I have heard repeatedly – “I can’t work at home, I get too distracted”. That statement has become so prevalent employers are using that as an excuse not to allow their employees to work from home.As gas prices skyrocketed, employers decided the four-day workweek was the answer to help their employees. Only they didn’t think about the fact that the employee has an hour commute in traffic each way. The ten-hour days and two hours of driving time gave families even less hours in the day to connect with each other.
People yearn for the ability to do their job from home. Yet, before you go out and ask your boss to help make this happen, it is time to evaluate yourself. Do you have what it takes to be productive in your home office?
Things to Consider…..
Tools Needed….
Do you have a space that is devoted to your work?
Do you have an up-to-date computer, printer, and scanner handy?
Do you have clutter free, flat surfaces for stretching out projects.
Are there file drawers available for filing the papers that flow in?
Attitude Needed……
Have you figured out if you are a morning or an evening person? It is important to know when you are the most productive. In my case, I’m up at 5:15 a.m., shower, coffee and read the newspaper – all of which is accomplished by 6:30 a.m. Then it is time to begin my day. For others, you who are night owls….great! Use your creative energy in the evening.
Learning to leave the household chores is probably the hardest one to deal with. Yet, if you handle those chores when you can feel your creative energy lagging, it proves to be the perfect time to break up your day. For example, I know, 1:30 p.m. is the low part of my day. Frankly, I often take a 20-minute nap. I use about an hour to take care of household duties.
If you are an Extrovert and get your energy from other people, working at home can be the kiss of death. You long to have simple interaction with others. When you are in an office and go to the break room for a cup of coffee often ends up in a quick, fun conversation with someone. When you are home, your journey to the kitchen will probably reveal the dirty dishes….not fun.
Many of you who have read this are thinking, “Well, I do some of that.” The trick is that if you want to work from home I found the three things listed above are necessary. If you have and do the things listed above, then it is time to go to your boss and talk about a possibly working from home.
