Working from home? How to stay motivated (and keep your sanity)

Have you noticed more laptop-toting folks at your local café lately? Are you seeing business meetings happening over lattés? Nowadays, many people are finding themselves working in a non-traditional office setting. Whether it’s the result of an employer downsizing, a new family situation requiring a more flexible schedule, or a recent layoff sparking an opportunity to start a business, once the initial excitement wears off (I get to sleep in! I don’t have to rush to catch the train! I can work in my pajamas!), the process of leaving The Office for your home office can be challenging. My own process of transitioning to a home office evolved from trying to make peace with my new schedule (should I be going to the gym at 11 am when everyone else is working?) to working as many hours as possible to justify it, and then to finally feeling comfortable with and enjoying it. Working from home—whether it’s two days a week or all of them—can get lonely. No co-workers stopping by your cubicle, no catching up on gossip over lunch, no afternoon snack break—you may even miss the commute home on the train (and the hour of uninterrupted reading it afforded you). Finding new ways to stay connected to others when making the switch from The Office to the home office is crucial to keep from feeling disconnected. Being outside of your usual work routine can also make it hard to stay motivated and focused on your work. Not to mention the absence of collaboration with colleagues that can make you feel isolated and uninspired. Have no fear: creating a new routine and keeping a regular schedule will help to keep yourself on track—and to be even more productive than you were at The Office. Here are a few ways to get started: <ol> <li>Create (and stick to) a regular schedule: wake up, get dressed, make coffee, check email</li> <li>Schedule regular lunch or coffee dates: make a point to meet with clients or fellow work-at-home friends (who probably need an excuse to get out too)</li> <li>Join a <a href="http://www.2chambers.com/">local chamber</a> or small business group: many meet early in the morning which is good incentive to start your day</li> <li>Get physical: hit the gym or take a yoga class a few times a week</li> <li>Spread out your business errands: visit the bank one day, go to the post office the next day, etc.</li> <li>Attend local networking events: it’s not only a great way to meet prospects but also fellow business owners (For Chicago events, check out <a href="http://www.networkingmonkey.com/">NetworkingMonkey.com</a>)</li> <li>Offer to meet a client at their office: breaking the email habit and scheduling face time is also beneficial to the business relationship</li> <li>Get organized: keep your office or work space neat—and if possible, separate from your home life</li> <li>Work outside of your home office: whether it’s at a <a href="http://www.delocator.net">coffee shop</a> or on your patio, the change of scenery can boost your creative juices</li> <li><a href="http://www.petfinder.com">Get a dog</a>: it’s the easiest way to guarantee you’ll leave the house at least twice during your work day!</li> </ol> How did you manage your own transition from The Office to home office? How do you stay motivated and focused? 2009-07-18T21:52:00Z

-5.12503

300 5554

true

21230

working-from-home-how-to-stay-motivated-and-keep-your-sanity

2009-07-19T11:00:41Z

2009-07-19T15:24:02Z

Whether it’s for reasons of ambition or economy, more people are working from home. How can you stay focused, motivated and connected when you make the transition from cubicle to home office? Read on to find out…

Working from home? How to stay motivated (and keep your sanity)

2009-07-20T12:37:04Z