How To Work From Home
The idea of working from home sounds like a dream (just imagine all the naps you could take!), but the reality includes far fewer snoozes and snack breaks than you’d think. To help you stay productive, I talked with Julie Morgenstern, a New York City-based productivity consultant and the author of Organizing From the Inside Out (Holt Paperbacks), for tips on getting your work done without losing your mind.
Put yourself together. "If you want to accomplish real work, the first thing you should do is get dressed—in casual work clothes, not weekend clothes. Not only does it have a psychological effect, but being pulled together will make you less likely to lounge on the couch and procrastinate."
Stake out your territory. "If you have the luxury of a home office or a guest room, set up shop there. If not, pick a corner of the kitchen or the living room (but not your bedroom; having a computer there can interfere with sleep). Use a bookcase or another piece of furniture as a room divider to create a space that feels separate from the rest of your home; you need distinct borders. And if you're working at your dining-room table, get a couple of good boxes for supplies and files—I like the colorful Bigso boxes—that you can pack up and put away when you've finished for the day."
Be your own (tough) boss. "A detailed schedule is key to being productive when nobody is looking over your shoulder. (Fortunately, at home you can stick to it without the annoyance of meetings, meetings, meetings.) Plan your day in two- or three-hour periods, each devoted to a different type of work. Spend the morning on the task that requires the most concentration and then stop for lunch. Divide the afternoon into two or three chunks, with short breaks between."
Know your distractions. "At home, you're going to be tempted to jump up and reorganize the pantry. If you simply must get up from your desk, be aware you're still on the clock and use the time purposefully to solve a problem or mentally craft an email. Or take your laptop to a coffee shop for the afternoon."
Stay connected. "If you're part of a team, you run the risk of appearing invisible to the other members when you're working from home. Check in at least once a day to let them know you're alive and productive. It's also hard to go a whole day without socializing, so schedule a networking lunch or go for a run with a friend a few times a week. But beware: Other people may take a more casual approach to your schedule. Let them know your job is real, even if you don't go to an office."
Tags:
—————