Working from home can be a major perk in your work life. Many look for the possibility of remote work when they apply for a job as it can allow for a much better work/life balance and provide a level of flexibility you can’t often find in a more traditional office-based role.
Remote working has so many pros but can be tricky to navigate at first, especially if your place of work is also adjusting to the change. From at-home distractions to planning out your own schedule, it can be difficult to know where to start and how to go on when you first delve into life working from home.
Here are five tips for anyone that finds themselves working from home.
1. Find your space
For those lucky enough to have a home office, this will be much easier for you. However, if you don’t have this luxury, the idea of finding space in your home to just work may be laughable.
That being said, a workspace in your home doesn’t have to mean a whole separate room at all. It may be a corner desk somewhere, or just a certain chair you like to work in. Having somewhere that you can go into “work mode” when you’re there can be a major benefit to you.
2. Get the right tech
When you are remote working, having the right equipment around you can mean the difference between a smooth working day and a bumpy one; making sure you know what you require and have it when working from home is vital
You don’t have to spend loads, though, as a Laptop for a Budget can do more than you need.
Even though office workers rely on the right tech too, when you work from home it’s really all you have between you and not being able to work. You also probably don’t have access to an IT team as you would in an office environment, which can be a real hurdle to get over.
3. Find a good calendar
When your time is your own, you have to make it work for you. Remote working can easily turn into not working when you have so many distractions around you.
Finding a good calendar app and making sure that you stick to your own schedule once you’ve set it can be the best way to stop yourself from slacking.
If you’re prone to overworking, setting time just for yourself can also be a great idea as it allows you to dedicate time to switch off and do something that you enjoy.
4. Keep some office wear
One of the biggest mistakes people that are new to working from home make is getting rid of their office wear.
This is understandable, of course. If your new role is a 100 percent remote one, why would you need office wear? It’s so nice to be able to work in comfortable clothing around the house and after a while it’s natural to want to make space in your wardrobe for the stuff you actually wear.
However, just because you work from home, doesn’t mean you’ll always be there. Depending on the industry that you work in, you may be called to a non-virtual meeting or conference.
Few things are worse than being invited to one of these and no longer having something appropriate to put on.
5. Watch your bills
Going from spending around 8 hours in the office to being at home most of the time can really add up when it comes to your bills. This shouldn’t worry you as, when you consider the cost of your commute and things like lunch out, it’s likely that working from home is still better for you in regards to saving money.
However, when you are working remotely it’s very easy to get into bad habits when it comes to your energy usage. From putting the heating on all day to having the TV on in the background, there are many ways you can wrack up the cost of your bills.
Keeping an eye on things is all you need to do but it’s good to be warned of this from the start.
The world of working from home has so many benefits and, since it’s grown so much, the culture around it is still changing. If you’re about to start a new role that’s fully remote or are going into freelancing that will allow you to work from home, it can be exciting to think about this new-found freedom.
It can be quite an adjustment though and there may be a few hiccups along the way. With these tips and the right mindset, you can transition smoothly into the world of remote working and truly get all the benefits from it.
James Daniel is a freelance writer, business enthusiast, a bit of a tech buff, and an overall geek. He is also an avid reader, who can while away hours reading and knowing about the latest gadgets and tech, whilst offering views and opinions on these topics.
