As Emphasize’s creative manager, I am in charge of conceptualizing your web design ideas into reality. I build websites, which means I am online for a living. And I also work from home. So, not only do I have to avoid online distractions like social media, the never-ending news cycle, and my email, I also have to avoid real-life distractions such as my kids, my house (which always needs something done) and, well, just about everything else.
I’ve been working from home for several years, though, and like to think I’m pretty good at it. I’ve developed a few tips and tricks to make sure I can provide each project the care and attention it needs, plus allow me to be creative, imaginative and inspired.
1. Have a dedicated space. I have an office space that I use specifically for work and nothing else. I’ve done my best to make it utilitarian, but still comfortable.
For a long time I worked in an open area of my basement, which gave me plenty of room to spread around, but if any member of my family came down for any reason (even though they have always done their best to not disturb me), it’s still an opportunity for distraction. So now I use a spare bedroom, which has a big window with a nice view. Don’t stuff yourself in a soulless box, we all deserve a nice place to work! If my door is shut, my family knows to knock.
3. Work out often, work out well. This is true for all professions, but it can be extra easy to be sedentary at home. If you think about it, you’re not moving around nearly as much as you do in a regular office situation. There’s no walk to work, no meetings to rush to, no quick jaunts for a bite to eat. Plenty of studies out there reveal just how bad it is for our health to sit all day – you can end up with everything from a bad back to serious heart disease – so I schedule regular workouts with a trainer at least three times a week. I also have an adjustable desk that I can raise up to work while standing, which I do for at least a couple hours a day. It’s actually amazing how much more I get done when my blood is flowing. And when I’m sitting I make sure to get up and stretch at least once an hour for a couple minutes.
4. Set a schedule and stick to it. I have young children that need to get to school everyday, so there’s no avoiding the alarm clock in my life. That sort of routine is actually extremely helpful for me maintaining a solid work schedule. I start as soon as they are out the door. But one thing about working from home that can be very difficult is learning how to stop working. Once I get immersed in a project I find it difficult to quit, and so have been known to put in a lot of overtime. I do try to put in eight hours and then quit, but for those situations when I have worked into the evening, I will give myself a break and allow myself to “leave early” another day.
5. Don’t work in your PJs. It’s so very tempting to just roll out of bed and into the office, but it’s also a subtle way to devalue yourself and the work you do. Part of the reason why it’s nice to look good is because it not only boosts your self-esteem, it is reflective of what you think about yourself. Plus, since I spend a fair amount of time video conferencing with clients, looking professional is important.
6. Create a community. I am in constant contact with clients, so I am one of the lucky working-from-home folks who doesn’t get lonely. I do miss, however, the casual coffee room chats that spontaneously happen at an office, whether they are about a complicated client relationship, an advancement in technology, a development in the industry or even the latest documentary on Netflix. And these moments are not distractions; they are part of a healthy work environment. So I have cobbled together a few friends in the same sort of business as me to meet and discuss ideas often.
Be Responsible With Your Client Information When Working From Home
Websites gather and store a lot of information from people, and it’s my job to keep it all safe. I keep all anti-virus software programs up to date, and well as browsers and operating systems. As I am essentially my own IT department, I am extremely diligent about watching out for phishing attempts, and never open links from suspect sources. My computer is protected with a strong password that I change often, and I back up everything constantly.
Emphasize Web Design and Maintenance Packages from Emphasize
Emphasize Design of Calgary provides a number of options for the website design of your Calgary business. We cover all of your website design and marketing needs. A good website will greatly benefit your Calgary business.
And once your site is complete, we also offer a monthly maintenance program including automated backups, security maintenance and monitoring, unlimited content and image updating, blog support, theme and plugin updating and even insurance against damage caused by hackers. Let us take all of this off your mind so you can put all of your energy into your business.
