I’ve been working from home since 2003. I spent a decent portion of my life commuting to work either via car or via train often 2-4 hours a day. The last job I had before making the switch to working from home forced me to commute 4 hours a day, 20 hours a week. I’d leave for work at 6:00 am, come home at 8:00 pm, eat dinner, go to bed and do it all over again the next day.
I was commuting almost an entire day of the week and had decided I had enough. To me, I was wasting time sitting in my car or on a train when I could be more productive if I didn’t have to commute. I didn’t actively pursue a work from home position, but I am happy that I found one.
Many people fantasize about working from home, sitting on the couch all day with a computer on their lap, bag of chips at their side wearing just underwear. Though I imagine that happens with some people who work from home, it isn’t necessarily the case with me. Working from home is not for everyone, though, and a lot of people I speak to find it challenging. I’m here to tell you based on my experience the good, bad, and ugly truths of working from home.
Focus
Working from home takes focus. There are many distractions at home, including the television, couch, bed, kitchen, and just about everything else you can imagine. You can’t be the type of person who “takes a minute” to check Facebook or YouTube, and then two hours later you’re in a wormhole of drum solo videos, and you don’t even play drums. If it doesn’t make me money, I try to avoid it until after work.
I’ve found that when working from home, you should use the same rationale, you would if you went to a “real office.” Shower when you get up in the morning, and for god’s sake, could you put on some pants! I’m not suggesting you put on a suit but change out of what you were wearing the day or night before. You will feel more prepared for work if you shower and get dressed and, believe it or not, may even feel more motivated. I go to the gym at 6:30, and I’m at my desk by 8:30 at the latest ready to go.
There are distractions in a corporate office as well. I find the years I have worked from home to be my most productive. I no longer get caught up in idle office chatter about last night’s “big game” or stuck in birthday celebrations for Toby in human resources. Instead, I put my head down and focus on my day ahead.
I take breaks throughout the day and utilize the Pomodoro technique to stay fresh and focused throughout my workday.
Focus is key!
Flying solo
Not working with other people can be very difficult for some. I won’t lie; you do miss the interaction at times with other human beings. I talk to my dogs often, and they look at me as if I’m crazy, and maybe I am. There is a certain camaraderie that occurs in an office environment that you may miss from working at home.
I stay in touch with my sales team and headquarters regularly. This communication, coupled with client outreach, does provide me some connection to the outside world. It’s almost like when you have children and spend so much time talking in baby gibberish, that adult time seems so gratifying.
The worst thing for a salesperson who works from home is generating numerous emails and phone calls and not getting a return call or email. Often I pick up the phone to see if there is a dial tone hoping that’s the reason no one is calling me. It hasn’t been the case yet in all these years.
There is a fine line that we walk when working from home — a line between having peace and missing human interaction. The goal is to find your balance and connect with others in your situation to keep your sanity.
You’re on your own when working from home!
Organization
When working in an office environment, there is a certain etiquette you need to keep for your office, desk or cubicle. Things need to look neat and organized at all times. No one wants the boss coming over to their desk and seeing yesterday’s sandwich sitting on your keyboard and files everywhere. When working from home, it is easy to fall into the trap of being unorganized because no one is watching. Except maybe your spouse when they get home from work and ask why your socks and breakfast are on the counter.
If you take out a file, put it back in its’ correct place. Make sure to take impeccable notes and use whatever system you use to file them. I am a bit old school and like to take notes in a marble notebook and then transpose them into my computer. It helps me to remember better, and it works for me. Do what works for you, but do something. The most successful people you see in business and life are ones that are organized.
Stay organized when working from home
Communication skills
Communicating when working from home is very different than an office environment. When working in an office, it’s easy to get an answer to a question. Walk down the hall, and your boss is there to speak. You may even stand outside your boss’s office until he or she is free to talk with you. When working from home, you need to navigate email and dare I say, the telephone much better.
Emails should have specific call-outs in the subject line so that your boss knows this is important and needs attention. If not, your email will get lost in all the others they sort through daily. Be very specific in what you are asking, don’t ramble on as you might on the phone. Be specific with your “ask.”
That’s why communicating by phone is always best when working from home, especially if you are part of a larger team. A weekly call is the best way to stay in touch with everyone. I speak with my boss several times a day to check in and let him know what we are working on as a team and individually.
Communicate effectively and efficiently.
Self-Starter
If you aren’t the type of person who can motivate themselves then working from home is not for you. There is no hand-holding in most jobs where you are working from home. No boss breathing down your back at all times (unless you work for a micro-manager) who can walk in your office at any time. The temptation to slack off is everywhere when working from home. The chance to run a quick load of laundry, mow the lawn, sleep in a bit and start later, but I urge you not to fall into these traps. These are bad habits that will be hard to break, so instead set positive habits.
Set a routine and stick to it. Get up at the same time every day and be at your desk on time or early. Get your workout done and out of the way before you start working so you can focus all your efforts on your job. Break your daily tasks up into smaller segments and goals. Use a technique called time blocking to help organize your day and set you up for success.
You must be a self-starter to work from home
Working from home can be the best or worst thing to happen to you in your professional career. Working from home has allowed me to be more productive and focused. For some, the distractions of being in your home all day can be too much and cause their work to suffer. If you follow some simple guidelines and remain focussed and organized, you will find the rewarding results of a work from home position.
Do you work from home currently, or have you in the past? What did you like most or dislike most about it? Let me know in the comments below.
It’s sooo important to get ready like for a job, maybe a bit more casual, but definitely change clothes! I also need daily to-do lists, and weekly plans because if I don’t have those I procrastinate A LOT. Thanks for sharing this!
Amen
I know a few people who work from home, and I have been told that it does take a lot of focus. I would think it would be very important to treat it as if it were a job you are going away to. I thought this information was great, and I also agree staying organized it very important.
I worked in an office for nearly 20 yrs and then took a job where I had to work from home. It is a different ball game. You miss the office synergies you had with people. It takes a lot of discipline and focus. There are countless distractions. However, once you get used to it, getting used to the daily commute and stress gets to you. You look back and say, wow…I actually put myself through all this for the last two decades. I do agree with you that we can save ourselves 10 to 20 hrs a week and use that for other things. I found working in my PJ, not the most motivating so I still shaved and dressed up in a suit so my mindset was focused. I also saved on eating out, the costs of subway and train. A great article Scott to the point and love it man. Keep writing.
I love working from home. I am real introvert so it doesn’t bother me that I don’t have colleagues to talk to. I agree that you need to be focused and self motivated to keep yourself on track.
Working from home all sounds great – until you realise you still have to work! These are great tips to help make the decision.
Great post! While I won’t deny that I definitely have those days from time to time when I’m working on the couch in my pjs, my fav tv show playing in the background, especially if I’m not feeling well, more often than not I’m in my office. I treat that room like going to the office, as you mentioned, for two reasons… First, because it helps me to stay productive. Second, by having an ‘office’, I can close the door and leave work like everyone else does at the end of the day, clearing my mind and relaxing at home. I find that distinction is important.
I have been working from home since 2010 and till date, I’ll take it over anything. The flexibility it offers is my main point of attraction.
Once again, your articles seem to come to me in such a timely manner! I was literally at my accountants office yesterday talking about setting up a home-based office for myself. I’m a bit worried about the “flying solo” aspect because I am quite a social person and enjoy having my work friends…Although, I also am usually the one participating (or starting, if we want to be real honest) in office gossip so perhaps this might be a good thing for me! I’m still on the fence if I want to take the plunge to solely working at home or continuing to toggle between the two. But your article gave me a lot to think about!
I don’t work from home but I would love to. I’m definitely focused and self-starter but I’m also quick and prefer to be on my own schedule.
After reading your article I have to say… I am such a bad home worker! I often end up still in bed with my laptop first thing in the morning, still wearing my pyjamas. You would think that you don’t need to tell home workers to take a shower and put on pants but …. ehmm…. I think that I need to re-think my daily routine after reading your article.
You nailed this! People don’t always take into consideration the discipline and routine needed in order to effectively work from home. I worked from home for over a year before I moved to Italy and I have to say that I’m more productive working from home and I enjoy the liberty it gives me to organize my time and do the tasks I need to do. But, like you said the most important thing is to treat your work from home job as though you were working in an office – do your work hours and don’t get distracted or work well into the night – I would sometimes do that and I found I wasn’t separating home from work – so I made sure to change that! I’m also seeing the Pomodoro technique come up a lot lately, I’ve used it in the past and like it when I have a lot of things to get done!
I feel I will be very lazy when I work from home full-time. Time really does run fast when you are comfortable and doing things you love. So I feel I will not be able to get things done if I work from home. However, maybe if I was travelling to various locations for work, that will be fun. Maybe I should try it though.
I love my office for this exact reason. I have to have that formal work space, even at home. Once I am done, I close the door and head off to the rest of the house to do whatever. But kitchen tables are for eating, couches are for relaxing, beds for sleeping, and office for working. I don’t think any of these should mix, because they can’t be separated and neither really enjoyed or are productive. There has to be the ability to separate the business and personal time. When I first started working at home, I had the same view as many. I can just hang out all day and nobody needs to know if I’m wearing pants or not. It will be great! But no, it really doesn’t work like that. At least not well.
working from home is never easy but I still choose it always. it takes a lot of will power and time management but possibilities are endless