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10 ways to make working from home work
10 ways to make working from home work —
1. Set a schedule: To work effectively from home, map out your schedule and create a prioritized "To Do" list the night before, says Holly Reisem Hanna, founder of The Work at Home Woman. "That way when you sit down to work, you'll know exactly what needs to be done."
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10 ways to make working from home work —
2. Be realistic: Set reasonable goals about what you can accomplish and how long projects will take, says Alex Iwashyna, a freelance writer and blogger who works from home. "You really have to manage your time well," she said, adding that something you think only takes 30 minutes could actually take two hours.
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10 ways to make working from home work —
3. Be ruthless about your time: Learn to say no, says Holly Reisem Hanna of The Work at Home Woman. This means letting family and friends know you are not available during your "office hours." No doing laundry or household chores during office hours either, says Reisem Hanna.
Photo Illustration/Shutterstock
10 ways to make working from home work —
4. Turn the computer and the phone off:Lela Davidson, a work from home author and blogger, says her husband is good about reminding her when it's time to unplug at night. "You don't realize how many hours you really are putting in and frankly, it's easier to be inefficient because you've got that sense that you can do that (at night)," she said.
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10 ways to make working from home work —
5. Take a day off:Alex Iwashyna said she found herself working seven days a week and "started really burning out" so she decided to take at least one day off a week. For her it's Saturday. No computer. No obligations. Family time. "I don't want anyone in my family to think my iPhone or laptop is attached to mom."
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10 ways to make working from home work —
6. Let your friends help you:Lela Davidson sometimes meets up with girlfriends, who also work from home, at a local cafe. "We're not competitive but we push each other," she said. "I know if she's got her head down working, I'm going to do that, too."
Photo Illustration/Shutterstock
10 ways to make working from home work —
7. Don't sabotage your reputation: If you miss deadlines and deliver sloppy work, you will damage your reputation, says Holly Reisem Hanna of The Work at Home Woman. And if you are telecommuting, you could also lose the privilege of working from home. "Be on task when you're supposed to be on task, and not pretending to work," she said.
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10 ways to make working from home work —
8. Get dressed:Holly Reisem Hanna says even if you are working from home, you should still get dressed in the morning. "The more professional you are, the easier it will be for others to respect your remote working status," she said.
Photo Illustration/Shutterstock
10 ways to make working from home work —
9. Run errands, take laptop: Alex Iwashyna takes her laptop and her portable wireless Internet device with her wherever she goes. "I always have it on me," she said. "I never know when I might have the opportunity to get a little work done or finish an article, so I think it helps."
Photo Illustration/Getty Images
10 ways to make working from home work —
10. Set up a home office: Having a separate office space, says Holly Reisem Hanna, can help you "filter out noise and household chores that are constantly staring you in the face." A separate office can also help "draw the line between work time and play time."
