If you’re tired of the rat race, exhausted from sitting in traffic each day, and want to stop spending your paycheck on new business attire, chances are that you’ve considered working from home. Whether you’re interested in telecommuting with your current company or you want to start your own online business, it’s possible to find a rewarding, satisfying career that you can do at home. If you’re interested in transitioning to a work-at-home career, there are three important factors you need to consider before you take the leap.
Working from home still requires work
If you’re used to an office job where you show up at 8 and leave at 4, you probably had the occasional down time. Maybe you used this time to check your email, browse Facebook, or watch silly YouTube videos. When you work from home, though, your breaks will be few and far between. Working from home, unlike most salaried positions, will require almost constant work. You won’t get paid unless you complete your projects, so you’ll need to be willing to work consistently without a lot of breaks or relaxation time.
Working from home means setting your own hours
If you want to work from your home office, you’ll need to be dedicated to setting and keeping your own hours. This means you’ll need to be diligent in working at the same time each day. For many individuals, this can be challenging. Your neighbors might assume that since you’re at home during the day, you’ll be free to babysit or sign for packages. Your friends might wonder why you can’t meet for coffee every day. If you want to have a successful career, you’ll need to learn to set strong boundaries when it comes to maintaining your work hours.
Working from home means ignoring the house
Perhaps one of the most difficult aspects of working from home is learning that housework can wait. If you work in the living room, it can be tempting to stop working to pick up toys, do a load of laundry, or start dinner. You might even be tempted to take a break from your project to try painting a wall or hanging up a picture. If you want to maintain successful business practices, you’ll need to understand that housework should wait until your work is done.
No matter what type of job you want to do from home, it is possible to create and develop a successful online career. If you’re willing and dedicated to make the job work, you certainly can. With the right goals and an understanding mindset, you’ll be able to make money without having to leave your house.