While self-quarantining to stave off spread of the COVID-19 virus, many people will be working from home instead of in an office, some for the first time. As a freelance writer and editor, I have worked from home for more than 30 years. Here are ten tips for those just starting out:
1. Find your most productive time and use it. For me, it’s mornings. As the day wears on, I find focusing harder. I often start working as early as five or six a.m.
2. Think of your work in terms of tasks to complete, not in terms of hours to fill. When you’re in an office, part of the job is just being available at a desk, filling hours. When you’re home, the job becomes completing specific tasks.
3. If you complete your tasks, don’t worry about how many hours you put in. I’m a faster-than-average worker. It took me a long time to realize that having time left over after completing tasks wasn’t something to feel guilty about.