Any words of wisdom?

[tanteterri]

My employers just accepted my offer to take over the word processing job at our law firm provided I can work from home.

This is a huge change for me and the law firm, and we are stumbling around trying to figure out what needs to be done and how best to accomplish this.

Any thoughts?

Comments

[betsycontent]

just curious . . . why do they want you ro work from home?

[tanteterri]

They don't want me to work from home. I asked to work from home.

I have been going to school for medical transcription, so I could work from home, and now I have the chance to do the type of work I've been doing for the past 30 years from home.

However, having never worked from home I have two visions in my head -=- one is me at the computer in my immaculate home, dinner in the crockpot, and all well with the world; the other vision is me slumped over the computer unbathed, in a ratty old robe, surrounded by fast food wrappers.

Of course, my brain can't conjure up anything in between.

[betsycontent]

ahhh! now i get it. :)

i'm not one to give advice on this. i'm a lazy, poorly-motivated writer who doesn't live up to her potential. :p

[firecat]

I love working from home. What sort of wisdom are you looking for?

[tanteterri]

What makes working from home better?

I imagine it will be wonderful, but I'm not sure why.

What has been your experience with it?

[firecat]

Note that I have a job where I don't need to be available during all of the traditional work hours

[popfiend]

The best way is to set up an "office" space and a daily routine as close to what you would have in your office. Given that you are concerned about the bathrobe thing, get dressed every day. You don't have to dress for work, but put on clothes.

I got laid off in March of 2009, and my full time job became looking for a job. I'm consulting now, so I'm in an office, but when I was looking for work, I got up at the same time every day, and I took a shower and got dressed EVERY day as if I were going to work. It could be jeans and a sweatshirt, but I got dressed.

That goes a long way to bridging the gap between the 2 poles in your head.

Be careful, it's actually easier to forget lunch at home. Because you get into the stuff and there are no physical reminders that it's lunchtime like people leaving their desks.

Check email often as it's your lifeline to the office, and make plans to visit the office periodically. Visibility, while not as important as it used to be, is still important.

Good luck.

*support*

[tanteterri]

Thank you.

I figure I'll be getting up with hubby when he's leaving for work, and keep my regular morning routine with him.

I have been thinking about visits to the office. Our HR person would like me to do it but randomly so the attorneys don't decide to save up all their work for a day when I'm in.

Plus I don't have AC at home, so in the summer, I may just go into the office some days to be more comfortable!

[popfiend]

All good ideas.

Hope I helped.

[popfiend]

BTW, on the hubby side. Remind him that this opens the possibility of extra cuddle time. :D

This has nothing to do with work, it just makes everyone happier. :D

[wouldyoueva]

Do you have a dedicated office area at home? I have the option of working at home from time to time, but my computer is right next to my bed, and it's hard to resist the siren song of napping when I'm editing something mind-numbing.

Can you map out what needs to be done on an average day, and set that as what you need to accomplish on a daily basis?

Most important thing: make sure your productivity goes way up.