Admit it, we all have strong views on working from home, or remotely from the rest of your team. Whether you are a convert who enjoys the trust and freedom afforded to you to just get the job done, or if you prefer the hustle and bustle of an office and see working from home as some kind of easy life, no-one really sits on the fence on this issue.  Whatever your thoughts, working remotely can come with it’s own set of challenges and if you’re new to this kind of work let us talk you through the key issues and how to overcome them.

When you are working from home, focus can be a real issue.  Whether you are distracted by the postman, members of your family, or a little chore that ‘just needs doing’ it can be hard to get into a routine of settling down solely to the task ahead.  Create a defined work space for yourself – we can’t all have our own office, but a chair and table can be found and a quiet spot should be established as a priority.  To ensure you are working at your most productive, ensure you have a list of expectations, both those of your boss and your own personal expectations, of tasks that need to be achieved and your accessibility to other members of your team or clients. Communication is key to achieving this successfully – if you know what is expected of you, you should be motivated to complete the tasks at hand – whatever the distractions!
Of course, the opposite to this is also true.  Along with the rise in instant communication and the expectation of instant responses, having your work space in your home with perhaps your laptop set up, it can be very easy to get sucked into sending ‘just one more email’ or working that bit longer on your presentation. Whereas, if you had been office based you would have been out of the door a few hours ago.  Setting boundaries is therefore doubly important.  Shut your laptop, leave your work space, and try and switch off – you don’t have your commute time to switch off so finding an alternative way to unwind is crucial.

There are times, however, when face-to-face communication is just more effective.  Make time in your schedule, whether weekly,monthly or at a more suitable interval to brave the commute and meet with your team.  If you are all remote workers this can be a really useful, to feel part of a team, understand how each other work best and just be in a different environment for a while. If you have a ‘base’ and a HQ team, making time to see and be seen by key colleagues will help you understand the business in different ways and get your face seen.  When you return from these meetings, don’t be surprised to come away with an even bigger ‘to-do’ list and invitations to work on new projects.

Working away from the office can offer a huge opportunity to plough through your task list. Although now no-one is far away from a communication device, they can all be switched off or ignored for a period of time, especially if deadlines are looming.  Without the incessant chit-chat of a busy office it is surprising just how much can be achieved.  Need to write a report?  Schedule in some time away from the office – the only distraction will be your own procrastination!  If you work remotely permanently, or frequently you will be surprised at how much time can be saved without the round of pointless meetings that seem to be endemic in every office.  Setting your own priorities can be liberating, and ticking them off your to-do list immensely satisfying.

So if you are new to working from home, what are our key tips to manage your time most effectively?

• Set a routine.  Although you won’t be relying on the commuting time, set a start time and stick to it.
• Have clear communication channels with your manager and team.
• Ensure you have a mutually agreed task list and objectives with your manager.
• Make time to meet your colleagues, whether back at ‘base’ or in a mutual business-like environment.
• Take time away from your desk every day, and be disciplined about switching off at the end of the day.

To work from home offers a great opportunity for both businesses (who may be short on office space) and individual employees who enjoy the flexibility it offers.  It’s not for everyone, but done properly can be a liberating process for all involved.