Considering Working from Home? 7 Things You Need to Know
Considering taking the plunge and removing the daily commute from your day? Here’s what you need to know before you decide to work remotely.
1. Autonomy is key.
Here is your opportunity to create your own routine and schedule and then, here’s the kicker: stick to it. When considering working from home, you have to realize that it’s not for everyone. You have to be able to be responsible for your time, tasks and responsibilities without a coworker or boss micromanaging.
2. Take frequent breaks.
When putting your schedule together, make time for yourself. Take a shower, eat a prepared meal or take a short walk. The last thing you want is to be stuck behind a screen for the entire day and then when you’re workday is over, confusing yourself with the Hunchback of Notre Dam.
3. Invest in a solid set of headphones.
Conference calls, Skype and Zoom sessions and even Google Hangouts can be the main form of communication with your office colleagues. It would behoove you to head over to Best Buy and grab some noise canceling headphones.
4. Clean out your computer.
To avoid snail paced speeds when switching between programs, take some time to export anything that is not immediately needed on your desktop to an external hard drive and then do a factory reset. Make sure to write any passwords on a piece of paper. If you use Google Chrome you can create profiles for each Gmail account and that will save automatically the next time you login.
5. Separate work from fun.
Find a cozy workspace that is away from your family room. It’s easy to get distracted by T.V. or Netflix – not to mention a needy child or spouse, so set yourself up for success by separating.
6. Organize your station.
Only have what you need on your desk or wherever you will be working. Clutter causes confusion, so simplify with only the required documents and devices.
7. Get dressed.
It’s tempting to hop out of bed, brush your teeth and head to your workspace, but avoid the allurement that comes with laziness. Take a quick shower and put on some clothes. You don’t have to get dressed to the nines, jeans and a tee will do, but sweats will make you feel lagging and thus unproductive.
If you ask us, the pros absolutely outweigh any cons when it comes to working from home. Finding a virtual job can lead to the opportunity to spend time doing the things you love instead of traveling in a car during rush hour. Once you’ve decided a remote position is for you, apply and ace the interview!