Do you need some working from home tips to make it easier to transition to remote work?
More and more people are starting to work from home or are becoming location independent and traveling while they work, such as those who backpack, RV, or sail full-time.
If you’re new to working from home, you quickly realize that it’s not as easy as it may seem. In the beginning when you’re new it may seem like a great thing, but it can easily turn sour if you are not careful with how you use your time.
Just because you are working from home doesn’t mean that you all of a sudden have 8-10 hours a day of free time – you will still be expected to WORK!
The only thing that has changed is WHERE you are working.
I have been working from home and while traveling since 2013 – so for around 7 years now!
I know many people often dream about working from home and/or being location independent. And there are a lot of great things about working from home.
You don’t have to drive to work (no more commute? YES!), you can wear your pajamas if you’d like, and more. You may even be able to have a more flexible schedule.
Being able to work from home and/or be location independent can be a great thing. I know this because I’ve been working from home for several years now, and I truly love it.
However, there are many things a person needs to keep in mind if they want to work from home (or on the road, while traveling, etc.) and that is why I am publishing this post today about my top working from home tips.
I know several people who have tried working from home only to find that they have a hard time getting anything done. While I’m not one of those people (I love working from home), I know there are certain things that may hold you back if you’re not careful.
This is why it’s important to realize that working from home doesn’t mean you are retired. I’ve honestly heard from people who said they felt that way at first, but quickly realized that wasn’t the case at all.
You still have work that needs to be completed, and you still have to earn a living. Cutting out your commute, being able to wear your pajamas, and being your own boss all may seem like great positives, but you have to remember that you still have a job.
Here are my best working from home tips so that you can be as productive as possible, while still maintaining a good work and life balance.
Content related to working from home tips for success:
15 working from home tips:
1. Set working hours for yourself.
Even though you are working from home and you probably don’t have anyone looking over your shoulder to see what you are doing all day long, I still recommend having clear work hours. This will help you manage your time, complete your work, and “leave” work for the day.
You will want to schedule your day so you have:
A start time
Lunch break
End time
Anything else that you would normally do to break apart your work day
Even if you can have the most flexible schedule in the world, it’s usually wise to still have somewhat of a work schedule. This way you can mentally get into the “work zone” each day and have fewer distractions.
I find that I am most productive when I “get up and go to work.” Even though that might mean I am working at the kitchen table – I get myself into the mindset that I am working.
2. Create a dedicated work area.
Similar to sticking to a work schedule, having a dedicated work area can help you work better due to the fact that you will be in a spot in your home that is used just for work.
This can help you separate work and life, be more organized, and be able to concentrate better.
Also, if you have anyone else in your home while you are working, it will be more clear to them that you are busy at work, so that they will be less likely to bother you.
Your dedicated work area doesn’t have to be an office – you can use your dining room table, spare bedroom, extra room in your basement, etc. But, if you are able to have an actual office space in your house for working only, you may be able to write that off on your taxes.
3. Exercise regularly.
When working from home, it can be quite easy to sit in one spot all day long. This is one of the working from home tips that many people don’t expect.
Unlike with going to work where you may have to walk into work, walk to someone’s desk, and so on, you may find yourself getting a lot less movement in your day when you work from home.
By exercising regularly, you can stay healthy, refresh yourself, and clear your mind.
This may mean going for a jog in the middle of your work day, going for a walking break outside, or simply doing a workout routine once your work day is over.
4. Hire help if you need it.
Outsourcing work can help you focus more on tasks that you need to complete, find “experts” who can do certain tasks better than you (such as accounting or legal work), manage a better work-life balance, and more.
You don’t have to only hire help for your work either. You can hire help for both work and home life. This could mean finding a virtual assistant, a nanny, a housekeeper, and so on.
I know it can be hard to feel okay spending money on outside help, but outsourcing often makes you more productive so you can earn more money.
5. Cut out distractions.
While social media and TV may be great at times, you have to be careful so that it’s not impacting your work in a negative way.
Working from home means that your coworkers or boss aren’t watching over your shoulder, and this can cause you to become more distracted. Due to this, it’s always a good idea to cut out things such as social media, TV, and so on while you are working so that you can be more efficient with your time.
This may even mean downloading cell phone apps that minimize your screen time, so that you are forced to cut out distractions. I even know of some people who put their phone in another room so they aren’t tempted to look at it while they are working.
6. Socialize with others.
Working from home can make some people feel a little lonely at times. You don’t have the normal socialization that you may receive when you go into an office, which can make you feel like you are cut off from the world.
There are still many ways to socialize with others. You could join a club, hang out with friends, call coworkers, or even work in a shared space with small business owners.
7. Don’t run errands for others all day long.
There’s a common myth that people who work from home don’t actually do anything all day. This sometimes leads to friends and family members asking for favors from those who work from home.
Many of my online work friends are constantly asked to babysit, run errands, and so on from others. While the occasional favor may not be so bad, of course, these favors often start with, “I know you have nothing to do today so will you…”
If you have the time and you want to, by all means say yes to every favor. But, I believe you need to be realistic with yourself and those around you, and this is one of my most important working from home tips. Running errands all day for others can prevent you from completing work, and it can also cost you money.
8. Make sure you take breaks.
This may not apply to all work from home jobs, but for many people, working from home means you may have a flexible schedule. So, as long as you get your work done, you can most likely take any breaks that you think you deserve or need, and this is a big perk of working from home.
This is something I highly recommend that everyone who works from home do, but I also know it can be hard sometimes.
A break can help you feel more refreshed so that you can work better. Whenever I am feeling stuck with work, I always take a break and that almost always helps.
9. Connect with other people who are working from home.
One of the best pieces of working from home advice I was given was to connect with other people in my field. So, I found other bloggers to connect with via email, and we eventually started a mastermind group with one another.
Most of the time we talk about how to grow our businesses, but we often talk about tips, advice, and struggles we have with working from home.
If someone has never worked at home, they probably won’t understand certain aspects of your day. Even your spouse, partner, family, or friends may not get it, and having a group of others who understand you feels great.
10. Find tools and apps to make working from home easier.
There are so many great tools on the internet that can help you work from home. You can use workflow management software like Asana, make the best out of Google calendar, or even just use reminders on your phone.
This is one of the tips for working from home effectively that can really change how you structure your day so you actually get stuff done.
11. Explain what working from home means to those in your life.
Like I’ve said, some people around you may not understand what working from home means, like some people may ask you for favors because they think you do nothing all day. This is why I recommend this as one of my best working from home tips.
When you start your new remote work life, set some boundaries with those around you. Tell the people in your life if there are certain times they shouldn’t bother you, that you might not pick up the phone right away, etc.
Others probably aren’t sure what working from home really means, and they will happily respect your boundaries once you tell them what they are.
12. Ask for what you need.
This is one of my top working from home tips for those who are employed by someone else and not self-employed. If your employer needs you to work remotely, they may supply you with the equipment you need to work from home.
Your employer may provide a computer, desk, ergonomic chair, keyboard, mouse, etc. Large companies often have a budget for these things, and you just need to ask.
13. Take time off work when you are sick.
Taking time off when you are sick is a hard thing for even those who go into work, but it’s especially hard if you work from home.
I have to admit that this is one of my working from home tips that I wasn’t always very good with.
Just because you work from home doesn’t mean that you need to work while you are sick. Yes, you may be more comfortable working from home, but take time off so you can rest and feel better. You will get better soon and be better at your job when you are healthy.
14. Create routines for the beginning and end of your day.
When you start working from home, you lose some of the routines that come with going to work and leaving for the day. So, it can be helpful to create new ones.
You may want to start your day by going for a short walk, getting a cup of coffee, going over your daily schedule, then opening your work emails.
You could end your day by organizing your schedule for the next day, shutting down all of your work apps, and then going for another short walk.
This is one of the working from home tips that will help you feel like you are “going” to work everyday, and can establish boundaries with the rest of your day.
15. Enjoy your new career working from home.
In the end, you need to remember to have fun. There are a lot of benefits to working from home, and it’s important to take advantage of them when you can.
Spend more time with your family, be successful with your career choice, do things that you’ve always wanted to do, and more.
Being able to work from home is one of the best things I’ve been able to do. It allows me to spend more time with Wes, travel full-time, have a flexible schedule, and more. I know it can be hard at times, but with these tips for working remotely, you’ll adjust and love it too!
Do you think you’d like working from home? What are your top working from home tips?
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