We need your help now

Support from readers like you keeps The Journal open.

You are visiting us because we have something you value. Independent, unbiased news that tells the truth. Advertising revenue goes some way to support our mission, but this year it has not been enough.

If you've seen value in our reporting, please contribute what you can, so we can continue to produce accurate and meaningful journalism. For everyone who needs it.

SPONSORED

Tell us your top working from home tip and you could WIN an Office in a Box package

That’s a year’s worth of free telecoms for your home office from Magnet, worth €2,500.

EVER CONSIDERED WORKING from home? From dragging yourself out of bed at an ungodly hour to getting stuck in traffic, sometimes going to work is just a… chore.

Working from home can be much different from heading to the day job, wherever that may be, but it’s certainly an achievable dream – if you know how. We’ve rounded up six things you definitely need to know before working for yourself.

1. Willpower is involved

gipny gipny

And that means getting out of bed. Yes, sorry. While one of the joys of working for yourself is that you don’t have to be at your desk at a certain time every day, it’s very easy to while away the morning and not get anything done. Start as you mean to go on and get out of bed at a good time, make your bed (so you won’t be tempted to go back to it), and start your day as if this was a real job – because, of course, it is.

2. There’s a dress code… sort of

Jörg Weingrill Jörg Weingrill

One of the biggest perks of working from home is you don’t have to dress yourself to get on with things. However, while taking calls in your pyjamas seems like the best thing ever, it’s better for you to get dressed as again it puts a separation between just getting out of bed and getting some work done. Of course, you don’t have to wear officewear or even smart casual – go nuts. You’re the boss, wear what you like. You do you.

3. A dedicated work space is essential

Giphy Giphy

While you could work at your kitchen table, or on the couch, it’s much better for you to have your own dedicated area to do your work at. As you’re now working from home, your work life could overtake your home life, so you need to keep some separation between the two. Having a room that you can shut the door on when you’re finished work, or at least a desk that you only do your work at, is essential to keeping a division between work and home.

4. Your time is your own

Scheduling. John (& Beth) Zacherle John (& Beth) Zacherle

Working from home is great because it affords you total control over your own schedule and the flexibility to arrange your day as it suits you. You don’t have to ask anyone if you can go pick up your kids from school and no one is going to stop you watching the latest episode of Big Bang Theory with your morning coffee – just try not to bingewatch Netflix, all day, ok?

5. You might miss your coworkers

Giphy Giphy

Human beings are social animals and while it seems that not having coworkers would be the best thing ever (depending on your coworkers of course), you might find you miss a bit of human interaction if you’re alone all day. Some ways to get around this is to schedule face to face business meetings, work from a coffee shop if you don’t get distracted, or meet friends for lunch – just don’t make it a liquid lunch…

6. You’ll need the right equipment

kev-shine kev-shine

It’s only when you start working from home that you’ll realise how much equipment you actually had access to in work. From notebooks and pens to computers, printers and broadband, you’re going to have to pony up for all of these yourself now. You can claim it back on taxes though, so don’t forget to keep those receipts.

Do you have any working from home tips? Let us know in the comments below.

Fancy working from home? You could win an Office in a Box package from Magnet worth €2,500. It includes broadband, phone with unlimited minutes, domain name, hosting and Magnet’s new cyber security platform, Magnet Protect. Call Magnet here: 1800 789 789. Good luck. 

Your Voice
Readers Comments
65
    Submit a report
    Please help us understand how this comment violates our community guidelines.
    Thank you for the feedback
    Your feedback has been sent to our team for review.