When you work from home, there aren’t any official rules. That, however, didn’t stop me from creating my own.
1. Bathe daily and try to change your shirt and underwear at least every other day.
2. Clean up your office once a week (even if you just remove coffee mugs and food wrappers).
3. Limit your work hours…you need to sleep.
4. If you have a deadline and you want to stay focused, turn off your e-mail alert.
5. If your home office is a mess, meet with clients somewhere else. Clients may say they don’t mind your mess, but they do, and they may try to figure out how to fire you.
6. If possible, don’t let your kids use your computer. If you get a virus, you can’t work. If they get a virus, they can’t play computer games. Do the math.
7. Make sure your mute or hold button works. Sometimes they don’t, which means you may have some explaining to do.
8. Don’t answer your business line if your kids are screaming or your dogs are barking. Caller ID and a hold or mute button can only do so much.
9. Set ground rules with your friends and family and let them know that even though you work from home, you’re not available to wait for the cable guy or plumber.
10. Don’t use a chair from your dining room or kitchen as your desk chair. Instead, invest in an ergonomically correct chair.
11. Teach your kids to leave your office supplies alone. In fact, buy them their own set.
12. If you’re (literally) working naked, please wear underwear while sitting at your desk. ‘Nuff said.
What rules do you follow for working from home?
Hahahaha! Great list, Lisa
1. Don’t answer the home phone — if it’s important, they can leave a message — especially if it’s my mother!
2. If I really don’t want to be interrupted, I close and latch the door.
3. Break for lunch at least 30 minutes, but no more than 60 if I want to catch up on the Desperate Housewives.
4. Set time during the week to meet with friends — this is necessary for self-resuscitation.
5. End my day by 4pm to take care of family matters, but work later if I’m hosting or attending a session-ar.
Didn’t mention showering or getting dressed… some days those are optional
I love those! Consider them officially added to the list.
Lisa recently posted..12 Rules For Working From Home
lol Great list and I appreciate the humour although it #1 really an issue?
The hard part for me is getting my boyfriend to understand that I’m working…not available. He thinks if I’m working at home that means chat time, let’s go get some chores done (groceries etc). I need a sign on the door or something. I wish I could do like Peggy and latch the door!
Ending the day has been a struggle too what with so many all over the globe I really have a hard time not checking emails and social media. It really is important to break from those though.
and yes…showering is good!
Bonnie recently posted..Stress Busting Tips
I’m glad you like the list.
So many of us can relate to the items on your list, especially the one about not being taken seriously and others not respecting your time. After you tell your family and friends a few times that you need to work, they’ll finally understand. A sign isn’t a bad idea, though.
As much as possible, designate an ending time each day. I used to do the same thing until I hit burnout. I took a few days off and then changed my schedule. It was tough to stop checking email at night, but I realized I’m more productive during the day because I know I won’t be working at night.
I agree about showering.
Lisa recently posted..12 Rules For Working From Home
I was with you until # 12. I know- you just wanted a dirty dozen…
Roy A. Ackerman, Ph.D., E.A. @Cerebrations.biz recently posted..Healthcare Rebates?
Ha! Good one, Roy!
Lisa recently posted..12 Rules For Working From Home
Love the practical but humor-filled tips! I love working from home with its many benefits but it is also important to create a professional experience.
Tambre Leighn recently posted..Immortal Beloved
There’s no question that being professional is key to successfully working from home. It’s also more challenging, but definitely worth it.
Lisa recently posted..12 Rules For Working From Home
Laughing so hard – if you are in business then you act in a way that keeps you focused on your goals. Like Roy, 12 is an interesting one
Roberta Budvietas, recently posted..3 ways to deal with “Unfairness”
I threw in the last one for Roy, to see if he was paying attention.
With so many serious tips, I had to add a little humor. I’m glad you liked them.
Lisa recently posted..12 Rules For Working From Home
Love this list. So real. I’m sure all work-at-homies can relate to this one.
I have something to add:
* Make sure you wear at least something, even if it’s just DEODORANT.
Cham Cuartero recently posted..And The Work-at-Homie Turns ONE
Deodorant is always a good idea!
Lisa recently posted..12 Rules For Working From Home
I would add get out and get some fresh air every day – even if it is a walk around the garden. Really boosts the thinking and productivity levels.
Also, create a commute. I don’t mean jump in the car and drive around for ten minutes and come home again. I mean some sort of ritual that helps your mindset move from “home” to “work”. Helps with getting mindset in the right place to get your work done.
Ali Davies recently posted..How to find an Accountability Partner when you are Self Employed
These are excellent rules and good reminders to take breaks and get into a routine. Thanks!
Lisa recently posted..12 Rules For Working From Home
It took a while Lisa, but over the years I learned that these 12 rules are a great way to keep your home business just that, a business! Even down to the point about having the kids understand that beyond this door is mom’s work and business. It does work and keeps everyone respectful for what you do. Thanks for sharing these!
Lynn Brown recently posted..How to Build Up Your LinkedIn Connections
I think making kids understand that even though you’re home, you’re working, is the toughest one of all. Some of these rules definitely take time to follow and aren’t easy to follow.
Lisa recently posted..5 Organizing Products Someone Needs to Invent
I went thru all of these.
Still …convincing others that you’re working (they think “from home? pff bullshit”) is quite tough.
Someone will come and ask for something to download or a kid will ask to play (and ask again, and again)
That’s the price to pay. But hey – it’s still awesome!
Cindy recently posted..Nutrition Degree Online
It’s definitely challenging to work from home with kids around, but the trade-off, working 9-5 in a corporate job, is worth the constant interruptions.
Lisa recently posted..Does Your Home Office Wardrobe Affect Your Productivity?
My morning ritual is….get the kids to school, do breakfast dishes, make beds, throw in laundry, then sit down to work. I often talk on the phone and catch up with friends while dong my ‘morning ritual’. The problem is, once I say “ok, I need to get to work now.” They don’t let me get off….they keep talking. It’s very hard to get my friends and family to respect the fact that I am working! I have finally trained my kids to tell callers on the house phone “My mom can’t talk right now because she is working.” Would you believe that after my daughter told my dad this, he actually called me on my business line. He said ‘Sophia wouldn’t get you because she told me you were working.” What do they not get?
That’s one of the biggest complaints I hear from home-based business owners. it isn’t easy to be taken seriously, especially when family members think they’re exempt from the rules. Usually it takes a few phone calls and face-to-face meetings for friends and family to understand that although you’re home, you’re still working. Congrats on getting your kids to screen your calls!
Lisa recently posted..Does Your Home Office Wardrobe Affect Your Productivity?