How to survive… working from home

You can’t believe your luck! You’ve been given a meaty project to undertake entirely from the comfort of your own home – no more battling on public transport to work, no more getting up at the crack of dawn, no more working late… Sounds like an absolute doss (hem hem). Here’s how to ensure you actually get some work done and don’t share your day with Fern Brittain, Noel Edmunds, and Paul O’Grady…

Don’t work in your pyjamas

No matter now many people may tell you how great it is when you phone work and no one can see you slobbing in your ’jamas – don’t. It won’t put you in the right frame of mind. Plus if the postman calls, or heaven forfend, a courier, you’ll hide and pretend you’re not in. Then the package will go winging its way back to your employer who will think you’ve got a job interview.

Go for an early morning run or brisk walk

In order to get those brain cells functioning, it’s good to get a bit of oxygen. So if you are that way inclined, do some exercise before sitting at your desk. If you can’t manage that sort of thing in the morning, then after getting dressed, go outside, close the front door and go back in again – simultaneously bemoaning public transport – so that you can really feel you are ready for work.

Make sure you have a calm, tidy space to work

If you are surrounded by clutter, you will find it impossible to work effectively. As you are ready to do anything rather than sit at your desk and work, make sure that you have allotted a particular area in your home for this purpose before you take on the project. Also, try to maintain a tidy, clean home outside of working hours so you don’t end up sprinting from your desk for some serious bleaching action at the drop of a hat.

Avoid telling friends and family you’re working from home

The minute people know you’re “working from home”, they assume it’s a euphemism for “bunking off”. This means you’ll be bombarded by phone calls from friends when they’ve nothing to do at work, or people will keep popping round for a cuppa. Screen your answer phone and keep a low profile.

Don’t turn the telly on (not even for a nano sec)

This is perhaps the most dangerous thing of all. Somehow, even the most disciplined, intelligent minds are drawn to the drivel that is daytime TV. The only way to be safe is not to go near it. Switch it on and you’re doomed. Before you know it hours will sweep by and you’ll be excited about the following day’s Doctors episode or yet another repeat of Columbo.

Avoid getting distracted

Very hard this one. You have to have the willpower of David Blaine to not let your mind wander into the realms of fantasy. Stop thinking about the console game you almost finished last night or the gripping novel you’re reading and start thinking about how you can get your work done in a short a time as possible.

Arrange to go into work occasionally

Working from home can leave you feeling isolated, lonely and demotivated. This is exacerbated if you are used to working as part of a team. So make sure you attend relevant meetings at work so that you maintain contact with colleagues and lose that leper-like feeling.

Avoid making drinks and going to the fridge every half an hour

Apart from the fact that you won’t get any work done, you’ll also end up 20 stones.

Take time out for lunch

You need a break – you have thousands at work – so try to meet up with someone for lunch or coffee at least once a week. Not a long liquid lunch – just the chance to speak to someone else other than your PC or the neighbour’s cat.

The advantage of following all of the above… is that you could well end up having at least a whole afternoon off a week because you’ll get everything done so quickly. Okay so you may have to be at the end of a mobile or PC… but you can still get into your pyjamas, turn the telly on and put your feet up after a long, hard week.