As a remote accounting and consulting firm, our team has mastered the working from home ins and outs, because let’s be honest…Working from home is awesome … right up until you’re in a conference call and your kids start playing ring around the rosie for four hours out of the day. Or today is the day that your dog decided that EVERYTHING he sees out the window needs a good barking at. And your neighbor, who you can only assume is building a time machine, starts firing up all kinds of power tools and noisy machinery next door.
For many many professionals, working from home every once in a while is a luxury that our respective companies afford us. But which environment actually allows us to be more productive? The office office or the home office?
1. Getting started first thing in the morning.
When you’re heading into the office, your commute can actually help wake you up and you feel ready to work by the time you get step in. But, at home, however, the transition from your nice and cozy bed straight to your computer can be much less invigorating.
But, the ideal way to productively work from home is to start your to-do list as soon as you wake up (as you’re drinking your coffee of course). Getting started on a project right off the bat can be the key to finishing it gradually throughout your day. Because, what may happen is you’ll delay your breakfast and allow your morning sluggishness to slowly deteriorate your initial motivation.
2. Plan your day as if you were in the office.
When you’re working from home, you’re your own boss. Lacking typical work day agenda items, like in-person meetings to break up your day, you can begin to burn out quickly.
Sticking to a schedule means planning what you’ll do and when you’ll do it over the course of your day. If you utilize an online calendar or task manager, generate personal events and schedule reminders that tell you when to shift gears and begin on new items. Personally our firm likes Google Calendar, Evernote and Hubspot to keep everyone on track.
3. Choose a dedicated work space.
Just because you’re not working at an office doesn’t mean you can’t, well, have an office. Rather than cooping yourself up in your room or on the couch — spaces that are associated with leisure time — dedicate a specific room or surface in your home to work.
4. Do more.
It never fails, projects always seem to take longer than you initially plan for. Because of that, you’ll typically do less than you originally wanted to do. So, just like you’re planning to complete the entire scope of the project, you should plan how much time you will spend doing one thing, you should over plan the things you’ll do during the day. Even if you don’t complete your goal, you’ll still finish the day with a full list of completed tasks.
5. Don’t rush into calls first thing in the morning.
Most people aren’t morning people. As they plan out their day and you begin calling, it’s inevitable that you may get somebody who woke up on the wrong side of the bed. You shouldn’t have to wait too much to become productive in the morning, but allow yourself some extra time before immediately calling out. For example, you can make phone calls, have meetings, and any other collaborative work for when you’re ready and up (After coffee usually works).
6. Plan out what you’ll work on before the day.
Taking time to plan out what you will work on today takes away from actually working on those things. Then, you’ll have set up your task list so soon that you may be tempted to switch gears on the go.
It’s without saying that you can allow your agenda to change if it needs to, but it’s equally as important to remain committed to a plan that outlines every task before you start. Try nailing down your schedule the day before if not a few days before, allowing it to feel more legitimate when you wake up the day of, and get working on it.
7. Stay connected.
Working from home may end up helping you focus on your work, but because it’s from home, it can also make you feel cut off from your company. Tools like video chatting and instant messaging allow for an easy way to touch base with coworkers and superiors and keep you motivated on how your work is beneficial long term.
8. Breaks are necessary.
It’s easy to get distracted working from home that you may begin to avoid breaks altogether. Don’t allow the idea of working in the same place you live in prevent you from taking five to gather your thoughts. Don’t just hop on Facebook and scroll the timeline, rather use your break to step away from your desk and devices all together. however. Check the mailbox, do some laundry, talk to others in the home, it’s okay.
9.Define the end of your day.
You may think that when you work from home you have to maintain this work-life balance, this assumption can be tricky. When you work from home, you tend to get so caught up in an assignment or project in an unbothered environment that you can lose track of time altogether.
Instead, set a timer or alarm for the same time every day to mark the end of your day. This time can vary day to day depending on what you can get done in your time frame, but having a time when you know that your work day is technically over can set you up for saving your work and actually ending your day to enjoy your off time.
TK Accounting & Consulting 