Top Tips to Succeed at Working From Home

Post contains affiliate links.

 

When you transition from working with coworkers in an office setting to working by yourself (mostly) at home, it’s an abrupt change. Suddenly there is no water cooler talk. There’s your living room, pajamas, laundry to do and your job. Over the years, I’ve found certain things work for me to be successful at transitioning to working from home.

Tips to Succeeding at Working From Home

Organizational system – For me, it means a paper notebook to track all of my to dos and client notes. For others, it’s a digital system like Asana or Slack, that also doubles as a communications tool and project management tool.

Weekly Simplified Planner, Navyfrom: Emily Ley Paper, Inc.
from: ModCloth

Dedicated Desk Space – This is important. Having that dedicated space to focus on work helps ensure a “work environment.” This could be a separate room or just a corner of a room. Put your filing cabinet or desk files next to you so it’s easy to access. If you’re going to be legit in “working from home,” you have to commit to a space.

 

Set Office Hours – In my work, I have to be available to a certain degree. I used to answer texts and emails at all hours because I thought they needed to be answered as soon as they came in. Now, I’ve set hours that are doable and realistic for me. Sure, there can be a client that is a 24/7 donut shop and you should be relatively reachable… but they should not expect that you jump at 2:00AM when they email you a request…

Office hours will also give you (and your clients) boundaries. Once 5:30PM comes around, I’m only checking my phone and email a couple times before bed. (That may even be too often for some!)

In addition, don’t do house chores during office hours. This is your dedicated time to work on your business.

Take Breaks – Go outside. Exercise. Do some yoga. Get some air – just like you would if you were at a corporate office.

Spend the Money – On the appropriate and right office equipment to set you up for success. If you need a scanner, printer, monitor and/or laptop for your new business – get it. New business cards? Get them. Don’t rely on your next door neighbor’s wifi – get your own secure wifi. If you’re working from home with a company, they should provide you with the equipment to do your job.

 

Network – Both electronically through groups and forums and in-person through local/regional organizations that are relevant to your business and industry. Continue to network and meet colleagues.

Most of all…

Sleep – One of the most important factors to being successful is getting enough rest. I can tell you that I fail at this one. My toddler might be older, but she still doesn’t sleep through the night. This is where I try to get rest any which way I can. If I can get four hours of uninterrupted sleep, I call that a success. Hopefully your kid sleeps longer and uninterrupted so that you, too, can sleep and get much needed rest.

 

What tips do you have for new WAHMs? Tell us in the comments!

 

 

Post contains affiliate links.