Working from home has long been the Holy Grail in the world of employment. On the surface, it sounds wonderful. After all, you can wear what you like, set up your workspace exactly as you want it, and can snack to your heart’s content.
It even sounds good from a social standpoint. You think you’ll be able to spend more time with those you love. You won’t have to pay for childcare for the kids, and you even get to enjoy your pets more. In short, you get to enjoy all the benefits of being home all day, while getting paid to do exactly what you’re doing now. Right?
Maybe not. Working from home, whether for yourself by setting up your own business, or working remotely for another company, has its own set of challenges. For some people, they find themselves distracted by the home setting and unable to concentrate, while at the same time seeing others thrive and with their productivity go through the roof. It can be frustrating and not the right thing for you at all.
How can you tell before you make the plunge whether this is right for you?
First, you need to determine if you have the right personality to be happy and efficient working from home.
No matter whether you’re working for yourself or remote working for someone else, you’re going to need to be able to pull yourself together and keep going, even when you don’t feel like it. For this reason, being a self-starter with a robust entrepreneurial spirit is the most important trait you’re going to need to need, coupled very closely with our next trait, self-discipline.
Think you’ve got what it takes? Hang on! Before working from home in any capacity, you need to ask yourself a few questions:
Have you considered all the angles?
What are your expectations?
Can you finish what you start?
Can you concentrate?
Where will you work from?
What about the equipment?
How organized are you?
What about child care?
Can you separate your work-life from your home life?
It’s a lot to think about, isn’t it? But working from home can also be a rewarding experience. To the right type of person, there’s no life like it.
No matter what you decide, remember, what’s right for you today might not be right for you tomorrow.
Don’t be afraid to reassess your needs periodically.
It could be you wind up working from home for a year or two and going back into the workplace.
Or vice versa.
The key here is to do what’s best for you.
Now, let’s start the course and help you become a work from home pro!
