Unfortunately working at home carries a serious risk of allowing
procrastination to take over resulting in missed deadlines, failed goals and
loss of credibility. This means that those who are currently working from home
or considering working from home could potentially use tips for working from
home and getting the job done. After all, taking helpful advice from
those who have “been there, done that” often means we can find success without
falling into the same traps that caused others to fail.
Develop time management skills
Perhaps one of the biggest problems associated with working from home
is managing time effectively. In large part, this is because those who work at
home often work in a more relaxed environment and it may seem like there is
more time available to get tasks done. Unfortunately, this often results in
procrastination, wasting time online and a variety of other time management
issues. There are several free tools to help with time management, to-do lists,
time trackers, etc. Simple and free to use tools include free to-do lists (from Tada List).
Any of these tools can help those who work at home manage their time
better.
Learning to say no
One of the hazards of working from home is agreeing to more work than
can be easily accomplished during the work week. Too often, people who work at
home take on more work for various reasons including feeling like they have
more time than they actually have. Before accepting any new tasks, make sure
that you have the appropriate amount of time to complete the assignment
thoroughly and to the best of your ability. Taking on too much
work can result in not getting anything accomplished and can damage your future
credibility.
Scheduling matters
For those who work from home, it is often tempting to work whenever
they feel like working. Not everyone is ready to work first thing in the
morning, and this may be fine depending on whether you are self-employed or
telecommuting. For those who find they are more productive in early morning
hours, working early versus waiting to get their day started until later in the
morning may be more sensible. For those who are more productive during
late-morning or early afternoon hours, this may be more sensible. Decide what
time of day you are most productive and use that time wisely to accomplish your
goals.
Understanding your weaknesses
We all have certain tasks that we simply do not like to do, we all have
distractions that can cause us to be less productive. Take stock of your
weaknesses and find a way to turn them into strengths. Oftentimes, getting
tasks we dislike out of the way early can mean greater productivity and a
guarantee that we will get the job done. Try to manage distractions by
setting up specific times to play games, check in on social networking sites or
watch your favorite television show. Making sure that your weaknesses do
not interfere with getting the job done will help you be more successful
working from home.
Working from home is not the ideal solution for everyone, some people
never seem to be able to deal with the distractions, get a handle on time
management or work without interaction with others. However, for those that can
work effectively at home, making sure that they are getting the job done is
crucial. Take stock of all of the things that may impact successfully
working from home and getting the job done.
