I had a 10-second commute to work this morning the walk from the bedroom to my desk.
When I finish this paragraph, Ill make coffee.
And Ill stay in these comfortable sweat pants for the next several hours.
But lets try: Here are 10 problems with working from home, along with possible solutions.
Make it clear when youre at work (and no, I dont always follow my own advice).
My favorite strategy is to start working early in the morning, when there are naturally fewer interruptions.
Our team has compiled alist of creative waysyou can fatten your bank account this week.
This is a long list, so dont get overwhelmed.
Go ahead and start now, but be sure to bookmark this post so you could easily return later.
Well keep it updated as offers changes or expire.
Of course, then there are the interruptions youchoose, which brings us to…
2.
Ive stopped writing again, this time to make tea and toast.
In my experience, a regular schedule helps maintain discipline another reason I like to start early every morning.
Otherself-discipline techniquesinclude starting work on a projectbeforeyou feel like it, setting deadlines and refusing to look for excuses.
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3.
Isolation
Youll definitely be more isolated from office politics and dramas, which can help you be more productive.
The natural collaboration and exchange of ideas that happens in a workplacecanbe important.
CEO Marissa Mayer ordered all home-based employees back to the officetwo years ago.
If youre a freelancer, attend industry events.
Longer Hours
In theory, staying home means fewer hours devoted to work.
In reality, you may find that you workmoreat home.
You could also find yourself checking work-related emails in the middle of dinner or before you go to bed.
Another common problem is business talk.
My wife and I find we rarely go an hour without talking about our work.
For some people, this may not be a problem.
Lack of Professionalism
It can be tough to be professional while working from home.
What can you do to be more professional?
If you have many work-related calls, its a good idea to have a devoted phone line.
Relationship Issues
My wife and I love working side-by-side, but we know couples who absolutely need time apart.
Those couples would have a difficult time working at home together.
It can also be tough to respect work-related boundaries at home, and that can cause some relationship friction.
It may be best if only one of you works at home.
As a freelancer, youll pay the entireself-employment taxof 15.3% yourself.
I find it easier to sell my services using a website, portfolio and emails.
I rarely talk to clients on the phone.
But if the phone is a more effective tool for you, use it.
Make an effort to get testimonials for your website or blog.
I ask for testimonials by email, so I can easily copy and paste them onto my site.
Unexpected Expenses
If youre a home-based employee, your employer should pay for most work-related expenses.
But as a freelancer, youll pay for every computer crash or printer replacement.
Some expenses may come unexpectedly.
To reduce childcare costs, Curtis suggests swapping babysitting duties with otherstay-at-home parents.
Most unexpected expenses are only unexpected in the timing, so youcanbudget for them.
Is Working From Home Right for You?
Other people prefer the structure, discipline and creative collaboration that come with working alongside others.
Your Turn: Do you work at home?
What problems have you had, and how have you solved them?
Steve Gillman is the author of 101 Weird Ways to Make Money and creator of EveryWayToMakeMoney.com.
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