8 Tips for Working From Home Successfully

If you’ve been working from home for any length of time, you know it’s not as easy as some people make it out to be. It definitely has its perks, but working from home is still WORK!

For a lot of new remote workers, it takes time to find that rhythm and system for working from home successfully. That’s why we reached out to several Fabulessly Frugal readers who also happen to be work from home moms and asked them for their best tips for working from home effectively.

Whether you’re new to working from home or you’ve been doing it for years, I have no doubt you’ll be able to find something helpful in the tips below! There’s always room to optimize you’re routine. 

1. Keep Work and Personal Separate

When you work at home, while it is flexible, you should try and keep work hours separate from personal stuff. Keeping them separate helps keep things organized and well…separate. – Tami Y. Bend, OR

This is SO important when you work from home, but it’s not always easy to do. It can be tempting to work work work without any relaxation. Be sure to unplug!

2. Time Yourself

Working from home is wonderful as far as the flexibility goes but it takes extreme discipline!! What many may not realize is how easy it is to get distracted at home. For this reason, I keep a timer by my computer while I work and stop it when I go to do laundry, take the dog out, check personal email, etc.

It’s amazing that I sometimes actually only get 2 hours of work done in a 4-hour time span! But it’s such a blessing to be able to pick my kids up from school if they’re sick, attend school events, go to matinee movies over holiday breaks, take vacations when we want, and so much more!! – Debbie W. Cape Coral, FL

3. Create a Designated Workspace

It’s also a good idea to treat your home job as a real job so you prevent mixing business life with home life, which can lead to burnout. Designate a workspace, create and stick to a work schedule, take breaks, and leave work behind when you are finished (close the office door, pack up work stuff, etc).

This way, you won’t be tempted to work when you should be “home”. – Rose E Seattle

4. Stay Social

Working from home can get lonely. Make sure you get dressed, go outside and socialize as much as possible. – Rose E Seattle

This is another super important tip. You HAVE to put in the extra effort to socialize when you work from home. If anything, call up a friend for a chat or go to the gym just to get out and see people. Check out this post for more socialization ideas.

5. Have a Work Routine

Get up, get dressed, put your makeup on and get into the work mindset every day. If you have kids, help them understand that while they are your priority, you need focused time to get your work done.

My kids are older now (10 and 14), but I often have my daughter in my office coloring, or my son doing his homework. When I have projects they can help with, I get them involved and pay them for it so they understand the process and benefit of working hard. – Julie G, Billings

Having a good routine is probably one of the most important tips for working from home successfully. Without a routine, it’s easy to waste hours without even realizing it.

Related: Should You Give Your Kids Allowance for Chores?

6. Look for the Right Opportunity

As I am sure many Moms out there feel, working from home is a balancing act between making enough to pay the bills and still being a Mom to the family. Working from home is tricky too because it can be isolating.

I have found that once I became okay with it being different (that is–not interacting with people face-to-face) I enjoy working from home so much more!

Bottom line, if you want to work from home, keep looking for the right fit for you! – Colleen M. (Ramsey, MN)

7. Treat it Like an Office Job

Working at home is not for everyone. You really have to treat it like you’re in the office and not zone out or get distracted. – Vi K, Springboro

If you follow the work from home tips above, they’ll help a lot with this. Having a routine, a designated workspace, ample social time, and all of that good stuff will help you stay balanced, and in turn, make it easier to stay focused when work needs to be done.

8. Be Honest With Family & Friends

One last (very important) tip: Underscore to your friends and family that you really are WORKING. It can be easy for others to think that you’re available for babysitting, kid drop-offs, errands or a host of other things because “you’re at home.”

It’s important to help them understand that you have a work schedule that may be somewhat flexible, but that your work time is important and key to supporting your family. – Julie G, Billings

Final Thoughts

Although working from home DOES offer a lot more freedom and flexibility than an office job, there are still limits. You have to be disciplined and self-motivated if you want to be successful because, in the end, work still needs to be done.

Have any work from home tips of your own? How do you stay productive and sane? Leave a comment below!

If you don’t already work from home but you want to, check out these posts for ideas:

• Work From Home Business Ideas
• How to Make Make Money Taking Surveys from Home
• How to Make Money From Home With Rentals
• Work From Home Jobs
• How to Start a Blog and Make Money From Home
• 7 Ways to Make Money From Home as an English Speaker
• How FlexJobs Can Help You Find a Remote Side Job
• How to Make Money Pet Sitting on Rover