Do a quick image search for working from home, and you’ll find many images of people working from their couches or at coffee tables. Although this is fine for quickly checking your emails, it is not sustainable for those of us who run our businesses from our homes.
Below you will find a few short and sweet tips on how to make working from home a success.
1. Set yourself up for success: When working from home there are two important things you need to consider; space and equipment.
Space – If, like me, you do not have an actual home office, make sure you have a designated work area (not your couch). While this gives you a place to store all your work stuff, it also signals to yourself, and those around you, that while in this space, you are at work.
Equipment – While it is true that you can run a business with just a laptop and an internet connection, you may want to consider investing in other ‘office’ equipment. Consider what your needs are. Do you need an extra monitor? What about a desk and a desk chair? Do you need somewhere to store files or other items you need for work? Make sure you have everything within reach so you don’t have to get up every time you need something.
2. Dress for success: To me, this is a mindset thing. When working from your home you still dress ‘for work’ as you’ll want to look – and feel – professional. This way you are also able to take a video call/meeting with short notice without first having to “get ready”.
3. Boundaries and availability: Running your business from home the lines between work and home quickly become blurred. For some, this works well, for others, not so much. If you belong to the latter group, what you’ll want to do is to get clear on boundaries and availabilities, and stick to them As a business owner you don’t have to be available 24-7. Clearly communicating your business hours to your clients (and the people around you at home) goes a long way. Mark your business hours in your calendar and schedule emails to be sent during business hours, even if you are working late or on weekends.
4. Community: Just because you have decided to run a business from home doesn’t mean that you have to always be at home, or in your own home. If you find yourself missing colleagues and having other people (not your family) around you. Seek out other business owners, either in shared office spaces or – if possible – by alternating having communal work days in each other’s homes once a month or so.
You probably chose to run a business from home because of the flexibility it affords. I know I did. So the best tip I can give is that whatever you do, however, you set yourself up, it has to be working for YOU and the circumstances you are currently finding yourself in.