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The Do's and Don'ts of Working from Home
At last, you've realised your dream. You no longer have to take part
in the morning and evening commute, you don't have to get involved
anymore in petty office politics and you are free to do as you please
- you're working from home.
Mostly, it's down to common sense but all too often what seems like
common sense is only viewed with the benefit of hindsight.
Firstly some dos.
Do talk it over with others who live in the house. This is after all your
and their living space and all parties need to have agreed that part of
the family home can be used this way.
Do check it out with your insurance and mortgage companies as there may
be clauses that need amending or could even prevent it. It's unlikely but
check it anyway.
Do take into account the type of business you're running. If you're
providing a service or information, space for a desk is all you really
need but if you're selling products, where are you going to store them? A
garage and a spare bedroom full of cartons might not be
appreciated.
Do be disciplined. When you no longer go out to work, that fact that you
still need to work can get sort of lost. See your day as still a working
day. Decide how many hours you want or need to work and then stick to
them. There has to be flexibility in this of course, otherwise a major
advantage to working from home is wasted, but some sort of regular work
pattern is best.
From my experience, I know of people working from home who need to feel
that they're in work mode to operate and who dress as if they're going to
the office. Not necessarily the suit, collar and tie but in a dressed
down, smart casual way. Sitting in front of the computer or on the phone
in pajamas just doesn't work for them. If it does for you then that's a
bonus and a saving on clothes bills.
Now some don'ts.
Don't be distracted. When you're employed, you work according to your
contract. You arrive and leave at certain times and you do the work
that's expected of you in that time. Working from home has many potential
temptations and distractions to undermine that ethic. There's something
you want to watch on the TV, it would be a great day to take the dog to
the park, the CD/DVD collections needs cataloguing, the lawn needs
cutting - the list is endless.
Don't publish your home telephone number. This is very relevant if you're
promoting a website which shows your number. The web is global, even if
you're only operating within your own area or country. I speak from
experience as I've been woken in the early hours by people calling from
the other side of the World and answering business calls when you're
still half asleep isn't a good idea! Get a dedicated business line and an
answering service.
Don't become too isolated. It's important to remember that most likely
you were part of a community when you went to work. You had colleagues
with whom you discussed last night's tv, and who shared a common goal
with you in that you worked together with the same aim. When you work
from home, that goes. You can still have contact over the telephone or
via email but unless you have a home that's the neighborhood drop-in
coffee shop, you will not be meeting many people. Understand this and
make time and space for human contact.
Working from home is a bonus. Make the most of it but be aware of the
potential hazards.
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