As someone who’s worked from home for over a decade, I know exactly how crazy it can seem to be able to work from home, in your pajamas, and not have to answer to anyone other than yourself.
Not only can you wake up and go to bed whenever you want, but you can also take as many vacations throughout the year that you desire, can take a sick day without needing a doctor’s note, and can watch your favourite TV show on Netflix while you work away.
Now – let’s get real.
Of course, you CAN do all of those things when you work from home, but should you? Probably not.
Though working from home has its perks, you can seriously jeopardize the success of your business if you don’t treat it the right way.
In case you’re wondering what it’s REALLY like to work from home, let me tell you…
You still need to wake up early
Most people are at their brightest first thing in the morning. This is when they get their best work done. So don’t think that just because you work from home, that you can sleep in all morning. You can’t. To get your best work done, you need to be up bright and early, ready to take on the day.
Pay attention to your working habits and see when you perform at your best. You may be surprised to find that morning time is the best time for you (and if you work better in the afternoon or evening, consider yourself lucky!).
Getting up early is especially important with young kids at home!
You still need to get dressed for work
If you want to work your best, dressing for the part is very important. Sure, you can lounge around in pajamas all day if you want to, but this just tells your brain that you are in lounge mode, and that nothing important is going on today.
However, if you get dressed in work attire (no need for anything fancy, of course!), you are telling your brain that you are ready to get down to business. Putting your best foot forward every day ensures you are on the right path to getting important work done – and getting it done well.
You will have more interruptions
When you work from home, the interruptions are everywhere. From little kids demanding snacks and toys and play and more, to the laundry pile that taunts you each time you walk past it – there will always be something other than work that is vying for your attention.
To overcome this obstacle, you need to wear a pair of invisible blinders every single work day. Ignore all of the “should do’s” around your home, and focus on the “must do’s” in your business. The laundry can wait, the dishes in the sink can wait, and the kitchen floor that really needs to be mopped can wait, too.
Of course, you can’t ignore your children if they’re at home with you, but you can dedicate work hours where the kids know not to bother you, and you give them a fun activity to keep them occupied while you work. This could be for an hour at a time, then you can play and interact with them, then you get another hour of work time and repeat if necessary.
Getting up early will help, if you have kids at home, because you can tackle your most important tasks before your children are even awake. That way, you can have more play time during the day.
People likely won’t “get” what you do
It’s common for people to wonder “what you do all day” - somewhat implying that you sit around watching Sex & the City Re-runs and eating Oreos all day long. My mom still asks me if I want her to get me a job at her work, because she doesn’t understand that just because I don’t leave home to work, I still have a job.
If your husband has a hard time understanding exactly why you do the things you do as an entrepreneur, send him to this post: 8 Things Your Entrepreneur Wife Wants You to Know.
Working from home is amazing. I’m not saying otherwise. Being able to do what I love from the comfort of my own home makes me so incredibly happy I just want to jump up and down all the time! But remember that it’s not the same as working an office job, where you have structure and rules and lots of other people around to help with your work.
It’s also not as relaxing and freeing as you may imagine. When you run your own business, it’s all on you. Though its way, WAY better than working for someone else, running your own businesses from home is hard work. And if you want to be successful, you need to step up and get that work done.
Tell me in the comments, do you currently work from home? How do you like it?