Ray Pigott Working from home can be tough. Yet there are some tactics you can use to make sure you have the smoothest experience possible. Read on to find out what they are.
Have a preparation to work routine
While flexibility is one of the best things about being able to work from home, it can be a double-edged sword, especially when it comes to working hours and start times. Indeed, if there is no set time that you are required to be sitting at your computer, it can be very easy to fall into bad habits such as sleeping in, rolling straight out of bed and getting down to work, and even putting off starting your work until later in the day, something that can mean you don’t get the evenings to yourself which is very bad for morale in the long term.
The good news is something that can be very helpful here is to have a routine that you do in between getting out of bed, and sitting down at your desk. It’s best if it’s not too hard so you can feel a sense of success each morning and it doesn’t put you off getting up. It’s also good to keep things consistent too, so then you don’t have to think about or even feel motivated to complete your preparation routine, you just do it no matter how you feel, thus easing yourself into your working day.
Keep a work number and a home number
Giving your home phone number to clients is asking for trouble. It not only compromises your privacy, but it also makes getting a reasonable separation between work and home almost impossible.
To that end, when working at home it’s vital that you retain a work number, and where possible a work phone. Happily, by using something like these Cloud telephone systems you can use phones from work (with the associated numbers) at home with no problem at all. Some VoIP systems even allow you to access your work numbers on a laptop or other device, meaning you can keep your work and home communications completely separate.
Make sure you have all the right equipment
Your safety and comfort when working are just important at home as they are when you work in the office. That is why it is vital to ensure you have all the equipment you need.
Fortunately, many businesses have a specific budget to provide equipment such as PCs, laptops, ergonomic chairs, and desks to their employees. Some even insist that a health and safety consultant comes to inspect their desk set up to ensure it minimises the risk of injury like RSI.
Don’t be afraid to take sick days
You know just how hard you work when working from home, and that remote working is by no means a cushy option. That is why, when you do get sick, it is essential that you take the same time to recover as you would when you were in the office. Without doing this you could put your health and productivity over the long term at risk and this isn’t any good for you or your business!