When most people decide to work at home, they have visions of how easy and convenient it is going to be, rolling out of bed and rolling up to the computer in your home clothes, or being able to work and still never missing any of their favorite soap operas and talk shows during the day.
Unfortunately, there is a lot more to contend with after making the decision to work at home than no more suits and no more commuting.
To work at home successfully, a person needs a great deal of personal motivation and self-discipline. After all, there is no train you are going to miss and no boss you are going to tick off by showing up late if you can’t get yourself out of bed by eight in the morning.
Instead, people who work at home have to be their own boss and monitor their own schedule in this regard, which can be difficult if you’re used to being motivated by the strict schedule imposed by your office environment.
On the other hand, for many individuals who don’t necessarily function optimally during “normal” working hours and who prefer a more alternative approach, the work at home option can be a blessing because it allows them to work at home when it is convenient for them.
In many cases, this arrangement will make someone more productive, not less. Having a flexible working schedule is a home business advantage but it can also lead to failure if not managed properly.
If you are planning to work at home, the best thing you can do is to set yourself a few ground rules and make sure you stick to them.
Plan your workdays in advance – know when you are going to get up and start work, when you will break for lunch and when you will quit for the day, just as you would at the office.
If you work at home, your schedule doesn’t have to be the same as it would at the office, but it needs to exist in order for you to be productive. Set yourself a designated work area where you will work at home and try to keep it as separate from your non-work life as you can.
After all, one thing many people who work at home learn quickly is that you don’t always appreciate being at home as much when you’re not working if you’re also at home when you are working.
