Home is where the workplace is

What strategies would you recommend for making the most out of working from your home?

Many people believe they lack the discipline to telecommute. They fear they would be too distracted from their job duties by household chores, easily tempted by the television and bed.

Although the challenge of remaining focused without the positive influence of a bustling office environment is real, I doubt that most telecommuters spend their work days watching TV, napping and doing laundry.

The typical office environment is replete with distractions of its own, including chatty colleagues, nosey bosses and needless meetings.

What, then, can you do, to capitalise upon the peace and quiet of your home while ensuring productivity? Here are a few lessons that I have learnt:

1 Rise and shine: Get ready for work in the morning as if you were about to leave your home. Take a shower, brush your teeth wear clothing that you would not be embarrassed to be seen in. This exercise will help you to set the stage for a successful day of work.

2 Minimise interruptions: Tell your family and friends that you are working during certain times and that your availability is no greater than if you were in a cube somewhere. It also means scheduling medical and other appointments with due regard for your work schedule.

If you would see the doctor first thing in the morning to avoid interference with your projects, keep to this habit when you telecommute.

3 Schedule breaks and lunch times: Minimising interruptions does not mean that you must work non-stop for eight-hour stretches. However, you should try as much as possible to stick to a schedule of breaks and lunch periods rather than resting at haphazard intervals.

This approach will allow you to take care of personal business without feeling guilty. Yes, it's OK to watch television and bake cookies, as long as you do so during your lunch hour.

4 Time out of the office: An important benefit of working alongside other people is the opportunity to network. Even an introvert can feel isolated without face-to-face conversations.

An important rule of telecommuting successfully is to schedule time out of the office. Meet people for lunch or coffee or take your laptop to a public place that offers free Wi-Fi. It will help to keep your professional network alive.

5 Set a boundary between your work and personal lives: Telecommuters must take precautions not to let their work swallow their home life.

If possible, locate your home office in a separate room and close the door when done. If you do not have space for a separate home office, then power down or hide your computer at the end of the day.

6 Assert your presence: To ensure your boss and colleagues don't forget to include you in activities and decisions, you must work twice as hard as your office counterparts to be seen and heard.

Schedule a weekly check-in meeting with your boss, make sure you are on all appropriate e-mail distribution lists, reach out at least once a day to the people who work closely with you and drop by the office for visits as often as you can.