There are some commonly held myths about people who work from home.
One of them is that people who work from home are not as productive as those who work in an office.
If you are considering making the switch from a traditional office to a home office, here are some factors for you to consider.
1.
Working from home doesn't save much time.
I can remember way back in the 1900s (as my kids are fond of saying) sitting in an office thinking how great it would be to work from home.
I'd save so much TIME, I thought.
I could set my own hours and not have to deal with the commute.
I'd be able to read books, prepare gourmet meals and earn an impressive income all in the same day.
The reality check - you still have to perform the same duties in the same amount of time if you're a telecommuting employee.
You avoid some of the office distractions, but most tasks require the same amount of time no matter where you perform them.
If you are (like me) working at home because you own your own company, the time factor is severely warped.
As soon as I finish a task for a client, I have 3 other "should-dos" that need my attention.
This is a fact that anyone considering working from home should fully understand before starting this arrangement.
2.
Working from home requires the balancing skills of a Cirque du Soleil performer.
For the first few weeks (or months) of the arrangement, your family will not understand that a) what you do is actually work and b) other things (like folding laundry) have to wait.
I am not fortunate enough to have a door (or walls) for my workspace, and because my work is primarily on Facebook and Twitter, it's easy for my family to be confused.
The secret to balancing work and family is careful scheduling.
I rarely take calls without an appointment because I want to minimize distractions.
By scheduling my Skype or phone check-ins in advance, I can control my environment (i.
e.
, prevent TinkerBell movie noise from impacting a call with a potential client).
As far as b) goes, please let me know if you have a solution other than "wait and do it all on Saturday.
" 3.
You can be extremely productive when you work from home! The key to being productive is combining your knowledge with your talent and minimizing distractions from your environment.
I use a timer system to keep myself on track.
I close down Facebook and Twitter, set my timer and work on one task.
When the task is done or the timer goes off, I reconnect for a little bit.
I feel like I'm an excellent multi-tasker, but I find that some things require my sole attention.
When I've accomplished those "focus tasks", I can take some time to network, promote my site and enjoy some of the benefits of working from home.
Whether you are a telecommuter or a business owner, you need to arm yourself with the facts before setting up a home office.
Managing your expectations (and those of your family) will make for an easier transition and a more positive experience!