Working from home has become the new norm now that we are in a pandemic. I’ve been seeing a lot of photos of home offices setup being shared on various social media websites. To be honest, sometimes I get envious of these posts because I don’t have a home office setup. I really don’t have space for it (for now). However, even without a home office setup, I was able to produce my target number of articles for Thrifty Hustler and at the same time, run my online selling business. I’d like to share with you guys some tips on how to work from home effectively even without a home office.
Photo by Jason Strull on Unsplash
Identify which Available Space is the Best Option for You
The first step is to always identify which available space is the best option for you.
In my case, the best option for me is to work in the kitchen because there’s already a table and a comfortable chair, to begin with. I also have dogs at home, so I’d like to work and stay downstairs during my waking hours so I could watch over them while I’m working.
What is the Ideal Working Space
Ideal working space will vary depending on your needs. For me, an ideal working space should be/have:
- Well-lit
- With proper ventilation and airflow (I personally don’t like airconditioning unless it gets so hot)
- Near the power outlet
- Quiet
- Enough space for me to stretch
- Near a window
Your ideal working space might differ from mine. So based on your own requirements, check which space in your house could best serve as your working space.
Identify which Working Hours is the Best Option for You
Luckily, I can work anytime because I don’t have a fixed schedule to follow because I work for myself.
I usually work very early in the morning when no one is still awake so I can keep my focus on what I’m doing.
I know that this may only apply to freelancers, solopreneurs, and to those who are output-based and not tied to specific working hours.
But for those who have a fixed working hour, I suggest that…
Discuss with Your Family the Best Possible Arrangement
If you’re living with your family and if you also don’t have a home office setup, then I suggest that you discuss with them your work at home needs.
Talk about the following so you can arrive at the best possible solution for you and the other people in your household working at home:
- Schedule/s of Work
- Designated Space and Time
- Other Requirements (Do you need a quiet space because you take in calls?)
- Other Possible Options
Have a Backup Plan
Almost all business have their own Business Continuity Plan (BCP) and you should also have one even if you’re just working from home. Ask yourself, what would you do if:
- There’s a power outage
- There’s no internet connection
- It’s too noisy
- Certain days and time are not conducive for working
- Etc
It would also be best that you list down all the available coffee shops that have free wifi and also all co-working space within the acceptable commuting distance from your home. Give them a call and ask them the following:
- Costs
- Operating Hours
- Reservation Policy
Once you get all these details then you can draft your basic BCP so you can continue working regardless of your situation at home.
Photo by manny PANTOJA on Unsplash
Prepare Yourself for Unlimited Distractions
If you do not live alone then prepare to get distracted every now and then. There are so many possible distractions when working from home and you can avoid getting frustrated if you accept this as a fact.
Stay patient and just stay focus on your deliverables and just do what needs to be done at work.
Avoid getting frustrated with people at home because in the first place, understand that your home is not really made for work and that this situation is just temporary.
Discipline is the Key
Working at home is amazing!!! However, you’re prone to slacking off because no one is watching you and at the same time you’re just a few steps away from other distractions such as TV, your bed, etc.
Before you start your day, always prepare an outline of what you need to accomplished to avoid failing to meet them.
It’s so easy to get side-tracked when you’re at home.
This is also my ongoing struggle with my current setup. Fortunately, as years go by, I feel that I am improving in terms of getting more productive and meeting my target results even if I’m just working from home.
Avoid Eating a Lot During Meal Time
Remember when we used to report at work, we really don’t eat a lot during lunch break because it just makes us feel so sleepy afterward.
Do the same when working from home. Eating a lot will make you feel very sleepy and since you’re in the comfort of your home, you might doze off and miss some important calls and meetings.
It happened multiple times to some of my friends who are working from home (LOL!) They’ve missed some important meetings with their clients because they fell asleep.
I highly suggest that instead of eating a lot, eat nutritious and healthy snacks every break time and eat a balanced meal on your lunch/dinner break. Keep yourself hydrated as well by drinking plenty of water.
Walk, Stretch, and Move
Unlike the usual office setup, you can stay sitting for the entire duration of your shift when you’re working at home. You don’t have to walk towards the office of your boss or colleagues to discuss something. Going to the conference room to attend a meeting is unnecessary. And, you don’t have to go to your staff’s table to give them some updates.
Everything now is being done online and all we have to do is to log in to our Zoom accounts and attend meetings. It is not really good for our physical body if we just sit for hours and hours on a daily basis.
I highly suggest that you do stretching before, during, and after your shift to keep the blood flowing.
Before and after your shift, take a long walk around your neighborhood or just do some basic exercises to keep yourself fit and healthy even if you’re working from home.
Photo by Štefan Štefančík on Unsplash
Talk to Your Boss
I also suggest that you let your boss know your work from home set up so they can help you create a better plan. Also, discuss with them cost-related matters such as electricity and internet costs.
Will your company shoulder your work from home setup costs?
Be proactive as well in monitoring your performance and your productivity and let your boss know if there will be any situations at home that could hinder you from achieving a goal for a specific period of time. This way, your boss can manage workload distribution properly and ensure that the overall performance of your team is on target.
Final Thoughts
I love this work from home setup due to the following reasons:
- It enables parents to earn a living while having time to watch over their kids.
- WFH setup can help companies streamline their operations and identify and implement cost-efficiently measures that they can use to grow their businesses and generate more jobs.
- This also enables families to be together while still making money from their respective jobs.
- Working from home also minimizes employees’ stress since they’re working in the comforts of their homes.
- And lastly, it helps employees save time and work-related expenses such as commuting to and from their offices, eating out, buying work- clothes, and more.
The benefits of working from home are endless. I’m sure that there are also disadvantages as of now. But since we’re all new to this kind of setup, we will eventually figure out the solutions to those setbacks as we go along.
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Do you also work from home without a home office setup? Feel free to share your tips, recommendations, and suggestions in the comment section below. Thank you!
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