How to Do Something Your Don Know: How to Decide Whether Working at Home Is for You

Working from home has been said to be “the way of the future,” giving employees the freedom to work in an environment that is comfortable to them. There are many advantages to working from home, including the elimination of commuting, increased flexibility with hours, and renewed focus on productivity. However, working from home isn’t for everyone and requires serious consideration before you make the move to telecommuting.

EditSteps

EditEvaluating Your Finances

Set realistic expectations regarding finances. You should sit down and go over your finances to determine whether working from home is a financially sound decision. In some cases, there will be no change in your pay if you are just doing the same job from home. If you will be taking a significant pay cut, you can make a list of ways that you could potentially change your lifestyle to fit your new budget. ^[1]
Develop a budget. Once you have all of your finances set out in front of you, it may become clear that working from home is not feasible from a financial standpoint. It will be helpful to evaluate if you will have to work an additional job on top of working from home or work more hours to justify the move. Having a budget will clarify whether your life will dramatically change by working at home. ^[2]
- Include all of your necessary expenses such as housing, utilities, groceries, and other regular expenses.
- It may be helpful to create a spreadsheet and track your spending currently and compare that to what you will have available with your lifestyle change.
Discuss your interest in working from home with someone who you trust. It will be helpful to take the time to sit down with someone you trust such as a spouse, friend, supervisor or mentor, to discuss your interest in working from home. You will likely need the support and understanding of your employer, family or spouse, and friends if you do decide to continue with this endeavor.

EditManaging the Workload

Create a plan to be disciplined at home. Employees who work from home can be more successful and productive than those who work in the office, if they are disciplined and stick to their work. If you slack off, you will end up paying for it in the long run, especially if you are working for a company that tracks your productivity. ^[3]
- Start by writing down your goals for work. Creating a list will keep you on track and motivated in a potentially distracting environment.
- Avoid distractions by downloading extensions for your web browser that block social media or other websites that are not work-related. Additionally, an app for your phone that limits time spent on distracting apps can be helpful for maintaining focus.
Evaluate whether you’re highly motivated and organized. The idea of working from home is very attractive, but it requires a lot of commitment and discipline. You have to be passionate about working from home, in addition to organized, motivated, and attentive. You can take a personal inventory and make a list of the qualities that you possess that will help you with working from home.^[4]
- You might find that you have to work on being more organized by cleaning up your workspace and clearing your head.
- Additionally, you may need to put effort into communicating clearly with your office by being logged into a chat with your coworkers or keeping your phone close by for any calls that might come in.
Speak to your boss or manager about what they are looking for in a remote employee. It is likely that you will be required to communicate about your work more often than if you were in the office. Prove to them in your work that you are motivated, trustworthy, and able to prioritize. Ensure that their idea of an ideal remote employee is the same as what you are looking to accomplish.^[5]
- You might be required to change the way you communicate with your employer throughout the day, and it will be necessary to know this information as soon as possible so that you can adequately prepare.
Determine if you’re comfortable being alone. Some people find it easy to be alone, but if you are an extrovert or you enjoy being social, then the isolation that comes with working from home may not be something you can tolerate. Spend a practice day by yourself in your home, getting some work done, and see if it is something you could do over long periods of time.

EditBalancing Work and Home

Determine if you have a quiet space that you could use for working. Some people need a separate area that is dedicated solely to working, and you should consider whether that will be necessary for you. Evaluate whether or not you would be able to carve out a space just for working at your home if this is important to you. You will likely need a private and comfortable area to complete all of your necessary work during the day.^[6]
Plan a work schedule. This will help you create a normal hourly routine and take your position as seriously as you would any other job. You may have to filter your calls, tell family and friends not to disturb you when you are working, and decline invitations to be social during your established work hours. You should be firm and disciplined with your hours and act as if you are truly in the office during this time.^[7]
Ensure that you will have time to devote to activities outside of work. While it can be tempting to commit a lot of time to work, especially when working from home, leisure time is important for productivity as well. Planning to devote time to a hobby, spending time with friends, or just having time to reflect will positively affect your personal and work life.^[8]
Rate how important working from home is to your success. It will be important for you to evaluate whether working at home will help you achieve both your personal and professional goals. Try writing down a list of reasons that you want to work from home. Ask yourself if these reasons will continue to motivate you for a long period of time, and if they will help you also achieve your personal goals.^[9]