How to Succeed When Working From Home: 10 Important Tips
Why Are You Working from Home?
Do you need to succeed at working from home because you own a home-based business or you work freelance? Congratulations! You are a maverick and believe so much in your product or services that you are willing to forgo the traditional work setting and that JOB. You have left the office or the factory and you are striking out on your own. It is beyond imperative that you succeed!
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 before moving to an office setting. 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.
If you need to succeed at working from home because your job now requires you to work remotely, that is also wonderful because A) you have a job and B) there are many perks to 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 kitchen: your lunch costs and travel time picking up lunch have now shrunk considerably.
As you see, there are many advantages to working from home but, 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. It doesn't matter if you are starting your own business or working for someone else. For that reason, it is important to at least consider these 10 tips when your home is your work setting.
10 Tips to 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 10 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.
All of these may not apply to you, but consider these 10 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 until you haven't finished that project on time.
- Include a morning routine that gets you moving. If you work at night, establish a routine here, too, one that gets you revved up and puts you in a "work" mindset. Exercise, 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.
- Relegate time for household projects or cleaning to before or after business hours. 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. When you move into that space, this becomes a subconscious signal that it is time to work. The same applies once you've finished for the day. 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; a dog barking in the background is unprofessional and distracting.) Do not turn on the TV and don't surf the web unless that is part of your job description.
- Once you have decided on your hours of operation, post the times and stick to them. If you are a stay at home Mom or Dad, 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 or you are sure not to keep those hours and your business could fast become a hobby. Remember to build in frequent breaks in your day. Also important - schedule vacations. Working from home does not mean no vacation.
- Maintain a well equipped home office with all the necessities. 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. 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. Hire a professional organizer if you are unsure of the best way to set up your office for optimum efficiency.
- Schedule time to interact with others. Ideally, you will schedule time for networking events, workshops and classes that pertain to your business. Include developing new relationships or continuing relationships you may have already established. It's too easy to become isolated when you are working from home. 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. Many events are ideal for those who work at home or own their own business.
Comfort in your office space is critical to success working from home. I prefer a chair with an adjustable height.
Working from Home - Fulfilling a Dream or Living a Nightmare?
When working from home, you are either working for someone else or you have an enterprise of your own. Either way, you are working for a purpose. That purpose is to fulfill your dream to provide a particular product or service or you have arranged to work at home for a specific business or company. Most of all, you are working to provide for yourself and your family.
All in all, it takes discipline to succeed at working from home. It is so easy to become distracted, lose track of time and before you know it, you have lost a day of work. If you pay attention to a few ground rules from the outset, you can eliminate frustration, wasted down time and, when working from home, success can be yours.
Help me determine why people are working from home by answering this question. Do you currently work from home?
Resources that may be helpful if you are working from home.
- Getting You Organized | Business Support and Personal Assistant Services
If you need help getting your office organized or if you need additional assistance and support, this may be a resource for you.
Questions & Answers
© 2012 Cynthia B Turner
Comments
AUTHORThank 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.
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.
- AUTHOR
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
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.
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
- AUTHOR
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.
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. :)
- AUTHOR
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.
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!
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
you're welcome :)
- AUTHOR
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!
very helpful tips..very informative and interesting hub :)
- AUTHOR
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.
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!
- AUTHOR
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!
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!
- AUTHOR
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!
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++.
- AUTHOR
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.
Very useful tips Cynthia. Discipline is very necessary to succeed.
voted up, useful.
- AUTHOR
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.
Good tips. I wish I could work from home. If I did so I would implement these ideas!
- AUTHOR
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!
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.
- AUTHOR
I'm so glad you find this useful. Thank you for commenting!
Now that I find myself working from home, this will REALLY come in handy. Thank you for this! :)
- AUTHOR
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.
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
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
- AUTHOR
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!
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!!!!
- AUTHOR
@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.
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
Excellent tips! As someone who has been working from home for different companies for nine years, I agree with every one of them.
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
- AUTHOR
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.
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!
- AUTHOR
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!
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
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.
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
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!
- AUTHOR
LOL..I have to admit, yoga pants are so comfortable. So glad they're not smelly! Thanks for dropping by.
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! :)
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
- AUTHOR
Hello, Thanks for stopping in and leaving a comment. Enjoy the rest of your evening.
very useful tips and of course good source of earning money at home, thanks, voted up.
- AUTHOR
Hi Vinaya, I'm glad you find the tips useful. Thank you for sharing this with others! Take care.
I'm a freelancer and I want to succeed while working from home. Thanks for sharing these useful tips. Sharing this hub socially.
- AUTHOR
Hi, I'm so glad these are helpful. Excellent that you have your own home business.. Thank you for the vote up!
Great tips. I run a small home business and these are great guidelines to follow. Thank you. Voted up.
- AUTHOR
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.
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.
- AUTHOR
Thank you so much for reading taking the time to leave a comment. Have a creative week!
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.
- AUTHOR
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!
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 :)
- AUTHOR
Hello Suhail and doggie, That''s great. Pass it along to your wife. Thanks!
- AUTHOR
Hi wetnosedogs, Yep, it takes a lot of discipline. My fault too, when I let those distractions get in the way. i work hard at it. My dog is the biggest distraction for me. I have to say firm no quite a few times. He's still learning.Thanks so much for commenting and sharing.
- AUTHOR
H Frank, thanks a ton for reading and leaving a positive comment.
- AUTHOR
Hi lgnugent17, Thanks for the vote up and useful. It's important to use as many tools as you can to be as successful as you want. I wanted to share a few that i find helpful for me. Take care.
- AUTHOR
Hello Ssidhanta, I'm glad this was informative for you. Thank you so much for your vote and for sharing. Take care.
- AUTHOR
Hello Ishwaryaa, Thank you for reading and leaving a comment. I'm so glad you found the hub helpful enough to share it. Take care.
This is a very good hub for my wife. I will encourage her to read it. :-)
Terrific tips. I want to work from home, working on that.
Discipline is important.I get a lot of home distractions just from doing hubpages. That is my fault, though. Need to work on that.
I am sharing this.
Cyndi what a useful share and it can be very helpful to many folks nowadays..:)
Thanks for the tips . voted up and useful. I love the idea of having a place to make as an office and dress as if you are expecting somebody.
An engaging and helpful hub! Your suggestions are handy. This is an ideal hub for many who work at home or those who want to work at home. Well-done!
Thanks for SHARING. Useful & Interesting. Voted up & Socially shared
- AUTHOR
Hello Patty, I'm glad you found this useful. Thank you so much for taking the time to leave a comment. Take care.
- AUTHOR
Hello Mecheshler, Yes, the economy has probably been the reason for the majority of people working at home. The internet has been a saving source for many. Thank you for your positive vote and comments.
- AUTHOR
Hello Innerspin, I think the distractions can be so hard to ignore, but discipline is definitely the key. Thanks so much for reading. Take care. Cyndi
Interesting Hub filled with very Useful and Great Tips!!!
A great Hub with very useful info. There are a lot of options for "work at home". I think many are now working via Internet because of the economy.
Thank you for sharing. Voted up for useful.
You make good points, working from home certainly does require discipline. I had a short spell a few years ago of doing market research via phone from home. It can be hard to keep your head down with all the possible distractions. Good hub, thanks.
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