1. Dress for work.
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Causal is okay, but no sweats or pj’s. You are a professional and this is a professional work environment.
2. Connect with others.
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Take time everyday to engage with people on social networking sites like Twitter and Facebook. Read and comment on other people’s blogs. Send and answer a few personal emails. Skype a friend. Arrange a lunch date. Yes, connecting with others takes time, time out of your day and time away from your work, but if you shared an office with other people how much time would you spend connecting? It’s just as important when you work out of your home office.
3. Work with a project or editorial calendar and a to-do list.
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Knowing ahead of time what needs to be done on any given day provides structure. It helps you to dive right in and get started. It also can help signify the end of the work day. When today’s to-do list is complete, or all the “A” items are done you know the work day is over. You then have a choice, continue to work or call it a day.
4. No eating in the home office.
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A cup of tea or coffee is fine, but no snacks. A home office is for working, not eating.
5. Take a break.
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Have a snack or a meal while sitting down at the dining room or kitchen table. If the weather is pleasant, eat outside on the deck or picnic table. Use real silverware, plates and napkins. Treat yourself well. You deserve it.
6. Celebrate.
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If you just finished a big project or received some good news reward yourself and celebrate. Take your spouse, kids or a friend to lunch. Send an email to all your friends. Tweet your celebration and invite others to celebrate with you.
7. Remember who’s the boss.
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No one can tell you what to do or when to do it. That means you have to be the boss. You have to make the decisions and keep your commitments.
8. Working from a home office is about working.
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Remind yourself, your family and friends, that when you are in your home office you are working. You are a professional. You have work to do. No one is going to do it for you. Even if your ‘office’ is a corner of a room, or the kitchen table for a few hours, respect the space and what it represents.
We’re definitely on the same page.
The one I struggle with, of course, is no.2 – have to be very firm with myself to a) stay away from social media while I’m working (e.g. Twitter-crack, my new addiction) and b) have made a pact with some girlfriends to continue spending Friday mornings together…it used to be our Playgroup time but now the kids are at school, it’s all ours.
It’s testing my discipline and self-resolve, but the time I’ve invested in the last few months into planning and goal-setting and re-focusing has helped immensely. I’M taking myself seriously, and I’m finding that others are, too.
Agree totally. #3, 7 and 8, especially for me anyway, at times can be extremely difficult. Unfortunately, I currently have too many distractions going on. This is coming to a halt, and very soon. More discipline and more structure just around the corner. Then doing #6; the Celebrating, won’t be an issue and I’ll be able to do more of it. Good List.