Telework Tips

August 10 2016

Congrats to the winning three companies – LTC Partners, IAPP, and Oak Point Associates – and their teleworking staff who logged their “trips” during last month’s Telework Mini-Challenge!!

Here’s a blog I found with some great suggestions on how to succeed at working from home.  For additional information, check out the telework section of our website.

Working from Your Home Office: the Unwritten Rules

by Laura Firszt
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Posted Mar. 16, 2016 at 12:18 PM

Just Google “the rules of telecommuting (aka working from home)” and you’ll find a ton of material out there on the interwebs. Here’s the thing, almost all of it focuses on zoning laws, company policies and tracking work hours. That’s all well and good, but what about you, Joe or Jane Telecommuter, and your wellbeing? Fret not, there is a whole list of rules that will help you to survive and thrive as a work-from-home employee. They just haven’t appeared in written form … until now, that is!

Make sure you can breathe.

Fine, go ahead and cram a home office into a clothes closet if it’ll be used only occasionally for paying bills or catching up on a little paperwork. However, if you’re going to be sitting at a desk for 8 hours a day (or longer!), you’ll need some serious space.

Make sure you can work.

“Small is beautiful” is a fantastic concept when it comes to economic theories or the latest tablet. But, choose a big(gish) ol’ workhorse for your home business computing device. I like a 13” laptop-portable enough to take on a plane but substantial enough to type up several full-length articles without wrist fatigue. A real desk to hold your equipment is also nice.

Keep the dog in the bedroom.

Contrary to popular canine misconception, when you’re on an important work-related phone call, the sound of ferocious barking will not help you to clinch the sale. However, after you close that million-dollar deal, you can take a well-deserved break and romp with Fido in the park to celebrate.

Energize yourself.

While the idea of working in saggy sweats and cozy bunny slippers definitely has appeal, it’s unlikely to do much for your motivation. Here’s a great energizing solution: Get yourself dressed in real clothes and go for a brisk walk before your “office hours” begin. If you’re a caffeine addict like me, head to a lively local café and stand in line with the masses for a strong cappuccino to go. Then enjoy a quiet snicker up your sleeve as you meditate on the commute you won’t be sharing with them.

Know yourself.

Notice I did not recommend sitting down at said coffee shop for a work session. While some folks (read: extroverts) might find the noise and bustle stimulating, for others it’s just distraction. Know yourself and what is best for your personal work style.

Have fun.

You’re not confined to a cube or — even worse — a station at a shared worktable, with a small family photo or an artistically framed Dilbert cartoon as your only personal touch. Instead, live large in your work-from-home space.

Don’t isolate.

Pace yourself. Just as alternate sessions of sitting and standing at the computer benefit your circulation and metabolism, it’s equally healthy to break up long stretches of solitary concentration with some “people contact.” Make phone calls or get together with colleagues via online chat or Google Hangouts.

Close it up.

It’s all too easy to blur the boundaries between your work and personal life when you telecommute. Don’t forget this home office essential: a door you can close.  At the end of the day, you will be able literally to close the door on your 9-to-5 grind and transition smoothly into the non-working you.