Updated: 29/10/2024
Working from home is a real lifestyle decision, and one that has been asked more and more since the COVID lockdown period, everyone in the world has experienced. To help, we have provided 8 Valuable Tips When Working From Home.
It may be you have just purchased a property further away from your office or as said above. it is purely you making a lifestyle decision of whether to continue working in an office, etc, or become home-based and start working from home.
Also, it may also be you have decided to start your own business and due to costs, it is financially easier to initially start working from home.
During the covid lockdowns and even long after, the idea of working from home became a reality and the norm for many of those working in the UK. A great number of people are still working from their homes today.
On a work front, one of the big mistakes that people make when they’re considering starting a home-based business or they simply wish to begin working from home is they fail to consider what it actually takes to be successful working from home.
You need a large amount of self-discipline for a start. Surprisingly, many people worry they may not get up in the morning. They will oversleep and basically do absolutely nothing all day long!
Let’s take a look at 8 Valuable Tips When Working From Home and how to understand what it really takes to work from home or start a home-based business and more importantly to make it successful.
1. Are You a Self-Starter?
When you have your own business or start working from home for a company or organization it’s very different than working for someone else or in your office or another workplace. Showing up late in your home office and there will be nobody to reprimand you… Except yourself!
Even if you complete all your daily tasks, there is only you there to give you praise – There is absolutely nobody watching you and certainly no one to tell you to get the job done by a specific time.
Motivation will be the keyword here and if you are not the type to self-motivate you could well be in trouble if you start working from home. On the other hand, if you are the exact opposite, and can set your own deadlines, and working hours and can work quite easily by yourself, then it may well be a great idea to start a home-based business and begin working from home.
2. How about a 4 Hour Work Week?
After publishing his book The 4-Hour Work Week, author Timothy Ferris managed to kick off a major movement. Many people expressed enthusiasm at the possibility of working only four hours each week, and many appear to have achieved it, but whether it is or was sustainable is another thing.
However, you should know that this is obviously not the norm. The majority of people who are working from home frequently fail to take breaks. Putting in even more hours than they normally would at a desk job.
The truth is, most people can’t get all their tasks done in 4 hours a week while they’re working from home. In the past, there have been times when even a full 24 hours just wasn’t enough to get everything done. I don’t mean to dampen your enthusiasm, but I think it’s important that you know what to expect. Do you have what it takes to be successful – Only you will know that.
3. Coping with Distractions
When you are working from home you will be required to put in your full attention and effort. There are people out there who when setting up their work-from-home business, are initially incredibly inefficient, mainly because they constantly allow themselves to be sidetracked by other people, visitors calls from friends and family or even playing with the household pets instead of concentrating.
Be sure your partner and children understand that you need uninterrupted work time in order to get anything done. The inability to do so will likely result in a very frustrating time spent working from home.
4. Ask yourself: Do you want to educate yourself?
You should be open to new information. I’ve seen people who have spent thousands of pounds on higher education suddenly balk at investing a few hundred pounds on a course that would give them the skills they need to succeed in business.
You will have to fund your lifestyle and business somehow. It’s either going to be the hard way, through trial and error, or the more convenient way, by hiring experts and paying them for their expertise. If you’re looking to save money and avoid stress, going the paid route is the way to go; but, the decision is ultimately yours.
5. Local Council Issues
Something to seriously consider if you are working from home is your Local Council. You are at liberty to inform them that you are either running a business from home or working from home on a regular basis. They will assess your council tax, and rubbish removal charges and even wish to know about business visitors to your property. Do not get caught out by not informing them.
6. Neighbour Issues
This may become the nightmare from hell with regard to your home-based business. What type of business are you running? If it is a basic office-only setup, paperwork, and such, not such an issue. If it generates a great many visitors to your premises, then stand by for those people that live next door and nearby to kick off about noise, parking frustrations and the street becoming too busy and disturbing their peace.
7. Mortgage Company
If you are working from home do not forget to check the terms of your mortgage loan. Some may prevent such a venture during the term of your loan, others may simply need to be made aware. This is something you should discuss with your mortgage broker during your initial meeting/discussion or contact them if you have had the mortgage awhile and the opportunity has just arisen.
8. Insurance
Finally, but not least, what about insurance – Does your existing insurance cover a working-from-home policy? Check the small print and see if you need to enhance it somewhat.
8 Valuable Tips When Working From Home
We hope we have covered all the bases on working from home. The concept appeared to be a good one, welcomed by both the employee and employer, but it would appear some companies have decided to reverse their initial decision, and ask everyone to return to the workplace.
Overall all though, these points are important for self-employed homeworkers too. Enjoy!
Updated 2024