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December 10, 2007
Getting the Job Done from Home
Here in New England, the snowy, cold months of winter have begun. This can make for some scary driving conditions. This morning, for example, the hill I live on was more passable with ice skates than my Camry. So rather than brave the weather at nine months pregnant, I stayed home to work.
Working at home can sound like a dream in theory. You never have to get out of your jammies, there's no commute and you can customize your home office any way you please. But it can also be a productivity nightmare. This College Journal article discusses how to stay productive -- and sane -- when working from home.
Based on my own experience working at home full-time for a short stint a few years ago, I agree with many of the points in the article, such as getting dressed, every day, keeping regular work hours and keeping your office separate from your living space. Here are some additional things I've learned:
- Stay in touch. There is something to out of sight, out of mind. Plus, while coworkers can be a distraction in the office, they can be a lifeline to what's going on when you're not there every day. Similarly, make yourself accessible to coworkers and, of course, your boss.
- Say no to people who try to intrude on your at-home workday. I can't tell you how many people assumed that just because I was home, I was free. I wasn't -- I was working.
- Don't feel bad if telecommuting doesn't work for you. There's a reason I went back to working in an office. Still, on cold, miserable days like this one, it's a nice option to have.
And here are some Monster resources about working at home:
- "The Pros and Cons of Working from Home
- "Create a Professional Home Office"
- "Help Your Family Adapt to Your Home Business"
- From the Monster Blog: "Thank Goodness for Telecommuting"
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Posted by Christine on December 10, 2007 at 11:48 AM in The Daily Grind | Permalink | Comments (19) | TrackBack (0)
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Comments
Good post - I'd also add that sometimes when employees come in during severe weather they may have been more productive at home, since chances are they'll be checking the forecast several times an hour and in general be distracted by making sure they're not going to get snowed in at the office. That's where some flexibility can be great benefit if employers are able to offer it.
Posted by: Summer | Dec 10, 2007 6:11:38 PM
It also depends on the job you do. I am a technical writer and so working from home is an option I have in bad weather. However, if I were working a phone or training people, it would not be.
Posted by: oldnewbie | Dec 26, 2007 9:06:55 PM
I would like a work at home program to get involved with.
Posted by: Daniel Kenny | Dec 27, 2007 3:09:01 AM
Good post - I'd also add that sometimes when employees come in during severe weather they may have been more productive at home, since chances are they'll be checking the forecast several times an hour and in general be distracted by making sure they're not going to get snowed in at the office. That's where some flexibility can be great benefit if employers are able to offer it.
Posted by: eaknath chitte | Dec 27, 2007 8:22:46 AM
working at home is one of the great opportunity for those who wants to work from home, like handicapped person's, who are not able to go to any office. parallysis person and also those who are not working with good physical fitness.
Posted by: eaknath chitte | Dec 27, 2007 8:26:57 AM
Not only should you keep your working space separate from your living space for your own sanity, but if you claim Employee Business Expenses on your taxes (Schedule C), you will be able to answer honestly that the space in your home was business only.
Posted by: Liz | Dec 27, 2007 9:04:16 AM
I would love to work at home but I'm afraid of getting mixed up in a scam. does anyone know reputable companies that I can contact to do medical billing, data entry, or other reputable jobs from home?
Posted by: jan | Dec 27, 2007 9:20:50 AM
I have over 15 years of receptionist experience as well as Event planning but I would like to contract myself out. Does anyone have any ideas how I can do so?
Thanks for your help.
Posted by: Monique White | Dec 27, 2007 10:54:56 AM
I would love to find a job that I could do at home, especially since my husbands business is a home based business. He owns a manufactured home set-up business, so it would be nice to be at work and still be able to do his phne calls and faxes. Every web site that I have looked into for a job at home has been a scam. Can't seem to find a real one.
Posted by: Katie | Dec 27, 2007 11:54:27 AM
i thik this idear is worth thinking and considering. working at home is really like being ur boss yourself without any exertion and stress we can create better ideas nad think better nd hence perform better.
Posted by: poonam | Dec 28, 2007 6:16:14 AM
i thik this idear is worth thinking and considering. working at home is really like being ur boss yourself without any exertion and stress we can create better ideas nad think better nd hence perform better.
Posted by: poonam | Dec 28, 2007 6:17:11 AM
Yes I would like to know of any reputable companies that have jobs that I could do from home. I have been trying to find companies but all the e-mails that I get are scams. I don't go farther than the first page.
Posted by: Jennifer | Dec 29, 2007 1:30:31 AM
There's a plus and minus to most everything. Technology is no exception. The computer is on the one hand a godsend and also a bit of a curse, but one of the effects of this technology is the ability for de-centralized work environments. For many jobs nowadays you can choose to live on a mountaintop somewhere or on a beach in Costa Rica, and can still produce an income.
Having said that, I ran a business initially from my home and it was relatively difficult to stay as focussed and productive as in an office. After a couple of years I rented a commercial office (but then I started sleeping with my secretary, which adversely effected productivity as well...just kidding, actually. I didn't sleep with my secretary...we were awake most of the time!) All kidding aside, with a little work many of us can stay motivated in a home office environment. I live in L.A., and the commute in traffic is getting to be an increasing nightmare here for people who have to travel any real distance to the office. This is another plus for working from home--you wake up and you're at work. Lots of money saved on car, gas, parking, upkeep, etc.
I'm pretty sure that in another 50 years nobody will have a job: we'll all just purchase robots and we'll send THEM to work! I can't wait...
Posted by: bruincraig | Dec 29, 2007 11:54:13 AM
I do undetstand some desire to be in the office occassionally. However, I feel that I was much more productive at home. If I left the office at 4:00 it was a 25 minute commute. If I left at 4:05 it became 40+ minutes. With a 6 year old in t-ball, wrestling, etc. I can promise that I was not nearly as willing to "get that last file finished" while I was at the office. Plus, that hour (or more) of commute time became production time at home.
Posted by: jnick1206 | Jan 2, 2008 8:01:19 AM
Traveling to work is both expensive and timeconsuming - I wouldn't miss that!
Posted by: www.results-videos-news.com | Jan 8, 2008 1:19:40 PM
Great information, definitely a good read...I have succeeded in a work from home business at the age of 24. Its a great lifestyle once you get the hang of it. Dont be fooled by all the glitz and glam BS claims of overnight millionaires and $100,000 a month incomes, its just not true. Being able to live off of a work at home business is possible though. I did it through selling on ebay and amazon and other alternative sites. Its a great job, I love it. Click my signature for some ideas I posted on my website!
Posted by: Travis J. Lehr | Apr 16, 2008 6:06:25 PM
Working from home does require focus. But in the long run - it is so worth it if quality of life matters to you.... It certainly does to me!
Create a List of Things to Do each day and stick to it!
Create a quality work environment so you are set to work!
Schedule play time... :-)
Posted by: Millionaire Lee | Apr 17, 2008 2:40:36 PM
I'm a teacher who works online as a side business. I can honestly say that my biggest problem is overworking myself. Once I start a project for my business, I feel like I can't stop until it's complete. I have to be careful to avoid burnout.
Posted by: Kayecee | Apr 27, 2008 11:55:08 AM
Great post...working from home does take dedication to the rules that you should set up for yourself. Once you get into a routine it will be just that routine.
Posted by: Tim | Jun 6, 2008 3:45:54 PM
