14 Tips For Working
From Home
Original article by Mary Sherwood Sevinsky

1. Understand Your Employer’s
Expectations.

Will your job requirements and duties be the same at home
as in an office environment? How much support will you
receive as a home office worker?
Some companies have very stringent guidelines about what
equipment and support will be provided by the company
and what they will not.
It is important to clarify where your company stands and
what they are willing to negotiate on.

2. Meet And Exceed Your Employer’s
Expectations.

You should also make sure your boss knows you are in fact
consistently meeting and/or exceeding his/her
expectations. You may work 9, 10, 12 hours a day, but it
won’t matter if your boss doesn’t know it or you don’t get
the anticipated results!
Don’t rely on them to evaluate this. Your performance, or
lack thereof, may not come up until there is a need for a
scapegoat or something goes wrong.

3. Set Up A Comfortable, Separate
Space For Your Work Area.

This is critical to your success as a home-worker.
Your space should be relatively free from distractions such
as family, pets, home telephone, the television, even an
attractive view if you are new to telecommuting.
You should have a good quality chair and large monitor if
you are primarily working at the computer (who isn’t!).

4. Make Sure You Have Everything
You Need.

A computer, workstation, phone, printer and fax are a
given. BUT, you will also need paper, ink cartridges,
possibly letterhead, pens, sticky pads, etc. Think about
many of the things you use in your office and the well
stocked supply cabinet there.
Will you visit the office periodically to replenish these
common items or purchase them and be reimbursed? Iron
this out in advance.

5. Set Boundaries With Your Family
And Friends.

This is pivotal not only to your success at working from
home, but to your personal relationships! When you first
begin telecommuting, friends and family may not
understand the demands this requires of you.You may get
invitations to lunch or drinks, which down the road you may
evaluate you can work into your schedule periodically.
In the beginning, you need to be careful to set a tone for
your family and friends as well as good work habits for
yourself.

6. Set Specific Work Times Or Goals.

Goals are important to keep you on track, as well as to
validate your progress. Working at home can be very
positive in terms of autonomy and independence, but it can
be lonely and unfulfilling without the regular feedback that
comes from working in an office.
The telecommuter needs to feel confident he or she is
doing what is necessary to be viewed as successful and to
feel secure in his or her job. Paranoia can set in pretty
quickly without the regular input of fellow co-workers.

7. Stay Connected.

It may be a good idea to start out telecommuting just a day
or two a week and increase gradually from there.
This will provide you the opportunity to slowly transition
how you will communicate in a more natural way. You will
find you and your co-workers may e-mail or call more often
to stay in touch. You will determine which issues and/or co-
workers to attend to and which to not.
Increased productivity due to decreased co-worker
distraction may be a major benefit to working from home.

8. Schedule Daily And Weekly
Breaks.

Many home workers find they spend too much time at the
computer which can decrease overall productivity.
Schedule breaks into your day. Take a regular lunch (at
any time you want – no one is watching!) and stand up and
walk around periodically.
Telecommuters may not realize they are squinting at the
screen, are hungry, or, even, have to use the restroom
when they get too engrossed in their work.

9. Understand Your Work Style.

It is crucial for you to understand how you work best.
Do you work best according to your moods? If so, keep
track of your tasks according to task type: computer work,
telephone work, meetings, etc.
This way you can perform these tasks when you are at your
best.

10. Track Your Work And Progress.

Your employer may have a specific way for you to track
your time. It may be as simple as e-mailing your supervisor
when you start and stop your work. It may be a more
elaborate time tracking system where you record your
specific activities in time increments or journal style.
It may be a good idea to keep track of what you are doing
in more detail. It may come in handy if you are asked to
justify your time or when you would like to ask for a raise.

11. Assess Your Progress Weekly.

It is important to organize your work in such a way as you
are able to quickly and clearly see what you have
accomplished.
In some industries, the billable hour or journal system (even
a combination) are standard. However you approach it, you
need to be able to clearly determine you are on target to
reach your goals.

12. Make Adjustments To How You
Accomplish Your Job.

If something is not working, don’t be afraid to change it.
As a telecommuter, you may be a pioneer at your office,
company or industry. No one may have all the answers.
Invest time researching ways to improve your productivity.
Don’t jump on the first bandwagon that comes along.
Try it out tentatively – not all solutions meet all users’
needs.

13. Ask For Help Or Input.

Have regular meetings with your boss or co-workers. These
meetings could be weekly, monthly or quarterly. Talk to
others from a similar field who also telecommute.
Use social networking to stay in touch and obtain advice in
answer to a question or before you ask it.
You don’t want social networking to become a distraction
rather than a way to stay in touch and obtain input!

14. Take Care Of Yourself.

It is hard to do your best when you don’t feel your best and
especially hard when you don’t have regular input from
others! Get up at a regular time and get dressed. Have your
breakfast and coffee before work if that is your habit.
Set regular breaks and quitting time. Avoid the temptation
to work when it should be family time and remember to
exercise and go to bed at the appointed hour.

Read The Original Article!
We hope you enjoyed this presentation!
Click here to read the original article by Mary
Sherwood Sevinsky on CAREEREALISM.com