Working From Home, Or in My Case - Home is a Boat
In these days of technology, the idea of working from home or as in my case, my home is a boat, is a very sensible thing.
No travelling time required, no expensive work attire needed to impress your work mates, and your work schedule is flexible.
This in theory sounds great, but in reality it is not as easy as it seems.
Firstly you must have all the computer connections you need - that's no problem, for a price you can have anything you like.
Next you must have the software required to complete your tasks in a timely fashion.
Again no problem, for a price you can obtain any amount of software you need, either online or from a retailer.
A suitable place to work; bright, cheery and comfortable away from noise, family and TV.
Once you have all these issues dealt with, the next thing is motivation.
You must have some sort of routine that enables you to have that life style you thought you would have that comes with working from home.
You should set a timetable or work days or part thereof and keep to that if you can.
It is always tempting to leave what you are doing when someone drops by unannounced.
After all, how can you possibly be rude and say sorry I'm working right now, can you call later.
It sounds good in theory but it never happens.
Inevitably you stop what you are doing and entertain your guests and sometimes never regain the train of thought you were on.
So the work you were doing is lost.
You have to be strong and not answer the door.
Tell your friends the days you will be working or set up MSN or similar so that they can contact you and ask if you are available for a visit.
I don't know about you, but I find computer messaging less invasive than a phone call.
You will be surprised at how much work you can complete without interruptions from fellow workers in a work place where there is constant talking or enquiries.
This can add up to a hefty chunk of work time.
If you manage it correctly you will be able to achieve the same amount of work in a third of the time.
Research shows that the mornings are most people's best working hours when you are most likely to be productive.
So try to arrange you work hours to mornings and leave the afternoons to that life style you want.
The hardest thing for me is the actual workplace surroundings, because my partner and I live on a boat, and that boat may be anywhere from the middle of the ocean to a beautiful anchorage.
Or maybe somewhere in the Whitsunday Islands or a sheltered cove off a sandy beach with crystal clear water and plenty of fish waiting to be caught.
My motivation is sometime not exactly what it should be.
My work place is comfortable with all the connections and software I need, probably more comfortable than most people's office, but there are always the open windows to the sea.
But all said and done, working from home is the way to go, and it is beneficial to employers as well as their overheads are kept down by not having to supply you with a work station or all the other little things they have to provide to workers onsite, insurance, tea and coffee facilities, restrooms and cleaners on a regular basis.
All these add up to a substantial cost at the end of the day.
So off you go, find a job that allows you to work from home.
I, on the other hand, have to find a way to block out my windows so that I cannot be tempted.
No travelling time required, no expensive work attire needed to impress your work mates, and your work schedule is flexible.
This in theory sounds great, but in reality it is not as easy as it seems.
Firstly you must have all the computer connections you need - that's no problem, for a price you can have anything you like.
Next you must have the software required to complete your tasks in a timely fashion.
Again no problem, for a price you can obtain any amount of software you need, either online or from a retailer.
A suitable place to work; bright, cheery and comfortable away from noise, family and TV.
Once you have all these issues dealt with, the next thing is motivation.
You must have some sort of routine that enables you to have that life style you thought you would have that comes with working from home.
You should set a timetable or work days or part thereof and keep to that if you can.
It is always tempting to leave what you are doing when someone drops by unannounced.
After all, how can you possibly be rude and say sorry I'm working right now, can you call later.
It sounds good in theory but it never happens.
Inevitably you stop what you are doing and entertain your guests and sometimes never regain the train of thought you were on.
So the work you were doing is lost.
You have to be strong and not answer the door.
Tell your friends the days you will be working or set up MSN or similar so that they can contact you and ask if you are available for a visit.
I don't know about you, but I find computer messaging less invasive than a phone call.
You will be surprised at how much work you can complete without interruptions from fellow workers in a work place where there is constant talking or enquiries.
This can add up to a hefty chunk of work time.
If you manage it correctly you will be able to achieve the same amount of work in a third of the time.
Research shows that the mornings are most people's best working hours when you are most likely to be productive.
So try to arrange you work hours to mornings and leave the afternoons to that life style you want.
The hardest thing for me is the actual workplace surroundings, because my partner and I live on a boat, and that boat may be anywhere from the middle of the ocean to a beautiful anchorage.
Or maybe somewhere in the Whitsunday Islands or a sheltered cove off a sandy beach with crystal clear water and plenty of fish waiting to be caught.
My motivation is sometime not exactly what it should be.
My work place is comfortable with all the connections and software I need, probably more comfortable than most people's office, but there are always the open windows to the sea.
But all said and done, working from home is the way to go, and it is beneficial to employers as well as their overheads are kept down by not having to supply you with a work station or all the other little things they have to provide to workers onsite, insurance, tea and coffee facilities, restrooms and cleaners on a regular basis.
All these add up to a substantial cost at the end of the day.
So off you go, find a job that allows you to work from home.
I, on the other hand, have to find a way to block out my windows so that I cannot be tempted.
