Working from home is a growing trend, from people embracing the gig economy and companies embracing a more geographically diverse staff. A home office lets employees save time on transportation, have better flexibility and get more work done during peak hours. But the setup has its own limitations, including the remarkable ease of getting distracted by home chores or the internet. There's also personal isolation and the lack of visibility — too much time on your own does nobody any good.These limits aside, more people are seeking to work outside the office: approximately 20 to 25% according to research . So what should people do to make the most of working remotely? Here is what members from Forbes Coaches Council say:
1. Separate Work Space From Living Space
I ran my business from my apartment for some three years. The biggest tip is to separate your living space from your office space. Even if you don't have a dedicated office, create a nook or area that's dedicated to your work. Otherwise, the intense energy will carry throughout your home and it will be difficult to "turn off" and relax when you need to. -
Kamila Gornia,
Kamila Social LLC 2. Tune Into Your Circadian Rhythms
Working from home is ultimately productive when you plan your schedule to match your energy. Focused and alert at 6 a.m.? Do your "heavy lifting" at daybreak. Mentally exhausted after putting that proposal together? Reward yourself with a walk or bike ride. Do you get drowsy in the afternoon? Take a power nap, and then power through some more heavy lifting, refreshed. It's no longer a 9 to 5 world! -
Deborah Goldstein,
DRIVEN Professionals 3. Establish A Daily Routine
Unlimited flexibility can be daunting. Introduce positive discipline into your newfound freedom by establishing a daily routine. Write out a work plan for the week, utilize a calendar to schedule your time or set up a daily regimen to frame your working time. Ensure your productivity by organizing your daily expectations, and set realistic goals for yourself. -
Erin Urban,
UPPSolutions, LLC 4. Set And Keep Office Hours
Creating and sticking to a schedule will not only set the structure and expectation for your clients and colleagues but increase your productivity. Working from home is great, but it's not a replacement or an excuse to not meet deadlines or keep appointments. If you show up consistently as a pro, your clients will appreciate and notice it. It will also increase their loyalty and satisfaction. -
Gina Gomez,
Gina Gomez, Business & Life Coach 5. Dress Like You're Going To The Office
One of the benefits of working from home is you can dress casually all day. Consider how you "show up" dressed in work clothes, versus casual clothes. If there's a significant difference, chances are your clients will notice this as well, even if it's only a phone call with your client. -
Gregory Stebbins,
PeopleSavvy 6. Stay Visible To Your Supervisors
"Out of sight, out of mind" — that's real. In order to stay relevant in your roles, as well as be seen as growing and eligible for promotion, you need to be visible to your management, especially upper management, making these decisions. If you're just coasting along doing your job, that's not enough, not only for a promotion but maybe even to stay employed. Out of sight is out of mind. Be in sight. -
Larry Boyer,
Success Rockets LLC 7. Use A Daily To-Do List To Hold Yourself Accountable
I start each day by making a to-do list. Checking off items daily on my to-do list helps me stay on task and to measure my productivity. Without it, it's easier for my time to get away from me due to distractions. Working from home can give the illusion that you have more down time than you actually have. I end my day with a sense of accomplishment because my progress is more apparent. -
Tamiko Cuellar,
Pursue Your Purpose LLC 8. Organize Your Space
Provide yourself a space that is organized, decluttered and available for you to work from. Be ready with your computer, phone, and whatever else is required for you to be productive. Declutter the things that you don't need so that it doesn't get in the way of your ability to be efficient and effective while you are at home. -
Monica Thakrar,
MTI Related: Digital Connectivity: The Addiction That Society Encourages 9. Have Outside Activities
Working from home can be rewarding, but can also have detrimental effects on your health. You're not moving around as often as you would in a regular office setting, and now you have access to a well-stocked kitchen. It's important to go for walks, join a gym, or participate in your favorite activity to avoid monotony, loneliness and inactivity. -
Niya Allen,
Resume Newbie 10. Cultivate Authentic Connection
Create intentional connection, particularly with those beyond your immediate sphere of influence or audience. Working from home holds enormous benefits, but it's easy to limit our day-to-day connections to those solely on our calendars. Schedule a virtual coffee with a colleague. Offer open office hours. Check in by email or Slack to peers on occasion. Authentic connection fuels purpose-driven action. -
Tonyalynne Wildhaber,
The Courage Practice 11. Avoid Distractions
I find working from home quite productive, yet the black hole of distraction is often looming. When working from home, put on metaphoric blinders to help you focus. Yes, there is that load of laundry or yard work: The list is endless. As big as the temptation is, practice being disciplined to stay focused and maintain separation from work and home, especially when working from home. -
Michelle Braden,
MSBCoach, LLC 12. Don't Try To Keep The Kids And Work At The Same Time
I've talked to many people who dream of being able to work from home with their kids. I can tell you from experience it doesn't work. At any given time, you can focus on only one thing — so you will either be so focused on your work that your kids will suffer, or vice versa. Get childcare in place for the hours that require your working attention, even if it's just part-time to start. -
Tina Forsyth,
Tina Forsyth
