9 Tips to succeed at working from home

As technology gives us the freedom to work from anywhere, more and more people are prizing the ability to do so. When people think about working from home, many imagine sleeping in late, lounging around in their pajamas and long leisurely lunches. “But what people need to realize is that even though working from home offers a great amount of flexibility, it is still a professional job and it needs to be treated as such,” says Holly Reisem Hanna, the founder of The Work at Home Woman, an award-winning blog dedicated to helping women and moms fulfill their dreams of working from home or becoming self-employed.

Many companies are responding with flexible work schedules, and seeming to acknowledge the trend, the Department of Labor just announced that in 2017 it will resume its contingent workforce survey, which was last conducted in 2005

Working from home might be your idea of heaven, but it’s harder than it sounds! Here are some expert tips to earning some cash without leaving the sofa. If you’re considering the WFH (work from home) lifestyle it’s worth taking these points into consideration. Even if you’re already livin’ the dream, these tips will help you to make your dreams come true.

1. Identify genuine source:



Oftentimes, when you see an ad that says “Earn thousands of dollars from your comfy couch,” “Want to work in your pajamas?” or “Set your own hours working at-home,” you automatically assume it is a scam, right? If it seems too good to be true, then it probably is. Yet, with the growth of the digital and global marketplace, more and more companies are trying to hire at-home help. Learn how to distinguish between reputable job ads and scams.

Many scams also ask you to invest money up front, pay for “certification” in their program, or complete a certain amount of work for free during a “training” period. Don’t fork over your money ahead of time without a signed guarantee of return payment. If it really is a scam, they’ll take your money or benefit from your time and then just abandon you.

2. Find the right job:

Finding an online job requires just as much effort as finding any other type of job: Fail to take it seriously and you’ll fail to profit. Startups are normally the companies keen to recruit remote workers, and an added bonus of this is that you can work for a company anywhere in the world.

3. Set “hours of business”:



While it's true that you may have some flexibility with hours you set, especially if the business is yours, there are still only 24 hours in a day and a specific number should be allocated to "office hours." That can be anytime they assign, including the middle of the night as is required of some virtual customer service representatives.

4. Dress for success:

Working from home has many benefits. Check your emails with a cup of coffee first thing in the morning, but when your work day begins you should be dressed appropriately. It's all the about how you feel. I'm of the belief that you will not be as productive if you "appear" at work in your pajamas or your yoga workout clothes. Wearing such comfortable clothes may sound great, but you could psychologically be too relaxed to give the attention to your work that it deserves. This is not the mindset you would want to project on the phone when speaking to clients or bosses. Keep it professional all round and your results will reflect your professionalism.

5. Dedicated office space:



Set aside a specific area or room of your home as your office. When you move into that space, this becomes a subconscious signal that it is time to work. The same applies once you've finished for the day. Move out of that space, or clear away your work material if the space serves another purpose. Your brain is better able to "turn on" or "turn off" the work day when your work space is distinct.

6. Stay focused:

Your tangible work efforts will be in vain if you aren’t focused or get distracted easily. Strive to minimize such obvious distractions as personal emails and social media, uninvited calls, noisy children, and answering the doorbell. Such distractions can suck the focus out of you and keep you from being as productive as you need to be to provide the service your company and/or clients expect.

7. Take Breaks & Recharge:



We all take breaks during the workday, and working from home should be no different. You may want to consider working in smaller spurts and allowing yourself to relax in between, which can be really refreshing and help you both physically and mentally. Getting up from your chair for a while at regular intervals can also help your eyes and spine relax. Don't fall into the trap of working non-stop without breaks just because you're comfortable at home - you'll burn out.

8. Polish Your Communication Skills:



Working remotely and getting your tasks done can be challenging as you will be interacting with clients and others via email and phone - not in person - and you'll need to make sure you capture all communication between you thoroughly and effectively. There will be instances when you might have to explain verbal or visual cues, and having good communication skills can help you do this in an efficient way.

9. Interact with others:



Ideally you will schedule time for networking events, workshops and classes that pertain to your business. Include developing new relationships or continuing relationships you may have already established. It's too easy to become isolated when you are working from home. Relationships are still just as important as they were when you were going into the office, maybe more important. Join business networks. Attend their meetings. Some are ideal for those who work at home or own their own business.