Image provide by Hangout Lifestyle via Flickr
Set a schedule and stay on it!
One of the major benefits of working from home is that should a situation arise you can be flexible. That said, it is best to set up a schedule and timetable, just like you would do in the office. One of the greatest difficulties of working from home is telling yourself to stop working. Therefore, it is best to define when the work day starts and finishes. This will give you, your work colleagues and your family structure to your day and ensure that you have enough time to dedicate to both work and play.
Call in reinforcements
It really helps to have a supportive partner. My wife is a teacher, so she needs to do a lot of home work as well! So to make sure we are both able to work and look after the kids we take it in turns to work at the computer while the other looks after the children. Alternatively take the kids out the house, take them to a park, or read to them, while your partner does some work.
Make yourself a dedicated work space
If you’re working from home , it is best to have a dedicated space just for your work. You don’t need to spend a lot of money renovating your garage into an office, but you should have some kind of desk space. This space should be in a place where you can concentrate, whether for work or phone calls. You should see this as an occasion to make an office you could really work at. You can do this quite cost effectively by searching through sites like eBay or Craigslist with online transportation websites, i.e. uShip, who always have dependable transporters looking for good courier jobs.
Kit your home out with the best WiFi
When it comes to working remotely, reliance on your internet connection is of absolute importance. While some internet providers might promise the world when it comes to their internet speeds and connectivity, the reality is often very different.
That’s why it’s important to shop around for internet providers and to compare them both in price and performance. You can easily find internet availability by address in order to find the best and most responsive option for you and your home’s needs.
Use naptimes effectually
Get the most significant work done and out the way when the house is quiet because your children are sleeping. Try to work right through nap times. You can also get a major amount done if you wake up an hour before your kids and work or if the idea of waking up early sounds too nasty, work for an hour after they go to bed.
Know the other places in your area – and leave the house!
We all need a change of scenery occasionally. Chances are there are a good number of great secondary places where you can get your work done beside your house so make a conscious effort to get out and work someplace else. Your local library or coffee shop will likely have free wireless and space for you to spend some time and work undisturbed.
Complete separation of work and life is ineffective. Working from home can be a good change allowing you to spend more time with your family but also more time “at work.” In order to manage personal and professional commitments however, you do need to be hands-on in your approach.
**The post was written for Look What Mom Found…and Dad too! by Amar Patel from uship.com**
