How to adjust to working from home
One of the easiest ways to cut down costs when you’re setting up a new business is to work from home. Money can be tight for a brand new business, and the last thing you want is to splash out on office space when all you really need is a computer and an internet connection.
However, if you’re used to working in an office, it can be difficult to adjust to this new way of working. Some of the biggest concerns associated with working from home include feeling lonely or isolated, becoming less productive and lacking the self-discipline to consistently do a full day’s work. But with predictions claiming that 60% of employees will regularly work from home by 2022, it looks like this style of working is here to stay.
Fortunately there are plenty of things work-from-home newbies can do to adjust. If you’ve just started a new business, or you’re an employee who has been offered remote working, here are 6 ways you can adjust to working from home.
- Set up a work space
The most important part of successfully working from home is to make sure you have a dedicated work space. Ideally this will be a room with a door you can close, but if you can’t set aside a whole room then make sure you at least screen off a corner for your office. The key is to be able to walk away at the end of the day and not have to look at your work space when you’re trying to relax.
- Create a schedule
It’s also important to be disciplined with your time. The beauty of working from home is that you get to set your own hours, but it is crucial that you do this. You will find it a lot easier to be disciplined about your work if you start and finish at roughly the same time every day, and take a set amount of time for lunch. Of course these timings can change if needed, but it’s a good idea to create a guideline structure for your working day.
- Minimise distractions
All workplaces have their distractions – from meetings to emails to phone calls – but working from home has the potential for more. It can be tempting to check your social media knowing that nobody will look over your shoulder, or to let your friend come over for a cup of tea in the middle of the working day. These things are OK now and again, but as a rule it’s best to limit distractions like these during your work hours.
- Join local groups
One of the biggest things that people miss about working in an office is the companionship of having colleagues. If the idea of working alone all day makes you shudder and you want to have people around you, try working in a café or a library for a few hours instead. You can also join local groups of freelancers and business owners and schedule regular coffee dates to get you out of the house.
- Invest in your business
One advantage of working from home is that the money you’re not spending on office space can be channelled back into your business. Perhaps you will spend it on a high-quality office chair, tickets to a conference that will be great for networking, or hiring a virtual assistant to help with your online marketing – anything that can tangibly improve your business.
- Enjoy yourself
Working from home might be new and scary, but it has all sorts of benefits that can really improve your life, so make the most of them! Whether you want to start late or finish early, hurry to your desk when inspiration strikes or take the afternoon off to go for a walk, you have the power to decide when to work and when you can afford to give yourself a break.
If you need virtual support for your work-from-home business, our skilled team of virtual assistants is here to help. Please give Get Ahead VA a call on 01483 332220 or email us at office@getaheadva.com. We pride ourselves on being the staff you don’t see, but the difference you do.
