The Home Worker: Tips for the Newbie

Some think being given the chance to work from home is the ultimate gift. Whether you're self employed or commuting remotely, never leaving your house to work has its perks. However, most don't consider the issues that arise with day-to-day productivity.

I began telecommuting 6 months ago. I thought I had landed the gig of a lifetime by being able to do what I love from home and get paid for it. The reality is, I am now completely isolated from colleagues and have to handle incredible distractions that would never happen at a corporate office. While it has been worth every minute, there are several lessons to learn from my mistakes:

Get Dressed

The first thing that jumped into my mind when I began to consider working remotely was the idea that I could work in my PJs. While some can perform just as effectively in their nighties, it didn't work for me. I had the hardest time feeling ready to work after rolling out of bed, hair all a mess and putting little effort into beginning my day. I highly suggest you set a time to wake up, take a shower, brush your teeth and get dressed. You don't need to put on your business suit but at least throw on something you didn't sleep in. Set this schedule for yourself every day.

Get Organized

When I started my first day with OfficeArrow, I thought I had all of my ducks in a row simply because I had a desk and some pens. Boy was I wrong. Every job takes a little getting used to; time to learn the ropes. But, it's important that you start creating strategies for managing your time immediately. Keep a day planner or use the heck out of Outlook's calendar feature. Use a whiteboard to keep track of projects or create lists of things that need to be done. The sooner you get organized, the easier work will flow.

Your Workspace

I'm sure you've thought of all the paper clips, staplers, binder clips and disks you might need, but don't forget to set your workspace up well. Conducting business from your kitchen table - or worse, your couch - will not foster productivity. I know this because I tried. It's extremely important that you create a space that is inviting and comfortable for you. I went through a period where my office was neither of those and I found myself avoiding it at all costs. My productivity waned and so did the value of my work.

Your desk is more important than you might think. I searched for the cheapest desk I could find because, let's face it, I couldn't afford a nicely etched and detailed mahogany one. However, I made a bad decision and bought a desk that was too tall. It was uncomfortable on my arms and my chair did not adjust well to the height. Make sure you select a height that is right for you. For more information on proper desk size, check out our article on ergonomics.

It's super important that you purchase a good chair as well. Pay attention to how long the chair is designed to sit in and make sure it is enough to allow you to comfortably use it for that length of time. Trust me, you'll thank me later.

Distractions

One of the hardest lessons for me to learn was how to minimize distractions.

I live with my fiancé and our two dogs. Caddie and Paris are precious and we love them very much but one can imagine my embarrassment when they start barking during an important conference call. I've tried closing the door and muting my phone when I'm on the call, but they will find a way to make their presence known.

I have the same trouble with my fiancé. Naturally, when he comes home from work, he wants to tell me about his day. Unfortunately for me, his day ends at 2pm while I'm still working. While I need to be heads down engrossed in my writing, he wants to tell me all about the day's events. So I struggle with asking him to discuss it later without making him feel unimportant.

Here are some tips for minimizing daily distractions:

• Set a schedule. Let your kids know that mommy is not to be bothered between the hours of [blank] and [blank]. Unless, of course, it's an emergency.
• Close the door. It seems simple, but it will let your family members know that you are not to be bothered.
• Put the dogs away. If you have notorious noisemakers in your house like my dogs, put them away somewhere they cannot be heard during important phone calls.
• Schedule breaks. You would be allowed breaks if you worked in a regular office so you should do the same at home. This will also allow you to take the dogs out, briefly engage with your family and it will give you some much needed time away from the grind.
• Don't work all night. When you work at home, it's easy to take care of little tasks no matter what time of day it is. I suggest you DO NOT work past the time you've scheduled as the end of the work day. It exhausts you and takes time away from your personal life. Leave work at work.

Successfully working at home requires a little trial and error. What works for me may not work for you. The best suggestion I can give is to treat it just as any other job. Minimize personal issues, be responsible with your schedule and you'll be a work-from-home pro in no time.