Essential things you will need to work from home

Working from home is becoming increasingly popular and is an appealing alternative to a 9 to 5 job. Although working from home can be freeing, it can also be surprisingly hard. To work from home productively, include the following 12 essential items.

1. Internet service

If you have a job from home that requires absolutely no internet access, I would love to know what it is! For most of us, the internet is key to getting things done. Whether you are a blogger, an entrepreneur, a consultant, or (pretty much) anything else, you need a good, reliable internet service. Make sure you have got a consistent, decent speed connection to boost your productivity. Nothing is worse than not getting things done because your internet went out… again!

2. Office space

You need to make sure you have one place that you consider your workspace. It does not necessarily have to be an entire room, but make sure you are not confusing your office with your leisure space. Simply putting a desk in a corner of your bedroom will suffice. Coffee shops and libraries are also popular places to work. For example, I work from my spare bedroom. Find what works for you and stick to it.

3. Phone service

Just as internet service is important to just about every home-based job, so is a phone service. While this might not be as important, by virtue of email and voice messaging services like Skype, it is still crucial to have a reliable phone service.

4. Clothes that are not pyjamas

Yes, working from home means you do not have to wear that suit you always hated. However, wearing your pyjamas during your workday can cut down on productivity. We associate pyjamas with leisure and sleep — not with work. So, try changing out of them for the day. You may find that you get more done.

5. A good desktop setup

While your desktop might be good for play, you might need to expand your capabilities with some extras. From spreadsheets to manage your accounts, to backup storage for important documents, it might come in handy to have some business-oriented software. Shop around for some of these products and find what suits your needs. Good, reliable resources will make your life a whole lot simpler.

6. Reach out to the rest of the world

Just because you work from home does not mean that you should confine yourself to your room. Networking sites for professionals are quickly becoming must-haves in the business world. Sites, such as LinkedIn, can help you reach out to others in the industry and people you have worked with in the past.

7. An organised space

As with a desk in an office building, you need to make sure your space is organised and decluttered. Just because you work from home does not mean that you can treat your workspace like your laundry room, kitchen, or gym. The same goes for your computer when you are working, it is a work computer. It is not to be confused with a play computer.

 

 

8. A time for working

Make a specific time for work every day and stick to it. It can get confusing to differentiate between work and home when the two are the same. However, making sure you create a workday for yourself can help your productivity. If you are not a 9 to 5 kind of person, that is fine, but you have got to make a specific time in which you will only do work. It is also important that other people respect this time and avoid contact unless it is urgent.

9. A follow up

It is easy for people to forget about the employee who works at home. Out of sight, out of mind, really does apply to the work world. Make sure you maintain communications with colleagues and work mates. Keep in touch with contacts from training and those you have dealt with in the process of building up your business. Contacts help you to learn from the experiences of others and ensure you hear about changes and keep ahead of the game.

10. Realistic expectations

Working from home can be great, and it can save money on transportation costs and provide more time to enjoy life. However, in the beginning income might be less than expected. Many at-home workers are self-employed, meaning they are responsible for all costs associated with running their business including business insurance and pension payments. Others, like freelance writers, might feel the initial disappointment with the methods of payment including per-word payment. It is important to have a long-term aim and understand there may be dips in the journey to success. Ensure that expectations are realistic and recognise that tomorrow you are possibly not going to be a millionaire. Revisit the reasons for stepping out on this venture to check that the benefits are worth the steady progress to success.

11. Perseverance

As I said above, establishing yourself opens more opportunities and increased income. Do not get too discouraged if your new venture starts off slowly. Evaluate your strengths and strive to produce quality work. This will reap benefits in the future. Remaining positive and celebrating success, even if this may be small in the beginning, is essential in gaining long term success.

12. Distance

While it is important to make sure you are working without distractions try to avoid becoming obsessed with work. When it appears, success is not coming avoid thinking you need to work constantly. It can be too easy to lose the balance between working and living at home. Make sure you let go of your work, just as you would if you worked outside of your home. If it is past your scheduled work time, leave it until tomorrow and appreciate the benefits of being at home.