With all that we have going on, many people will find themselves working from home now. If you are one of those people and working from home is new to you, this beginner’s guide to working from home may help you make the most of it. Working from home can be a blessing and it can be a curse. It depends on your personality and the work you do. I have been working from home for about 6 years now and have tried various techniques to help me stay productive and actually work from home amidst all the distractions. My working from home is going well, and I have recently started studying from home too!

Having reliable WIFI helps me stay productive and I am glad I have a stable internet provider. If you are thinking of working from home, the first thing to do is to run an internet speed test to see if your connection is good enough. Then check out the tips to help you start working from home efficiently.

Work when you are most productive

You need to figure out when you are most productive and aim to complete the main tasks then. This will allow you to work on other tasks that are not as important or demanding when your concentration levels are low. Being a freelancer means you can set the times you want to work. You may not have to work the traditional 9-5 if those hours don’t favour you. I love the flexibility of setting my hours around when I am most productive. Once you figure this out, you can work from home and get work done.

Have a routine

I love routines. They keep me focused and productive. I would be lost without a clear schedule of how my day needs to go. One of the first things you need to do when you start working from home is to have a routine and stick to it. That way you know what needs doing and when it needs to be done. For every working hour, you have a clear schedule. There should always be room for flexibility when needed. After all that is the beauty of being self-employed. Once you have a routine and you stick to it, you will find working from home easy and productive.

Take regular breaks

Don’t get tempted to keep working without taking regular breaks in between. Remember sitting is the new smoking. It is good to move around for a few minutes after every hour of sitting down. Regular breaks are good for the body and the mind. You could go for a short walk to clear your head or just walk around the house doing chores.

Days off are important

Back in my early days of working from home, I worked every free time I got and I did this pretty much every day. This is no longer the case for me. I now take a day or 2 off every week and that helps me recharge. It can be difficult to not work every single day, especially if you have just started freelancing. The anxiety or the fear of missing out keeps you grinding, but this is dangerous for your health and productivity. Days off are important so factor these days in when planning your schedule.

Avoid the distractions

I am not easily distracted. The bed, TV, and chores don’t distract me when I need to get work done. If that is the same for you then you will find it easy to work from home. If you are easily distracted, you will need to find ways to deal with your distractions. Working on a chair/table will help so you don’t get too comfy on the bed. Switching the TV off or working in a room without a TV helps too!

Do you work from home? How are you finding it?