Working At Home: How To Still Look And Feel Professional
Working from the comforts and privacy of our homes works very well for many. To some, it’s a dream come true. Imagine waking up in the morning not rushing to beat the traffic or thinking what to wear only to be stuck in the four walls of an office filled with demanding bosses and gossiping colleagues. But just because we don’t have to meet people everyday doesn’t mean we can slouch around and forget about proper work etiquette. Here are some ways to feel comfortable without compromising professionalism while working from home:
Be time conscious.
While it can be a case to case basis, probably the best thing about working from home is having the option to work at our own pace and at our own time. But when we are given a very flexible schedule, it can be so easy to spend the first hours doing, well, nothing at all. And yes, just scrolling down through your Facebook news feed or skimming through the latest on Miley and Liam are considered nothing. We all can be guilty of this. Anything that you do that isn’t going to make you productive at the end of the day will have to be put aside. If you need to adjust a little to take care of important chores, that’s fine. Just be always conscious of the time. Make sure to set a specific working time and number of hours for you to work. But most importantly, make sure to follow it religiously while taking quick breaks every three to four hours so as not to get mentally drained. And by quick break I mean five to ten minutes only, except of course for lunch break.
Suit up.
No, you don’t need to dress in corporate attire looking awkward while walking from your working table to the fridge. This means that you have to physically prepare yourself for the busy day ahead. Washing your face, brushing your teeth, and changing to fresh clothes will help set your mind to a more serious matter. Working in your pajama could be really tempting. There’s really nothing wrong about that if you’re more comfortable with it. Just make sure your body feels fresh and awakened enough to focus properly on the work at hand.
However, if you are set to have a video conference with your client or boss, forget everything you’ve just read in the previous paragraph. Go get a shower and really suit up! Nothing speaks more of your professional than being ready on time and appearing presentable.
Set the ambiance.
Just like everything else, it’s important to set your surroundings to fit what you are doing. If scented candles and jazz music get you in the zone to work, then by all means set them up. Take advantage of the fact that you are not confined in a cubicle the whole day. Design your setting the way that helps you function well.
Again, take extra caution when you are video conferencing with someone. Make sure there is no unnecessary noise or music in the background. And oh, throw that clutter of clothes and books away from your backdrop for the meantime. Being workaholic will never be an excuse for having a messy room.
Seek cooperation.
If you live in a house with roommates that always argue or have four three-year-olds running around, step back and think of a strategy on how you can prevent these factors from affecting your work. Do you think you can ask your roommates to be quiet for certain hours? Can you hire someone to look after the kids while you are in the next room working? Never be afraid to make arrangements with the people around you. It’s always best that they know what you are doing and what type of environment you need to do it in. That way, you work properly without any distractions.
Author Bio
Amanda Smith is a blogger based in San Diego, California. She loves writing about health and wellness, fashion and interior design, technology and gadgets, and just about anything that tickles her fancy. When she’s not writing, she’s busy catching up on her favorite sitcoms with her yellow Labrador, Chandler Tribbiani. You can catch more of her works at wordbaristas.com.
Category: Work at Home
One of the biggest problems working at home would be sticking to a regular work schedule. If I were working at home, I would make sure that I stuck to a very tight schedule and only allow myself the occasional vacation or sick day. It just wouldn’t work out for everyone.
People think you can just lounge around in your PJ’s and get work done. There are many distractions at home, it’s tough to avoid them. Especially when the you don’t have a boss looking over your shoulder.