Dealing with the disadvantages
The biggest problems in working from home are:
- self-discipline
- interruptions from family and friends
- loneliness and isolation
- fewer chances to "bounce ideas around"
- no obvious place for meetings
- harder to get cover during holidays and conferences
Keeping "Golden Hours" special
One of the biggest problems for people working from home is not working too little but being distracted. The best solution I've found is to treat the golden hours (9am to 5pm on weekdays) as rather sacred. Don't arrange social meetings during this time, and if people "drop in" then you should keep discussions quite short or arrange to see them in the evening. If you explain the idea to your family and friends they will probably respect that and help to give you peace – but don't expect them to read your mind!
When you've opened the mail and the sun comes out and you look over your garden you may be tempted to get this or that "small gardening job" done. Your partner or others may have the same thoughts for you. If you want to be effective in your work … think 5pm and think Saturday morning!
A-B-C lists
Working from home means you don't have so much pressure from others in the same office, but equally you don't have the stimulation to remind you of the jobs that need doing. I have found that it works well to do a list at the start of each day and then to go through the list marking each job with an A, B or a C. A is for the jobs which really have to be done on that day, B is jobs that should be done on the day, and C is jobs that it would be nice to do. This can help you to get the important jobs done and not to worry too much about all the stuff that you haven't done.
Your own room/office, if possible
It is a luxury to have enough space but trying to work from the kitchen table is sure to be difficult. If you can organise to have your own room that is much better, and you could think about arranging the furniture to help you enjoy working there. Don't have you back to the door or your nose to a wall!
