Tips on working from home

[ponyfitness]

In my new sales job they don't require me to be in the office as of next week so I'm expected to work out of my home office. The trouble is I have about as much discipline as a five year old with ADD and have never worked from home before. Mostly I will just be on the phone and filling in time between sales appointments.

The home office room (spare bedroom) is set up because one big tip I got was to have your own private room set up properly so you can just shut the door and work.

Weekly schedule is printed and on the wall for this week and next already - I'm trying to get into a regular routine so that it becomes automatic.

Any tips from the home workers? I think RG works from home. The hardest thing is just getting shit done (like EF obviously). Do you set daily goals for activity? It's a sweet deal but I think just the discipline side is going to be hard for the first bit.

 

[UA_Iron]

Yeah, task list and a 24 pack.
I'd put a mini-fridge and a urinal in there too.

 

[KillahBee]

Been working from home for almost 2 years now and moved 3 times in that span. Everybody is different and has their own needs, but some of my thoughts:

Definitely set up your own space. Had to work from an apt the last 2 years so my office was in my bedroom which was horrible for productivity and my sanity (work was the first thing I saw each morning and last thing at night).
Set up your space the way you want. I have a specific way of organizing that works for me (I need a separate table/desk on which I make separate piles for all the different projects I'm working on). I also need to listen to music while working so I set up a nice speaker system (for trance, you faggots).
Try not to eat meals at your desk. Take a break, sit outside or something. Even if it's for 5 minutes.
Get to know your FedEx/delivery guy. I get so many fucking packages. I became friendly with my FedEx guy and he'd go the extra mile for me whenever he could. Get him a Christmas present to you cheap scumbags.
When you're done with work, close the fucking door. It's way too easy to let life and work merge into one when working from home. Shut the fucking door, faggot scumbags.
Masturbate. A TON. Helps me concentrate.

 

[Razorguns]

In my new sales job they don't require me to be in the office as of next week so I'm expected to work out of my home office. The trouble is I have about as much discipline as a five year old with ADD and have never worked from home before. Mostly I will just be on the phone and filling in time between sales appointments.

The home office room (spare bedroom) is set up because one big tip I got was to have your own private room set up properly so you can just shut the door and work.

Weekly schedule is printed and on the wall for this week and next already - I'm trying to get into a regular routine so that it becomes automatic.

Any tips from the home workers? I think RG works from home. The hardest thing is just getting shit done (like EF obviously). Do you set daily goals for activity? It's a sweet deal but I think just the discipline side is going to be hard for the first bit.

1) no distractions. i do'nt have cable tv.
2) lots of room. so u can be organized, papers, file folders, shelves, etc.
3) be organized. ability to do work jumps 3x if you're anal in organizing everything. Pretend you're working for the queen.
4) if u do 8 hours of work in 3 hours, then go out and enjoy yorself. watch a movie. you earned it.
5) If you don't obssess on being 'disciplined', you will be 'discplined'.
6) Get your computer in tip top shape and ready
7) you're saving 1-2 hours of bullshit stressful drives everyday the other monkeys have to. Working at home FTW but do go in 1-2x a week just to check-in and work on inter-personal business friendships and fine-tune your work. Oh and your diet will improve.

r

 

[Bikini Mod]

My husband and I work pretty much 24/7 whether home or out. The only thing I can tell you is the bottom line keeps us from dilly-dallying too much. In other words, if I don't work, I don't make money (we are totally self-employed) and I lose ALL of my *neat stuff*.

Just yesterday afternoon we were out and my husband began talking about one of our latest projects to some people we just met because they made an inquiry about what we do. THE LAST THING I felt like doing was working. So I told my husband (made a joke to the people) that I REALLY don't WANT to work right now. They said, "Wow you're not a very good sales person." (It was all in good fun) I said, "It's sunday afternoon and we've had a very long week. Here's my website. Check it out on your free time. If you have any inquiries please don't hesitate to drop us a line. Can I get you another beer?... and let's get back to talking about sex!" (My hubby don't drink and I'd given up drinking for a bit so it was funny that we were drinking water and they were drinking beer.)

Truth be told, working from home (or even self-employment for that matter) is NOT for everyone. If the fact that your electric will get shut off when you get shit-canned for not performing isn't enough to keep you focused then perhaps you should rethink the "working from home" thing.



Just keepin it real, brother.

 

[KillahBee]

4) if u do 8 hours of work in 3 hours, then go out and enjoy yorself. watch a movie. you earned it.

7) you're saving 1-2 hours of bullshit stressful drives everyday the other monkeys have to. Working at home FTW but do go in 1-2x a week just to check-in and work on inter-personal business friendships and fine-tune your work. Oh and your diet will improve.

r

yep, good calls. I'm learning #4. You all have days in the office where you ain't got shit to do, but can't bounce cause it'll look bad. That factor is fucked in the arse at home. Bang it out, take the afternoon off. If you can (and so desire), work more at night and chill during the day (what I do a lot).

And yes on #7 if you have the chance. I live bout 2 hours from my office and plan to pop in at least once every 4-5 weeks or so (unless if I have to at other times for meetings). Just to keep up appearances. Show the chicks my rockhardabs4u2nv

 

[ponyfitness]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. You're right, the nice thing will be that if I get my stuff done early then I can feel good about taking the afternoon off. I have my daily numbers that I need to bang out, I just need to get into the mode of banging them out lol.

It is also nice that I can do stuff at 6am and feel like I'm actually working and then be justified in taking time during the day to chill. I remember how many hours are wasted during the typical corporate office day by people chatting, having "meetings" that last two hours that should be over in ten minutes, etc. I can work efficiently.

As for the money thing that BM stated, yes that is a factor but I also make a salary so not as much pressure. I have my targets laid out month to month so that will hopefully keep me in line.

 

[Bikini Mod]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. You're right, the nice thing will be that if I get my stuff done early then I can feel good about taking the afternoon off. I have my daily numbers that I need to bang out, I just need to get into the mode of banging them out lol.

It is also nice that I can do stuff at 6am and feel like I'm actually working and then be justified in taking time during the day to chill. I remember how many hours are wasted during the typical corporate office day by people chatting, having "meetings" that last two hours that should be over in ten minutes, etc. I can work efficiently.

As for the money thing that BM stated, yes that is a factor but I also make a salary so not as much pressure. I have my targets laid out month to month so that will hopefully keep me in line.

Well that makes a HYUGE difference, doesn't it?

Just remember that if you work for someone else you can get shit-canned any day regardless of your personal performance. Work a lot and save for that day because trust me when I tell you, it WILL COME.

^^^ if THAT don't keep you on target, then nothing else will.

The nice thing about working at home is that you can work at 6AM or 3AM or 3PM, go to the gym when you want, arrange work around your social calendar (LOL for us we work when we socialize too so it is a double-edged sword) and call your own shots pretty much.... that is, until you get a pink slip.

We also have our own office separate from every other area in the house.

Elite can greatly interfere with productivity. <---- where you REALLY need to exercise the greatest amount of discipline IMHO. LOL

 

[cindylou]

good thread. I start working from home in a couple months for the first time ever and need the advice

 

[Razorguns]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. You're right, the nice thing will be that if I get my stuff done early then I can feel good about taking the afternoon off. I have my daily numbers that I need to bang out, I just need to get into the mode of banging them out lol.

It is also nice that I can do stuff at 6am and feel like I'm actually working and then be justified in taking time during the day to chill. I remember how many hours are wasted during the typical corporate office day by people chatting, having "meetings" that last two hours that should be over in ten minutes, etc. I can work efficiently.

As for the money thing that BM stated, yes that is a factor but I also make a salary so not as much pressure. I have my targets laid out month to month so that will hopefully keep me in line.

This is why I can't stand many office monkey jobs. Their corporate culture just wants a 'monkey seat filler' who clocks in at 8am and out at 5pm. No care for quality of work, speed of work, competence, nothing. I have no idea why people would wanna work at a place where 5 minutes on ebay after 3 hours busting your ass on complex shit, results in evil stares from co-workers walking by. Why on earth would anyone want to bust their ass then?

r

 

[KillahBee]

Thanks for all the feedback so far. You're right, the nice thing will be that if I get my stuff done early then I can feel good about taking the afternoon off. I have my daily numbers that I need to bang out, I just need to get into the mode of banging them out lol.

It is also nice that I can do stuff at 6am and feel like I'm actually working and then be justified in taking time during the day to chill. I remember how many hours are wasted during the typical corporate office day by people chatting, having "meetings" that last two hours that should be over in ten minutes, etc. I can work efficiently.

As for the money thing that BM stated, yes that is a factor but I also make a salary so not as much pressure. I have my targets laid out month to month so that will hopefully keep me in line.

tell you what, I have to be on a LOT of conference calls, maybe 40% of which are useless. It's fantastic to be able to bang work out on calls when all the rest of the suckers are sitting there in a room twiddling their thumbs.

 

[SpyWizard]

a to do list.. that way when it'd done, i can move on with the things I want to do..

weather is perfect.. you better work faster..

 

[musclemom]

Separate office from home, check.

Minimize distractions, check.

Get up and get away from your desk periodically, check.

If you have a telephone at your desk, have caller I.D., avoid taking calls that are not business oriented, be polite but firm and get rid of bullshit callers and get yourself off their calling lists. The phone ringing really screws me up, but my work, transcription, kind of requires a weird focus, it doesn't lend to interruptions. Not everyone's work is like that.

A kitchen timer can be your friend, either saying, OKAY, I'm going to work three hours, then I can do _____ or start it when you start working so you don't think OMG, I've been at this forever, I can take a break (when in reality you've been at it a total of 12 minutes). Helps keep you honest and on track (Particularly if you're a little prone to distractability).

Actually get up in the morning at a decent hour and put real clothes on. You don't have to dress "for work" but there is a real temptation to sort of slob around, and that gets you in the wrong mindset (actually sets you up for depression). Next thing you know you're not rolling out of bed until noon and shuffling to the desk in your robe and slippers.

And most importantly, stay the hell away from EF during working hours!!!

 

[KillahBee]

Actually get up in the morning at a decent hour and put real clothes on. You don't have to dress "for work" but there is a real temptation to sort of slob around, and that gets you in the wrong mindset (actually sets you up for depression). Next thing you know you're not rolling out of bed until noon and shuffling to the desk in your robe and slippers.

I support this. I definitely found it depressing that I'd just not shower til 3pm or wear shitty gym clothes all day. Every now and then it's nice to dress like a law abiding citizen that contributes to society. Helps with the mindset.

Also, beware of cabin fever. When I was in the middle of a big event, I'd sometimes not leave the apartment for a day or 2. That's when you gotta stop everything and head out for coffee (drink it there) just to keep in touch with reality and the outside world.

 

[Bikini Mod]

Feel everyone on the whole "shower and get dressed at a decent hour" thing.

Major fail on my part today admittedly. If me and old man get up and get to the gym by a decent hour (before noon) then we get A LOT done. However, if we don't make it till later in the day, we get far less accomplished.

 

[Big Rick Rock]

In my new sales job they don't require me to be in the office as of next week so I'm expected to work out of my home office. The trouble is I have about as much discipline as a five year old with ADD and have never worked from home before. Mostly I will just be on the phone and filling in time between sales appointments.

The home office room (spare bedroom) is set up because one big tip I got was to have your own private room set up properly so you can just shut the door and work.

Weekly schedule is printed and on the wall for this week and next already - I'm trying to get into a regular routine so that it becomes automatic.

Any tips from the home workers? I think RG works from home. The hardest thing is just getting shit done (like EF obviously). Do you set daily goals for activity? It's a sweet deal but I think just the discipline side is going to be hard for the first bit.

-BIG whiteboard to keep your projects and goals in sight.

-Shut off the TV or just don't have one in your office. Get a box with DVR so you can record programs and watch them later.

-I have ADHD and I don't take meds. To get myself in the zone for quiet work I play some classical music and go... Any sort of Pop music or TV distracts me, but classical just takes me to another world where I can focus on whats in front of me and shut everything else out.

-Dream of all the stuff you want to have and how you want your life to change. Keeping your eye on the goal will keep you focused on making money and chasing that paper. Sales jobs from home are awesome cause you are reminded constantly of how much money you DON'T have.

-Whenever you are at your home office and feel a little lazy, go check your mail... Pop open some bills. Nothing will get you more motivated to work than checking you mail and finding a couple of late bills. Parking tickets, cable, electric, car note, gym ect ect ect.. Sell sell sell!!!!!

-Go for a 30min drive every morning at around 9-11 am... get some sun in your eyes and a nice cup of Joe... It will get you in a working mood.

 

[Razorguns]

It also helps if u enjoy what ur doing

r