Working from home?

Even before the pandemic, the average person spent about 15,000 hours commuting between home and office during their lifetime!

Post-pandemic it has been estimated that around one in four people will be spending at least one day a week working from home – any many every day, thereby reducing wasted time, stress, and fuel consumption.

The universal use of laptops, email and mobile phones has made home an obvious alternative to the daily grind and homeworking can even be therapeutic enough to increase productivity. But there are some guidelines that are worth considering if you are to make the most of this new regime:

Set aside a dedicated space so that you do not feel that your work is invading your private residence.
Discipline can be a problem. Some people take advantage and abuse their “freedom” whilst others feel they are not “working” if they are at home and compensate by overworking.
Don’t let your work encroach on your family time. Separate work time from leisure time. Stick to set office hours and let voicemail and email pick up messages out of hours.
Keep your workspace tidy. By picking the right equipment and furniture, including cable-free connections, you can free up large amounts of space.
Manage time effectively. Schedule and prioritise tasks – don’t let emails and post take over half the day. Allocate time slots to do certain things and set reminders on your phone if necessary.
Check your home insurance policy to ensure you are adequately covered for business items and company property whilst in you home – from theft to sticky fingers!
Ask an accountant to confirm which of your home expenses can be offset against tax.