4 Tips to Make Working From Home a Dream Come True

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For many, working from home is the ultimate dream job situation. No need to commute, don’t have to get dressed up, good coffee and no one eating your lunch out of the fridge (except you, of course) sounds amazing.

However, that dream job situation can quickly become a bit nightmarish if you don’t prepare for being in an office of just yourself or trying to be professional while your family is going about their daily lives around you. Fortunately, we have a few tips to help you keep your work at home situation a dream come true.

Create a dedicated work space

In office (and other work) settings people have a dedicated work space. A desk, a register, an office … there is a set space where you are expected to work and have all of the things you need to accomplish the task. When working at home you want to recreate that by having a space that is for work and only work. For some that might mean a home office with a door that closes while for others it might be a desk in the far corner of the family room. No matter where it is, that is the space where your work is done. And while you will want to speak with a tax professional or financial advisor to get specific and accurate information for where you live, having a dedicated home working space can have financial advantages making creating that space a professional and financial plus.

Work time is work time, not household time

You’re hard at work in your designated workspace, but in the kitchen, there’s a pile of dishes that needs to go into the dishwasher or a load of laundry that needs to be flipped. It’s so tempting to get up and handle those little household chores, but in a work from home situation it’s incredibly important to resist that urge. When working from home you want to give as much attention to the job as you would in an office situation. Let the dishes sit. They’ll keep until lunch or quitting time.

Stay active during your work day

This tip is good even if you don’t work at home, but when you’re working at home you don’t really have that separation time from when your work day ends to when you get home that some people utilize to head to the gym or otherwise get some physical activity in. So, to keep your body as sharp as your mind, make sure you get up and move during your work day. It can be as simple as standing up and stretching or as sophisticated as getting a standing desk or sitting on a stability ball. The important part is just to get some physical activity in while working beyond walking to the fridge for another drink.

Treat getting out of the house like a priority

One aspect of working in an office or on-site environment is that there is socialization. You see coworkers, you talk to customers and interact with other human beings. Working from home may keep electronic connections strong, but sometimes the social aspect suffers. That’s why it’s important to make sure that you’re still getting out and interacting with the world. Go see a movie with friends, join a sports league or even just get out and go for a walk in the park — anything that gets you out of the house and spending time with other people. Think you’ll have a hard time doing that? Schedule it as part of your regular routine. Consider it professional development of sorts.

Do you have any tips to make working from home a more comfortable and successful experiences? Let us know in the comments!