Working from home has become the new normal. It’s estimated that about 50% of the U.S. population now works from home at least some of the time, and it’s easy to see why—the benefits of remote work include more flexibility, less distracting conversations, and more money saved on transportation costs, to name just a few.
However, it’s not all PJs and bed trays. To successfully work from home, you’ll need to do some preparation. You’ll also need to keep some things in mind. Here’s what you’ll need to do:
Set A Schedule
Flexibility is a major benefit to working from home, but that doesn’t mean you shouldn’t have an action plan. Some form of structure is often necessary for productivity. Getting into a work schedule at home will help ensure that you stay on top of your tasks, meet deadlines, and remain focused. Determine what each day, week, and even month will look like for the short term future. You don’t need to plan each day in detail, but you should have a general idea of what your daily work days will look like. That being said, working from home does allow you to work at your optimum times. Take advantage of that fact and plan your schedule accordingly.
Take Breaks
When you’re on tight deadlines in an office, you may skip lunch and work through the day, rarely getting up from your seat aside from the occasional bathroom break. The same thing can happen when you work from home. It’s essential to take breaks throughout your day so that you don’t feel isolated, which is a common complaint given by remote workers.
Set Up A Workspace
Working from bed or the couch sounds nice in theory, but it gets old fast. It’s also not conducive to productivity. When you’re in “comfy mode” chances are high you won’t be as sharp as you’d be if you were sitting at a desk. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy, but you should set up a basic workspace at home. Check out our tips for setting up an effective work-from-home space in your apartment.
Dress The Part
We aren’t saying you need to dress yourself up in a suit. What we’re saying is that how you look is often directly linked to how you feel, and both affect one another. That means if you’re dressed for a lounge day on the couch, chances are your mind will be in the same place, even if you know you have a lot of work to get done. Changing into some clothes and putting yourself together goes a long way in mentally preparing you for a day of hard work.
Mix It Up
Remote jobs allow you to work from anywhere with a wifi. Instead of confining yourself to your apartment, work from other places once in a while. The stimulation of having other people around you may be a nice, energizing change from the solo at-home vibe.
