Working from Home

originally posted on 6 June 2011


I digress today from my usual topics of copywriting and creative writing to quickly put down some thoughts on working from home. I realised that many people have the same desire for a more relaxed work environment with a flexible timing. But before they had even taken the first step, they have already set up their own barrier. 

"I don't have the discipline!", they usually lament. Well, neither do I. 

If we're talking about lacking discipline, I'm actually the worst of the worst. But I do have an innate sense of responsibility to deliver what I promise, and that's my saving grace.

So, here's some quick tips on how I made it working from home:

1) Practise a proper work schedule
I follow working days, working hours, weekends, and public holidays. When it's lunch hour, I go for lunch. When it's 6pm, I shut down my computer and go for a jog. When it's a public holiday, I refrain from switching on my computer.

Contrary to popular belief that you work less when working from home, you actually don't know when to stop. So, follow a normal work schedule as if you're working in an office environment.

The plus point is that you can be flexible and start work a bit later, stop work a little earlier, take a day off any time you need to. The only approval needed is from yourself.

2) Make deadlines
It's easy to forgo deadlines if you're mostly working with yourself. Your inner voices debate and conclude that one or two days late is okay.

So, I put the deadlines 'out there' making it difficult to change without affecting others. Whenever I get a project, I will either ask for a specific deadline or declare one to the client if they have none. Once you make that promise (for deadlines are essentially a promise to deliver), you will inevitable deliver it on time. After all, if you don't deliver on time, there will be no repeat business, no repeat business means no money, no money means cannot pay car loan.

3) Set small goals
Distractions... in the form of internet, Facebook, IM chatting, non-existant firewall to curb those online activities, housework, television, bed. It takes army training to be disciplined enough to resist temptations.

My only way to do it is setting small goals. Finish two paragraphs and I'll allow myself 10 mins of Facebook. Complete this article, before taking a nap. Finish editing this, then I'll go watch an episode of Star Trek.
4) Have a proper work area
I tried it before. When my Macbook was still functional and mobile (an incident caused it to only work while plugged into an external monitor...long story), I worked EVERYWHERE. In front of the TV, on the dining table, on the floor, in a cafe, on my bed, by my bed....

While I believe an occasional change of environment helps to boost creativity, it can sometimes be distracting. You lose focus and take time to get back onto the roll each time you change work stations.

So, looking on the bright side of my laptop monitor being fried, finally setting up a permanent work area forced me to sit my behind down and focus on the work at hand.

5) Get out and meet people, stay in touch with the world
As much a recluse as I am, as amusing as I think I am, I do become bored with my own company sometimes. Working like a frog under a coconut shell is far from beneficial to a creative mind. While the world outside changes rapidly, I could still be working like it was 2010 (that's when I left permanent employment).

I make it a point to meet as many people, as often as possible, dropping by my clients offices to join their brainstorming sessions, meeting up with enquiring parties even though the chance of closing the project is slim, joining networking sessions for SMEs, etc. While benefits of such efforts to my work is not immediately noticeable, it will help sustain my business and sanity in the long run.