| Overall, working from home can be a positive and | | | | to stay in touch. You will determine which issues and |
| rewarding experience for you, your family, and your | | | | or coworkers to attend to and which to not. Increased |
| employer, if you follow a few simple tips: | | | | productivity due to decreased coworker distraction |
| 1. Understand your employer's expectations. Will your | | | | may be a major benefit to working from home. |
| job requirements and duties be the same at home as | | | | 8. Schedule daily and weekly breaks. Many home |
| in an office environment? How much support will you | | | | workers find that they spend too much time at the |
| receive as a home office worker. Some companies | | | | computer which can decrease overall productivity. |
| have very stringent guidelines about what equipment | | | | Schedule breaks into your day. Take a regular lunch |
| and support will be provided by the company and | | | | (at any time you want - no one is watching!) and stand |
| what they will not. Companies will often provide a | | | | up and walk around periodically. You might find it helpful |
| computer and telephone and will support each, but not | | | | to set an alarm in Outlook or other calendar to remind |
| a printer or a fax machine, for example. It is important | | | | you to move away from the computer. |
| to clarify where your company stands and what they | | | | Telecommuters may not realize that they are squinting |
| are willing to negotiate on. | | | | at the screen, are hungry, or, even, have to use the |
| 2. Be sure that you meet (and/or exceed your | | | | restroom when they get too engrossed in their work. |
| employer's expectations) and make sure you boss | | | | 9. Understand your work style. It is crucial for you to |
| knows that you are consistently doing so. You may | | | | understand how you work best. Do you work best |
| work 9, 10, 12 hours a day, but it won't matter if your | | | | according to your moods? If so, keep track of your |
| boss doesn't know it or you don't get the anticipated | | | | tasks according to task type: computer work, |
| results! How will you communicate your efforts and | | | | telephone work, meetings, etc. This way you can |
| results to your employer? Don't rely on them to | | | | perform these tasks when you are at your best. |
| evaluate this. Your performance, or lack thereof, may | | | | 10. Track your work and progress. Your employer |
| not come up until there is a need for a scapegoat or | | | | may have a specific way for you to track your time. It |
| something goes wrong... | | | | may be as simple as emailing your supervisor when |
| 3. Set up a comfortable, separate space for your | | | | you start and stop your work. It may be a more |
| work area. This is critical to your success as a | | | | elaborate time tracking system where you record your |
| home-worker. Your space should be relatively free | | | | specific activities in time increments or journal style. It |
| from distractions such as family, pets, home telephone, | | | | may be a good idea to keep track of what you are |
| the television, even an attractive view if you are new | | | | doing in more detail. It may come in handy if you are |
| to telecommuting. You should have a good quality chair | | | | asked to justify your time or when you would like to |
| and large monitor if you are primarily working at the | | | | ask for a raise. |
| computer (who isn't!). | | | | 11. Assess your progress weekly. It is important to |
| 4. Make sure that you have everything you need to do | | | | organize your work in such a way as you are able to |
| your job at home. A computer, workstation, phone, | | | | quickly and clearly see what you have accomplished. |
| printer and fax are a given. BUT, you will also need | | | | Often, this is accomplished through effective use of a |
| paper, ink cartridges ( you would be surprised how | | | | calendar system like Outlook In some industries, the |
| quickly these seem to need to be replaced, even in a | | | | billable hour or journal system (even a combination) are |
| "paperless" environment), possibly letterhead, pens, | | | | standard. However you approach it, you need to be |
| sticky pads, etc. Think about many of the things you | | | | able to clearly determine you are on target to reach |
| use in your office and the well stocked supply cabinet | | | | your goals. |
| there. Will you visit the office periodically to replenish | | | | 12. Make adjustments to how you accomplish your job. |
| these common items or purchase them and be | | | | If something is not working, don't be afraid to change it. |
| reimbursed. Iron this out in advance. | | | | As a telecommuter, you may be a pioneer at your |
| 5. Set boundaries with your family and friends. This is | | | | office, company or industry. No one may have all the |
| pivotal not only to your success at working from | | | | answers. Invest time researching ways to improve |
| home, but to your personal relationships! When you | | | | your productivity. Don't be afraid to ask, "Is there a |
| first begin telecommuting friends and family may not | | | | quicker, better, more effective way out there?" Seek it |
| understand the demands that this requires of you. A | | | | out, albeit carefully. Don't jump on the first bandwagon |
| friend whose sitter cancels may call you for a favor, | | | | that comes along. Try it out tentatively -not all solutions |
| "Can you watch the kids, since you are working at | | | | meet all users' needs. |
| home?" You may get invitations to lunch or drinks, | | | | 13. Ask for help or input. Have regular meetings with |
| which down the road you may evaluate that you can | | | | your boss or coworkers. These meetings could be |
| work into your schedule periodically. In the beginning, | | | | weekly, monthly or quarterly. The meetings may be |
| you need to be careful to set a tone for your family | | | | more frequent to begin with. Talk to others from a |
| and friends as well as good work habits for yourself. | | | | similar field who also telecommute. Use social |
| 6. Set specific work times or goals: Daily, weekly, | | | | networking to stay in touch and obtain advice in |
| monthly, yearly and beyond. Goals are important to | | | | answer to a question or before you ask it. Be |
| keep you on track as well as to validate your | | | | selective about which groups or lists you sign up for or |
| progress. Working at home can be very positive in | | | | follow. You don't want social networking to become a |
| terms of autonomy and independence, but it can be | | | | distraction rather than a way to stay in touch and |
| lonely and unfulfilling without the regular feedback that | | | | obtain input! |
| comes from working in an office. The telecommuter | | | | 14. Take care of yourself. It is hard to do your best |
| needs to feel confident that he or she is doing what is | | | | when you don't feel your best and especially hard |
| necessary to be viewed as successful and to feel | | | | when you don't have regular input from others! Get up |
| secure in his or her job. Paranoia can set in pretty | | | | at a regular time and get dressed. Have your |
| quickly without the regular input of fellow coworkers. | | | | breakfast and coffee before work if that is your habit. |
| 7. Stay connected. It may be a good idea to start out | | | | If you usually brown bag it, pack a lunch to eat when |
| telecommuting just a day or two a week and increase | | | | you are ready. Meet coworkers or friends for lunch |
| gradually from there. This will provide you the | | | | periodically if you are in the habit of this. Set regular |
| opportunity to slowly transition how you will | | | | breaks and quitting time. Avoid the temptation to work |
| communicate in a more natural way. You will find that | | | | when it should be family time and remember to |
| you and your coworkers may email or call more often | | | | exercise and go to bed at the appointed hour. |