Working at home...tips?

[skuttle]

I recently accepted a job working for a law firm about 2 hours from here. However, I am working out of my home. So far it's going well, but I was just wondering if anyone else works from home and has any tips to share.

My office is in our dining room for now. We'll only be renting this house for another year, so I don't want to buy any furniture to fit this house (plus, we never use our dining room). I still send DS to daycare...I knew better than to think I'd be productive with a 15 month old running around!

I'd love to hear any tips and/or advice! thanks!

 

[Ted and Holly]

It takes a LOT of discipline. I thought I had it, but it is VERY difficult. Perfect example... I am on the Dis, not working.

One thing I do miss is interaction with real people. Another thing is that at the end of the day, Holly gets home and wants to stay in, I am dying to get OUT.

Do you eat in your dining room? I would try to find a separate space. I have an office. When work is done, I walk out. I log out of work and walk away.

One thing about working from home, you are always at work. Keep that in mind. Set a schedule and keep it. A friend of mine works from 7am to 9pm or later every day. He can not drop it and walk away.

Another note. Hard to call in sick.

Ted

 

[Ted and Holly]

Oh yeah, get a second phone line. Keep your work and home lines separate.

Ted

 

[debster812]

I think you are doing the absolute SMARTEST thing, by continuing to send DS to day-care. Very important.

I agree with TedandHolly (well, it's just Ted, but you know....) you need to make sure to set, and stay within boundaries. Start time, ending time, phone lines, etc.

Best of Luck to you. I am putting together a proposal to start working from home 2 days a week for next year.

Debbie

PS--how goes the costume battle???? I smile everytime I see that picture!

 

[Parkerpooh]

Skuttle,OMG, LOL, My ds(17mths) has that same costume and does the exact same thing as your ds. I was kind of hoping my ds might like his costume by Sunday but so far still screams! I have a kitty track suit type outfit as backup!

 

[aprincessmom]

Separate phone lines are a must. Also, remind anyone you know (friends, relatives, even your spouse) that you are working, not just hanging around the house so no drop-ins, drive-bys or anything else that you wouldn't dream of doing if you were in an office setting.

Keep your DS in daycare...it is very difficult to get things done with someone you want to spend time with in your line of vision Dress up and leave the house as if you were going to the office. I found I was much more productive if I were dressed for work, not for housekeeping or weekend activities. Kept me focused and reminded me of why I was there...even though the laundry was calling me

Set a timer and use it to take breaks. When I was first working from home I found I would sit down at 8:00 and all of a sudden it was 4:30 and I hadn't gotten up at all. I would set the timer for two hour intervals so I would get up and take a break...get a glass of water, get the mail, do something like you would as if you were in the office.

I know you don't want to do this but you really need a separate work area. It's difficult to keep moving your stuff around and it's difficult to resist the urge to keep working when you casually pass through the area. Set up physical and emotional boundaries for your workspace -- separate it physically from your everyday life and separate it emotionally by giving yourself set work hours.

Good luck...I miss working from home. It was a great experience.

 

[skuttle]

Great advice everyone. Thanks!

I just got a home phone line for my fax machine so that will be my work number. Before, we only had our cell phones.

We got our old computer fixed (it had crashed in Feb.), so that's my work computer.

I really can't set up a completely separate space. As I said before, we don't use our dining room so that what I use as my office space. The house we rent is small so I don't have much of a choice right now.

I am still the one to drop off and pick up DS to/from daycare...that keeps me on a normal work schedule. I don't look at work once he gets home.

Hopefully I can keep this up!


Parkerpooh...we're still not have luck with the costume. *sigh* Good luck to you with it!