If you’ve been working from home for any length of time, you’ve likely discovered what many others who do the same have also discovered. It’s a lot more difficult than you initially thought it would be.
Of course, it’s great to not have to deal with a commute or to deal with office drama, but the home/work environment isn’t without its drawbacks. When you’re commuting from your bed to your desk, it can be hard to stay motivated. It can also be hard to establish home/work separation.
RELATED: TIPS AND TRICKS FOR RUNNING A BUSINESS OUT OF YOUR HOME
So, what can you do to make sure that working from home doesn’t become more of a problem than it’s worth? Here are some helpful tips that will help you to avoid the home office doldrums.
Your Home Office Is Your Kingdom
If you’re in complete control of your work environment, then you might as well make it as awesome as it can be. Make the investment in nice furniture and accouterments. Get those pens that you love! Also, make sure there is an adequate separation between your office environment and your home environment.
Stop Working in Your Pajamas
Don’t lie. You probably did this for the first week. As the luster of working from home began to fade, the pajamas probably stayed on your body even though your motivation began to flag. If you want to be successful, you’ve got to look successful. Treat working in your home office the exact same way you’d treat working in a real office. Get dressed!
Keep a Work Schedule
When you work from home, maintaining a work/home separation can be incredibly difficult. It becomes almost impossible if you’re not sticking to some kind of work schedule. You can make this schedule whatever you’d like it to be, just make sure that you stick to it.
Don’t Stay Home All Day
Even though you hated that commute, you probably didn’t realize how much you enjoyed getting out of the house every day until you started spending every day inside your house. There’s no reason to keep yourself locked up like a prisoner. Go out and grab lunch, go for an afternoon jog, or simply take a stroll around the neighborhood.
RELATED: LITTLE-KNOWN TAX BREAKS FOR HOME-BASED BUSINESSES
Establish Boundaries
Now that you work from home, your friends and family might think that it’s acceptable to bother you whenever they want. If you have a live-in significant other or spouse, that person may think it’s okay to ask you to do chores while you’re at home. Let them know that even though you’re at home, you’re still “going to work” just the same as they are. You wouldn’t ask that person to bring the laundry to their office, would you?
If All Else Fails…
Sometimes working from home can become incredibly lonely. If, after awhile, you’re finding it increasingly difficult to keep your productivity up while working from home, try taking things out to the local coffee shop. Also, there are a number of co-working spaces popping up around the country that are worth looking into as well.
