How to Succeed Working From Home Even in a Virtual Environment

Author:
Cynthia B Turner
Updated date:
Feb 8, 2021

The former executive director of a successful nonprofit agency now content specialist, Cynthia writes about a variety of researched topics.

Working from home can be managed by following a few easy tips.
Pixabay

Why Are you Working from Home?

Working from home can be a challenge but a few easy tips can help you succeed. First, when I originally wrote this article, we were not in the midst of a pandemic which has forced many around the world to work from home exclusively. That being said, it is still important to understand (and maybe come to grips with) why you are working from home.

Working from home may not have been your choice and you may be working from home because your office is closed and you must take care of business in order to stay in business. Or maybe you don't feel safe going in to an office or being around the public because of COVID-19. Or you may have started working from home before the pandemic and everybody is now in step with you. In any scenario, to succeed working from home takes concentration and planning and it is just as important to embrace the reason you are working from home. The answer to that question could be the key to helping you succeed.

To help you succeed at working from home, re-purpose existing space to function as a home office. This was a living room, now it's an office.
Cynthia:2012

Tips for Success When Working from Home

Has anybody told you that to succeed at working from home you must have discipline? Well, they should have, because it does. Your home is probably equipped with many distractions, in many forms. To succeed at working from home it is imperative that you block out the distractions and concentrate on the task at hand - your work.

Here are tips that will help you succeed at working from home. No one tip is more important than the other and no one tip applies to working for a business or company versus working your own business or freelance projects and assignments.

Many of these tips will apply to your children who may now be attending school virtually.

All of these may not apply to you, but consider these tips carefully:

Set specific "hours of business" if they are not preset for you. While it's true that you may have some flexibility with hours you set, especially if the business is yours, there are still only 24 hours in a day and a specific number should be allocated to "office hours". If the business belongs to someone else, the hours may be preset to coincide with that business' hours. That can be anytime they assign, including the middle of the night as is required of some virtual customer service representatives. The thing is, working haphazardly at anytime that you want each day will probably cause you to cheat yourself out of valuable working time. That time will inevitably slip away from you without you ever noticing. The result? You don't finished that project on time!
Create a routine that gets you moving. That routine is just as important if you work at night. What's important is that you establish a routine that gets you revved up and puts you in a work mindset. Exercise, do yoga, take a brisk walk or jog, take a shower, eat breakfast or dinner, whatever it takes to get you going, then get to work!
Dress as if you are expecting company. There are some schools of thought that say this is not necessary. However, I'm of the belief that you will not be as productive if you appear at work in your pajamas or your very casual yoga workout clothes. Wearing such comfortable clothes may sound great but you could psychologically be too relaxed, too comfortable, to give the attention to your work that it deserves. I need an edge or a certain amount of tension to function. Getting dressed helps to establish that edge. You don't need to dress as if you are going in to the corporate office, but you wouldn't entertain company in a robe or your smelly workout clothes, either, would you? Nothing dressy required (although some do dress up), just something nice.
Consider your planning for virtual meetings. Don't appear on screen inappropriately dressed, sans makeup and disheveled hair. It may feel good to be relaxed but it does not reflect a business attitude. Your coworkers or your customers may see you and they will form opinions. Don't want your background to be seen? Use a virtual background. If you are hosting the meeting, choose your virtual platform carefully and learn how to use it.
Relegate time for household projects or cleaning to before or after business hours, just as you would if yoiu were reporting to an office. It may be tempting to look around and see that your windows need cleaning (mine always do) or you need to paint the hallways. Resist that temptation to take care of those kinds of tasks until after you have clocked out and I don't mean clock out early!
Set aside a specific area or room of your home as your office. Once you are in that space, it is a subconscious signal that it is time to work. The same applies once you are finished for the day. Physically move out of that space, or clear away your work material if the space serves another purpose. Your brain is better able to "turn on" or "turn off" the work day when your work space is distinct.
Limit your distractions from outside sources. Try not to answer phone calls that aren't work related. Train your dog not to interrupt or don't allow him in the room during work hours. (This is especially important if you make and take business calls; we have become somewhat used to this during the pandemic.) Do not turn on the TV and don't surf the web unless that is part of your job description.
Once you have decided your hours of operation, post the times and stick to them. If you are a stay at home Mom or Dad of very young children, decide whether childcare arrangements are needed so your day can be devoted to work. If you have older children, be sure to explain to them your work hours. Granted, flexibility may be one of the reasons you are working from home or have established a home based business, but you must decide how many hours it takes to make the business a success. Build in frequent breaks during your day. Also important - schedule vacations. Working from home does not mean no vacation.
Maintain a well equipped home office with all the necessities and niceties . Be sure to have your computer, phone, printer, and so on, down to files and paper clips, etc. Keep all of the necessities stocked and in working order. Be sure to check your inventory often, reviewing your needs weekly and restocking. Order from the Internet. It's more efficient and saves gas and keeps you out of crowds. Nothing interrupts a work day (or eats up valuable time) like running to the store for printer ink!
It is even more important to stay organized. There is nothing like wasting your precious time looking for a specific file or worse, having no files in which to organize your projects. Always keep things in the same place, i. e. paperclips, stapler, Hire a professional organizer if you are unsure of the best way to set up your office for optimum efficiency.
Keep your computer just as organized. Delete old files, create an eficient, usable virtual filing system. Take advantage of cloud storage. Real estate is just as important on a computer.
If you have kids who are in school virtually, you have an extra layer added to constucting a successful business routine. Use some of these steps for your school age youngsters as they navigate school virtually. Create a routine, have them get dressed each morning and be sure they take breaks from the computer screen.
Schedule time to interact with others. Ideally, you will schedule time for networking events, workshops, conferences and classes that pertain to your business. Because of the pandemic, these may be virtual, but they are no less important. Include developing new relationships or continuing and strengtheniing relationships. It's easy to become isolated when you are working from home, however, relationships are still just as important as they were when you were going into the office, maybe more important. Join business networks. Attend their meetings and virtual conferences. Many events are ideal for those who work at home.

When you work from home, limit distractions like playing with an adorable pet.
Pixabay

Office staples- from computer to paper clips - are essential to succeed working from home
Cynthia: 2012

Working from Home - Success or Failure Is Up to You

The fact is many Americans, especially women, are becoming entrepreneurs. There has been phenomenal growth in women-owned businesses in the past few years and many of them either work at home or started their venture at home. The numbers vary in other parts of the globe, but it is a trend that is still increasing. Consider that according to the online magazine, betanews.com, 45% of US employees worked from home in 2015.

There are many perks in working from home. For example, your commute has now shrunk to a five minute walk - no five second walk - from your bedroom to your new office: you just added more time to your day. No need to buy any more power suits: you have reduced your clothing budget drastically. You prepare your lunch in your own kitchen - your lunch costs and travel time picking up lunch have now shrunk considerably.

Just like any other good thing, there can be pitfalls, too. Some are obvious and some are not so obvious. The bottom line is that you want to succeed at working from home. For that reason, it is important to at least consider the above 10 tips when your home is your work setting.

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Comments

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on August 13, 2019:

Hello Holly, Thank you for reading. Great idea to mention the blue light blocking glasses. I'm looking into buying a pair. Take care.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on November 22, 2016:

Thank you for leaving that comment. It is so true that, like you, I think that one of the biggest reasons that anyone fail working from home is that they lack the discipline to allot the proper amount of time to getting the job done, whatever the job is. Unless those hours have been set for you by some outside entity, its a real push to give the time that it takes to be successful working from home. The distractions get in the way. Take care.

Linda Rogers from Minnesota on November 21, 2016:

Working from home has it's strength's and weaknesses-I so agree that it takes discipline which not everyone has. I absolutely love working from home. Thanks for sharing these great tips.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on June 15, 2016:

Hi Manatiita44, Working from home sounds easy, but it takes a lot of discipline to ignore distractions. I'm sure you will have success if you make the decision to work from home. Thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. Take care. Cyndi

manatita44 from london on June 15, 2016:

You reminded me of Bill, Cyndiio and so I'm glad he came here. Not that he'd need any help, perhaps. Some very invaluable advice for when I start in the not too distant future, perhaps.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on July 07, 2014:

Hello Esther, I agree with you, being disciplined does help to boost your confidence.

Thank you for reading and leaving a positive comment. Take care.

Esther Strong from UK on July 07, 2014:

This is very useful. It's important to be business like as it remind others and you that you are doing something worthwhile and serious. Being discipined also ups your confidence I find. Thanks for sharing.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on May 06, 2014:

Ahhh! I definitely understand the distinction. For me, if I don't have the pressure, most of my writing would stay in my head and not make it to the paper.

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on May 06, 2014:

Hi Cyndi! Haha. Yes, now, I can do it for the pure enjoyment of it rather than the intense pressure to write, write, write to survive. :) I definitely like it much better that way. I'm the same way with my art, actually. When I have to make art for money, it's no fun. When I create it out of love, it's such a thrilling process. I DO plan on doing a 30/30 hub challenge in July. :)

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on May 06, 2014:

Hi Cyndi, You have such a great collection of articles here, I just imagined you working at home, freelancing full-time.

I think that it's also good to know the temperament we each have when we decide to work at home or from the office. I'm not sure of many people who are naturally disciplined. There are way too many distractions.

Thanks for leaving a comment! Take care.

Cynthia Calhoun from Western NC on May 05, 2014:

Goood tips here! I tried the "work at home" thing and the two biggest things that made me go back to work? Loneliness and discipline. I'm a pretty focused person, but with a "wide open" schedule, two things happened: I'd check FB too much AND I had no boundaries on my time. I'd answer emails at midnight, wake up late, "show up" in my pajamas. But you know, when I went back to work, it actually made my freelance writing fall into a more natural schedule. Now, I'm content: I still freelance, but it's because I have my work schedule to contend with. Slightly ironic, I know, but I found out that I'm not so good at the work-at-home thing - so great advice because discipline is the most important thing!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on May 01, 2014:

I hope that you are able to reach that goal. It definitely takes discipline, but it is great to be able to set your own hours. Thanks for leaving a comment. Take care.

Richard Parr from Australia on May 01, 2014:

Very helpful tips. I'd like to work from home in the near future, articles such as this are essential reading. Thanks. Voted up and useful.

Pro-Hubber from Florida on December 17, 2013:

you're welcome :)

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on December 17, 2013:

Hello Pro-Hubber, I'm glad you found it helpful and that it kept your interest. Thanks for the positive feedback. Have a creative day!

Pro-Hubber from Florida on December 17, 2013:

very helpful tips..very informative and interesting hub :)

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on February 24, 2013:

I imagine it must be harder for you to set those hours, but it could be even more important that you do because you are limited in the hours you have to spend on your business.

I hope the tips are helpful. Take care.

SaffronBlossom from Dallas, Texas on February 23, 2013:

Awesome hub! I run a small side-business from home after my day job, and something I certainly struggle with is set hours, as well as making time to get some social interaction (it's easy to get wrapped up in working all the time, which becomes an unhealthy habit). Thanks for the tips in his hub!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on February 22, 2013:

Hello Suzanne, Yep, no matter how much you suffer!!! When it's writing, though, I don't ever have enough time to finish what I'm trying to do, so I'm up late and then I get up early, bleary eyes and all. Now that is suffering, but it's got to be done! Keeping those distraction down is definitely the key for me.

Thanks so much for reading and leaving a comment with positive votes!

justmesuzanne from Texas on February 21, 2013:

Great advice! One of the main things is just to stick to it, no matter how much you suffer! LOL! Eventually, the tide will turn and you will begin to succeed! :D Voted up and useful!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on January 26, 2013:

Hi Michael, Oh yes. Around here there is the tendency, or so it seems, for interruptions from family members just as I get into the "zone." I've learned to hold up my hand to say stop right there, I'm working. Thanks so much for the vote up!

Michael Tully on January 26, 2013:

Excellent advice, Cyndi, particularly tip #5. If an area of the home is used exclusively as a principal place of business, it generally qualifies for a home office deduction for income tax purposes. Also, #7 applies equally to well-meaning spouses, who often tend to forget that what's being done here is real, serious work. Voted up++.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on January 14, 2013:

Hello rajan, Thank you so much for the votes. I'm very glad you found the tips to be useful and took the time to leave a comment. Take care.

Rajan Singh Jolly from From Mumbai, presently in Jalandhar, INDIA. on January 14, 2013:

Very useful tips Cynthia. Discipline is very necessary to succeed.

voted up, useful.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on January 13, 2013:

Here's hoping you get the chance to do that, if it's what you want. Thanks for taking the lime to leave a comment.

carozy from San Francisco on January 12, 2013:

Good tips. I wish I could work from home. If I did so I would implement these ideas!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on December 26, 2012:

I've experimented with my reactions to dressing or not. If I get up and don't follow my routine I am totally out of focus and get much less done. I think I'm cool and going into overdrive, but it's usually a lot of posturing with not results. So I'm with you.

Thank you for taking the time to leave a comment.

Have a wonderfully creative, productive, prosperous and brightest of New Years!

L.L. Woodard from Oklahoma City on December 25, 2012:

You've made a lot of great suggestions in this hub, particularly the overall theme of treating work at home as a business/job. I know for myself that getting dressed and organizing the day ahead helps me to focus and feel more professional.

Great hub; voted up and Shared.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on December 13, 2012:

I'm so glad you find this useful. Thank you for commenting!

Terrye Toombs from Somewhere between Heaven and Hell without a road map. on December 13, 2012:

Now that I find myself working from home, this will REALLY come in handy. Thank you for this! :)

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on December 11, 2012:

Hello cuttler, Remember, these are only suggestions if you have trouble staying on task. I can get so distracted, I need some structure to keep me focused. They work for me.

I don't surf, but I'm sure the call of the ocean would probably be a big problem for me. Maybe a great headset to block the sound and curtains to block the view are in order. Oh, and sell the surfboard. Just kidding :-)

Thanks for leaving a comment! Take care.

Cuttler from HubPages on December 10, 2012:

Great info Cyndi...am guilty of the so many violations here...the Pajamas, the dogs, the surfing ....and on and o and on. I am definitely going to try to implement some of your guidelines. Am sure they will be a boost to productivity. Thanks for the great hub

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on November 29, 2012:

I am learning to be more disciplined with my work, which is one of the reason I wrote the article. I like that break as well. I usually walk the dog a bit and then come back to the desk. Other times I'll break it up with yoga, especially when I feel the need to really stretch my muscles because of sitting.Thank you so much for the comment.

Kristin Trapp from Illinois on November 29, 2012:

I worked from home for more than ten years since I had a web design business. It was quite successful and I had clients depending on me, so I had to follow many of the suggestions you discuss in this Hub. For a person that can be organized and stick to a routine, it's a wonderful way to make a living. A really nice advantage of working from home, was that it was easy to allow myself an exercise break. I often started early in the morning, and by mid-morning left my desk for an hour to exercise and clean up. That helped break up the routine of sitting at a desk all morning and gave me more energy to continue. This is just one of the perks I experienced working at home.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on November 15, 2012:

Hi, We all need reminders, I think, to stay on track. It might be especially true for writers. Many of us tend to have so many ideas for projects we tend to get distracted by our creativity. I appreciate the votes!

imatellmuva from Somewhere in Baltimore on November 15, 2012:

Great hub Cyndi10! Quite thorough, and serves as a much needed reminder that there's more that I need to do.

I have personally bookmarked this hub on my computer.

VOTED Up, and Useful!!!!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on October 21, 2012:

@everythingdazzles, Office environments certainly have their own set of distractions. There is more control over distractions if we are working at home which definitely makes it a plus. Thanks for the comment.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on October 21, 2012:

Hello Erica, Since you have been working from home for 9 years, I take you your endorsement as expert opinion. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment about working from home. Take care.

Janelle from Houston on October 20, 2012:

I am not going to lie I am a very good worker in an office setting, however I hate it. I get distracted by all the constant noise of people talking so it just is not a good environment for me to think clearly. I love working from home, having my own space, and being able to get comfortable.

Erica on October 20, 2012:

Excellent tips! As someone who has been working from home for different companies for nine years, I agree with every one of them.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on October 13, 2012:

Yes, that one will get you every time. I always think I have more time than I really have or that a project will take less time than it really does. A constant battle. Thanks for commenting. Take care.

Cathy Nerujen from Edge of Reality and Known Space on October 11, 2012:

This is a great hub. One thing screams at me from this article and it is "Time management". Managing time is a big factor for a person working from home. Something tells me you are speaking from experience. Thank you for a great article on working from home.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on October 11, 2012:

I'm the same way. I've tried to stay in pjs or something very sloppy and it makes it too easy for me to slack off. Thanks so much for your comment.

Om Paramapoonya on October 10, 2012:

Excellent tips. I totally agree with # 3. This might sound unnecessary to some people, but for me, if I don't get out of my pajamas, I don't feel like I'm 100% ready to work.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on September 06, 2012:

Hi Michelle, I'm glad you can see the usefulness in what I wrote. I try to follow what's there or I don't get much done. If I don't get the work done, I don't get paid. Thank you so much for the favorable feedback and for sharing it.

Michelle Liew from Singapore on September 05, 2012:

Wonderful tips Cyndi. Am sharing because I think a great number of people will need this info, including myself!! A really informative, well-written and useful hub!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on September 02, 2012:

Those dirty windows and a million other little things seem so huge and hard to ignore as we try to settle down to writing or any other business from home.Distractions, distractions....Thanks so much for leaving a comment. Get a grip on your structure and be creative!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on September 02, 2012:

Hello, I'm glad this was helpful considerations for working from home. I'm always finding and thinking of others I should probably add, but I don't want to make it too long. Thanks so much for taking the time to leave a comment and bookmarking! Take care.

Shasta Matova from USA on September 02, 2012:

These are great ideas Cyndi! It is amazing how those dirty windows call so loudly during "business hours", but they aren't a problem at all the rest of the time. I really need to do a better job of structuring my work time and free time.

Patricia Scott from North Central Florida on September 02, 2012:

Cyndi10...This is filled with important information for us to consider. I am working from home now as I write for hubpages now (but it is not my source of income). It is my job though. Each day I work on revising and reviewing hubs or on creating new ones so following your ten tips is helpful. I checked off mentally your list and I have pretty many addressed however I am bookmarking this and will reread it. Thank you for sharing this with us.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on August 19, 2012:

Hi Billy, You are right, working from home is not for everyone. I'm very happy with working from home right now, but i sometimes struggle with the discipline, especially when I don't have an imposed deadline. Thanks for leaving a comment.

Bill Holland from Olympia, WA on August 17, 2012:

Great tips, all of them Cyndi! It is not for everyone; I know people who are not organized or determined enough to handle working at home. It is hard for many but I absolutely love it.

KathyH from Waukesha, Wisconsin on August 09, 2012:

The reasons you've listed are exactly the reasons that I work from home! No more need to commute, dress in a certain way for work, no expense of buying lunch. My only problem is that I continue to work again in the evening just because I enjoy it! Ha!! I guess that's not too bad of a "problem" to have! :) I get distracted throughout the day though, so I am working on that. Great advice! Thanks for sharing!

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on August 05, 2012:

LOL..I have to admit, yoga pants are so comfortable. So glad they're not smelly! Thanks for dropping by.

Hillary from Atlanta, GA on August 05, 2012:

Great tips! I follow them all except I probably devote more time at the computer than I would like, and I do practically live in my yoga pants.. (but at least they're not smelly! :)

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on August 04, 2012:

I see how it is very difficult to separate from a business that you own. You think about it on both the conscious and subconscious level because it's yours and you want to achieve your goals for it. It is so necessary to shut it down and try to set boundaries. Thanks so much for stopping by and leaving a comment. I appreciate the time you took.

Jackie Lynnley from the beautiful south on August 03, 2012:

You bring out some very good points. I am sure it would be more profitable to have it separate from the household. I ran my own business for years and it seemed to be 24 hours a day. Was hard not to bring it home with me.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on August 03, 2012:

Hello, Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment. Enjoy the rest of your evening.

Girish puri from NCR , INDIA on August 03, 2012:

very useful tips and of course good source of earning money at home, thanks, voted up.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on August 02, 2012:

Hi Vinaya, I'm glad you find the tips useful. Thank you for sharing this with others! Take care.

Vinaya Ghimire from Nepal on August 02, 2012:

I'm a freelancer and I want to succeed while working from home. Thanks for sharing these useful tips. Sharing this hub socially.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on August 01, 2012:

Hi, I'm so glad these are helpful. Excellent that you have your own home business.. Thank you for the vote up!

fresh2def05 from Louisville, Ky on July 31, 2012:

Great tips. I run a small home business and these are great guidelines to follow. Thank you. Voted up.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on July 22, 2012:

Hello Peggy, There are distractions all around and it is so hard the keep them under control, but it's so necessary. Thanks so much for the comment and the vote up.

Peggy Woods from Houston, Texas on July 22, 2012:

This is a good hub for those who choose or are assigned from their place of employment to work at home. I think avoiding distractions is the biggest factor and you have given some excellent tips in this hub to stay focused on the job at hand. Voted up & useful.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on July 22, 2012:

Thank you so much for reading taking the time to leave a comment. Have a creative week!

Injured lamb on July 22, 2012:

These are really some great tips for those that working at home especially a well equipped space and limit the distractions from outside sources. Thanks for the sharing Cyndi10...be blessed and take care.

Cynthia B Turner (author) from Georgia on July 22, 2012:

Hello Redberry Sky, It is so tempting to work in pajamas, but i really find that I'm way too relaxed and it even makes it "easier" for me to become distracted. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave me a comment. Enjoy the rest of your day and have a creative week!

Redberry Sky on July 22, 2012:

I've been guilty of 'going to work in my pyjamas' when I work from home! But you're right, much better to have some discipline. Cheers for these tips, very useful :)