The following is a guest post by Raine Parker. If you would like to write for this blog, please check out the guidelines here.

It’s safe to assume that most of us are familiar with working in an office environment. We understand the complex social and business-related expectations of that environment. When you surround yourself with others who are working, it’s much easier to remain focused on the task at hand. In an office you have the pressure of your peers. You want to hold up your end of the bargain, especially if you’re all working on an important project. Likewise, you want to perform well for your supervisor, so his or her presence in the corner office nearby is a constant inspiration, or threat depending on your relationship with your boss. These factors keep you working in an office. And you also learn valuable teamwork skills that will help you accomplish objectives with other people.

Develop Your Internal Skills First

But I’m a firm believer in the idea that you must first develop your internal, inward skills before you can successfully contribute to a team, which is why I think that everyone at some point should work from home, either as their own boss or through some flexible program with their company. Because working from home occurs in a unique circumstance, and most often in isolation, it provides you with a great way to challenge yourself to be your own best motivator.

Of course, you’re not exactly working in a vaccuum. You still have to answer to your supervisor back at the office or to your list of regular clients, all of whom are counting on you to hold up your end of the bargain. However, I still contend that the lack of immediacy in these contexts forces you to maintain a much higher level of motivation and focus than had you been in the office surrounded by fellow workers and an environment conducive to working hard.

Self Motivation

So how, then, do you manage to develop your self-motivation? It really takes a couple of things: first, you have to find a way to shorten the distance between yourself and your office work inspirations, such as your supervisor or clients; second, you have to work to maintain a high-level of organization at home; and third you have to try to follow the same routine you would had you went into the office that day.

Regarding your supervisor and clients, you should open up the communication channels as wide as possible. You want to recreate the scenarios that have you bumping into your supervisors around the office or meeting with your clients. This means you’ll want to ‘bump’ everyone more often electronically, either via email or by phone. This will allow you to update everyone on what your doing, thus showing that you’re being productive, and it will give you an accountability system.

Organization

Next, you should establish for yourself an organized office-space in your home that mirrors your setup, within reason, at the office. It goes without saying that you probably shouldn’t work from the comfort of your bed. Nor do I recommend working from your kitchen table, though if that’s your only option, it’ll have to make do. Instead, you should have an office or study that is organized and set up to maximize your productivity. If everytime you work from home you have to clean up your workspace, you’re already hurting your ability to get things done. The more organized you can be, the better.

Routine

Finally, you should follow a routine that puts you into the working mindset. Wake up just as early as you would if you have to drive into the office. Get your coffee, read your emails or watch television. At whatever time you get to your office at work, go into your home office. Take your coffee breaks just as you would at work. Take your lunch the same way. Go through your tasks list in the same way. This routine will reenforce the importance of high productivity, regardless of where you’re doing your work, and it will help you avoid distractions: the comfort of your couch, your cheerful dog, the television.

If you can practice these three areas of working from home, you’ll build within yourself a strong work ethic, and your supervisor and clients will soon see you as the reliable, productive worker you really are.

About the Author: Raine Parker regularly writes for accounting degree.  She welcomes your comments on her post below.

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Filed under: Personal Development • Work From Home

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