telecommute

So you just landed your first home-based position that you have been dreaming of, but now reality sets in and you are wondering how you are going to make this transition from an office job to a work at home job. Working from home isn’t for everyone. You need self-discipline, a high level of motivation, ambition, organization, and great time management skills to name just a few traits. Loving what you do helps too.

Now, there is a misconception out there that working at home in your PJs is all fun and games. I am here to say that it is not. It’s work – real work. If you don’t do the work – you don’t get paid. Simple as that! It’s like any other job – except that you do it out of your home office versus the company’s office. However, a few tips can help you stay on track while working at home.

Mini Goals

Are you one of those telecommuters that are prone to being distracted? Do personal phone calls, tv, kids, pets easily pull you away from your work? If so, having mini goals can help. For example, you can say to yourself, or better yet write down, that you won’t go down to the kitchen to get that second cup of coffee until you have written 2 articles, transcribed 30 minutes of audio, coded 25 medical records, logged 2 hours of customer service time, or written 5 blog posts.. Whatever your job is, make these mini goals before taking a break.

Take breaks/Eat Lunch

On the flip side, there are some telecommuters (like me) who tend to work too much. For some of us who love what we do, pulling ourselves AWAY from our work is actually tough. This is actually a common telecommuting habit. Some of us need to be forced to take a break. A tip here is to make it a point to have lunch, BUT eat it away from your desk. Try to do this at least 3 times a week instead of eating in front of the computer everyday.

Set and Stick to a Schedule

For both types of telecommuters, sticking to a schedule is key. Get up the same time every day and “arrive” at the office at the same day each day. Try to maintain the same lunch hour and “leave” the office around the same time everyday.

So, if you find yourself struggling at your telecommuting job either by being distracted or by working too much, try some of these tips. Either way, they could help.

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