Determine with your supervisor how many days per week you will work from home. It may be wise to be conservative when you start. For example, you may want to try just one day in the beginning. As you adjust to telecommuting, you can always ask to increase the number of days you work at home.
Establish a schedule that is similar from day to day. Remember that your schedule must meet the needs of your customers and any fellow employees you interact with in completing your job duties. This is not to say that you cannot experiment with flexible work hours - just be consistent and clear your schedule with the supervisor in advance of any changes.
Stick to deadlines. It sounds obvious, but follow the same rules about deadlines that you have in the office.
Plan ahead. Develop the tasks and delivery dates for telecommuting days. It is a good idea to write them out before you leave the office. Try to schedule work that does not require assistance from others on your telecommuting days. Keep in mind what equipment you will have access to, and plan accordingly.
It is important to identify a safe and efficient location in your home as your work space. It should be quiet and away from heavy "traffic patterns" so you can spread out and work without interruption. It should be well lit and comfortable. It does not have to be an entire room. However, do not try working on the couch in front of the television. The dining room table may not be a good choice either. A distinct area will also help send the signal that this is where work is done.
A conventional desk is usually 29 inches high. The recommended height for a computer desk is 26 inches high. Your desk should be sturdy enough to handle the weight of any equipment you are using.
This may be the most important piece of furniture in your home office. The seat should be adjustable and high enough that your feet are flat on the floor (usually 15-20 inches). If you cannot adjust the chair height and your feet do not reach the floor, use a footrest or wedge-shaped item, such as a three-ring binder, to support your feet.
The backrest should support the back of the waist - a 15 degree back tilt is typically recommended - and should fit snugly against your lower back. If you cannot adjust the backrest, use a small pillow or rolled-up towel to support your lower back.
Your forearms should be parallel to the floor when your hands are placed in the center of a computer keyboard.
Lighting affects comfort and performance. It should be directed toward the side or behind your line of vision, not in front of or above it. Bright light can bounce off surfaces. Northern light is considered best for both office and computer operations. If you have a computer monitor, it should be positioned at a right angle to the window.
No noise can be as stressful as too much noise. Some background sound (soft music or white noise) can help keep productivity up and reduce boredom.
Preserve your professional image. Judgements, fair or unfair, may be based on background noises. Try to keep callers from hearing televisions, vacuum cleaners, loud music, etc.
Cables need to be covered or out of the way to avoid trips and falls. Use a state-approved surge protector with equipment. Consider whether there are enough electrical outlets in your work space to avoid an overload.
Keep equipment away from direct sunlight and heat and provide adequate ventilation. Consider using dust covers when the equipment is not in use. Never place food or beverages on your computer equipment. Keep disks away from direct sunlight, heat, dirt, smoke, moisture, and magnets (phones, electrical motors, fluorescent lamps, etc.).
Regularly check your home office to keep it safe. To avoid injuries from repetitive motion, take frequent breaks. Use the straight hand-forearm method when using a keyboard to minimize wrist deviation.
Stay in touch with the office. Remember, you are still part of the team and need to show co-workers that you still belong. This link is critical for sharing information. It will also give you a sense of belonging to the office which reduces feelings of isolation.
Your communication with the office should become routine and predictable. Establish a formal communication schedule with your supervisor. The key is to be as accessible as you are in your regular office while still minimizing the interruptions which makes work less productive.
The phone can be a big time waster. It can also be the biggest customer complaint. Learn to become its master and use it efficiently. If you have e-mail capability in your home office, check your messages often and communicate electronically.
Let everyone in the office know you are working from home. Distribute your home phone number and tell others where to refer calls or how to handle inquiries. Telecommuting should be transparent to outside callers. Check in on a regular basis for messages. Consider having your office calls forwarded to your home number.
Answering machines, with a professional and appropriate message, can provide a buffer zone and allow you to screen your own calls. If used, be sure to check the machine on a regular basis, just as you would if you were calling in to the office.
Do not miss meetings in the office. You do not want to become invisible or isolated because of telecommuting.
Working at home can be disorienting. We do not realize how structured the office is until we are away from it. The office provides many subtle cues that will need to be replaced by a new set of rituals. The goal is to develop good work habits at home.
It is surprisingly easy to overwork. Because of the qualities that are looked for in telecommuters, some have a tendency to be workaholics. Be reasonable so you do not burn out. On the other hand, do not develop poor work habits so that you are doing less work than before.
There may be an initial jump or drop in productivity. It is not uncommon at the start to experience an increase that cannot be sustained, followed by a drop. The period of adjustment should not go on indefinitely. Strive for an increase in productivity that can be sustained over time. If you cannot adjust after several months, telecommuting may not be for you.
This is especially important with repetitive tasks. Relax. Take a five minute "exercise" break every hour to stretch, move, and get the blood circulating. Working at home allows you a lot of freedom in deciding how to structure your breaks.
The comforts of home are so close. Don't let personal addictions take over. When caught unaware or unprepared, some telecommuters report weight gains, increase in smoking, etc. Develop positive habits. Try scheduling snacks. Avoid the refrigerator altogether, try substituting exercise for eating. Just make sure exercise doesn't become an overindulgence as well. Remove temptations so it is inconvenient to indulge, just like at the office.
You will need to let everyone around you know in advance that you are at home working and still have the same responsibilities that you normally have in the office. Expect some teasing. You will have to gently and persistently break down the idea that you are not really working.
Before you start telecommuting, gather all the family members together to explain the changes. Set ground rules on work time, interruptions, office boundaries, and use of equipment and supplies. Remember, state equipment and supplies can be used only according to the policies of your department.
Have family members help set some of the house rules so they can buy into the arrangement. Hold a follow-up council to see how well the arrangement and house rules are working for everyone.
Decide when family or friends can interrupt your work and for what reasons. Sometimes a requested favor or question can be just the break you need. On the other hand, everyone needs to understand that you are working. You cannot become the regular neighborhood "drop off" or playmate. Develop a signal that communicates when you are working and not available for interruptions, such as a closed door.
Neighbors may think that it is alright to ask you for favors or errands because you are at home. If it comes up, deal with it immediately and assertively. Be calm and frank in letting them know you are working and you will not be able to accommodate their requests.
Telecommuting will not solve problems at home. If family members cannot adjust to or resent the telecommuting arrangement, it will not work. Even if the family accepts telecommuting, it is wise to avoid scheduling days when there might be friction at home.
Do not assume that because you are at home you can also take care of dependents. Telecommuting may give you more flexibility in meeting dependent care needs, but it is not a substitute for regular care. You cannot provide dependent care during your telecommuting hours.
Don't sit in bed or on the couch when working.
Don't procrastinate.
Don't change your work schedule every time you work at home - at least in the beginning.
Don't let radio or TV distract you or detract from your professional image.
Don't talk on the phone too long.
Don't let friends or neighbors distract you.
Don't work at home if you have a dependent, (small child or elder, etc.) who requires your constant attention.
Don't stay in the telecommuting program if it is not working for you.
Have a safe, efficient work space at home.
Develop rituals to begin and end your work day.
Take breaks throughout the day.
Stick to a schedule and deadlines.
Plan your telecommuting day ahead of time.
Know whom to contact for assistance, technical and otherwise.
Maintain or increase your level of productivity.
Stay in touch with the office and your supervisor.
Work as if you are in business for yourself. Look for better ways to do things and focus on the customer - even if it is your supervisor and co-workers.
Remember to follow your scheduled contract hours.
Consider dressing in a manner that gives a personal signal that you are working.
A pre-work ritual may be helpful in starting and signaling your telecommuting work day.