Working from home can be a great way to give yourself a bit more freedom throughout the day. This can help to cut a business’ overhead costs from building charges, and allow you to save money on commuting and wraparound childcare. To be able to work from home, you may need to consider the tools that you can use, as well as to make sure that you don’t over or under work throughout the day. Remote work allows businesses to put faith into their employees that they will still complete their tasks, even when not present in the office.
Screen Calls
If you have a wired telephone, or even a cellphone, that you plan to use for work purposes, you may want to ensure that caller ID and screening is on, or that the phone you use has these capabilities. Saving the most frequently used numbers can also help, especially if you don’t need to liaise with clients and suppliers, meaning that the only calls you receive should be from members of your team. Although you can look up numbers that you don’t recognize, such as ‘who called me from 08006404999?’ this can take up precious time in your working day, especially if your job involves strict deadlines. Ultimately, if you do not recognize a number, it may be worth rejecting the call, and then looking into it when you do have time to spare.
Ensure You Have the Correct Equipment
To be able to complete your role, you might also want to consider the equipment you need. There may be several ways to achieve this. You could opt to put together your own office space within your home, with items bought and paid for by yourself. If you are not in a financial situation to be able to do so, or simply don’t want an office space with equipment that you can keep, you may also want to think about speaking to your manager. Some businesses may allow employees to borrow office equipment, such as laptops, computers, printers, and even work cellphones, for them to be able to complete their role. However, the company will expect these back should you return to working within their main office, resign, or have your employment terminated.
Take Breaks
Although some people might see working from home as an opportunity to slack off a little, others may find it difficult to switch off, leading to them working longer hours than if they were physically going to a workplace. Teaching yourself to take regular breaks can help to reduce the likelihood of mental burnout, as well as help you to get into a routine of when you should be working, and when you should be relaxing.
Working from home can be a wonderful opportunity for those that hate commuting, or have childcare or medical needs. By considering how best to set up your day, and ensure safe and compliant working practices, you may be able to keep doing your job without the need to travel.
