your first order of business when you work at home is to identify a home office space for yourself. Make sure it’s a dedicated room or area where you can close the door when need be. Set it up so that you have a sturdy desk and comfortable chair to sit on and plenty of organisational tools and solutions in place. Apply fresh paint in a calming yet inspiring paint colour to the walls and hang a few pieces of artwork or pictures that spark your creativity and inspire you.
Eliminate any Distractions
The reality is that there are going to be distractions you must deal with when you work from home and have a family or pets. Depending on who is living in your home you can look into hiring a nanny or using home care services if you have an elderly parent or family member living with you. This way you can focus on what you’re doing while knowing they are being cared for. Also, turn off your phone and email notifications when you’re working on important tasks that require your full concentration.
Stay Connected
Ensure a positive and productive work from home experience by staying connected to others such as your boss, coworkers, and your friends and family. It can be easy to isolate yourself or feel isolated when you work at home. Use technology such as video conferencing and online chat to keep in touch. If you have employees under you then be sure to schedule regular check-ins so you can confirm they’re on track with their assignments and you can answer any questions they have.
Maintain A Work-Life Balance
Another way you can improve your work-from-home experience is to maintain a work-life balance. When you’re at home and have access to your work and job tasks it can be tempting to want to work more hours and be connected around the clock. However, this isn’t healthy and you may lose steam and be less productive overall. Implement a routine that you can follow and take breaks to get water and eat lunch like you would if you were in a physical office environment. Set working hours and stick to them so that you don’t create a situation for yourself where you feel exhausted.
Conclusion
This advice is a great starting point for getting you set up to work at home and have a positive and productive time doing so. While it can be a tricky adjustment initially if you approach it in the right manner you’ll likely discover that you enjoy the flexibility it offers and that you can get your work done on time.