Share tips on working from home with Direct Line for Business – win £300 voucher! NOW CLOSED

[RebeccaEMumsnet]

Whether you run your own business or work for an organisation, working from home can sound like a dream. Without being tied down to a traditional office or workspace, benefits of home working can include a non-existent commute, a better work-life balance and the ability to be closer to your family.

However, working from home comes with its own challenges, and Direct Line for Business want to hear your tips on how to make it work for you. How do you separate your work from family life when you’re based at home? Do you stick to a strict daily work schedule, or have a dedicated ‘office’ space?

We’re also interested to hear from Mumsnetters who run (or are thinking about running) their own businesses from home. What were/ are your main considerations when starting up a company from your spare room?

Whatever your tip on working from home, Direct Line for Business want to hear it.

Everyone who posts a tip on this thread will be entered into a prize draw where one MNer will win a £300 Love2Shop voucher.

Standard Insight T & Cs Apply

Have a dedicated workspace that makes you feel like you are in the office. Try and have a routine and set break times so that you feel structured. Leave distractions (mobiles, tvs) switched off or in a different room.

Get up like you are going g to work, dress for work (coz otherwise you feel lethargic in your PJs) and don't be tempted to turn on the tv. I try to keep in mind that I'm being trusted by my employer to work.like I would in the office

Have a separate area, set times for work and time for family time.. stick to it like you would any other job.

I only work in the afternoon so make sure that I make my lunch/cup of tea etc before I sit down so I don't waste time getting up in half an hour to make lunch
We have a junk room study so able to mentally switch to work mode which is important.
The kids are normally at school so am able to just get on with it. In holidays I try to arrange childcare where possible but if I can't then I make sure they have drinks and snacks etc set out on table and they are primary age so able to play and amuse themselves without too much supervision. They know that if study door is closed don't come in (I only close it when on a call) they also know that when mums working isn't the time to ask me to help make something or look for something for them.
Luckily I have to stop work to go pick the kids up but it's easy to work on if I don't, you need to have a definite cut off,
Make your work space comfy, I have a foot stool so I'm not tempted to go sit on the sofa,
My desk is all set up with things like phone power cable etc so I don't get distracted going to put my phone to charge etc

Main thing if you work for someone else is to remember that working from home is a perk, if you don't work and do your job (or spend the time doing housework and watching tv ) then you will lose the ability to work at home, working from home is worth a lot to me so I don't take the piss, obviously I might go stick a wash on or chuck something in the oven or run out to bring washing in if it rains etc

We have a guest house with our own house behind it which really blurs the lines between work and home time. There are so many benefits to working from home, the main one is always being there for my son, without the need for child care. For me there are not too many downsides to be honest and the upside way outweighs any! My big sticking point is dinner time. With guests, you are always on call, but we hang a sign up at dinner time saying we are having an hour family time and will be back soon. Of course in an emergency we are always available, but our guests tend to understand and respect this hour in the day and it works well for us.

Set a daily schedule (or routine) so that work is spread out across the day (prioritising helps so that urgent work is cleared first), and make sure to take regular breaks. Try to have an office style space set up if possible, to help keep the mind focussed.

Have a dedicated space where family members are not allowed to interior me.

Don't have a tv in the office!

I haven't worked from home, but my husband did and it was good and bad. It was great for me when my daughter was young as I didn't have to wake her up to take her to childcare as my husband would be home. He however has a different story as he says that working from home was a nightmare, he said it was difficult to separate home and work and found he was easily distracted. Also because my daughter was there it was unprofessional to make phone calls if she was crying so he usually tried confining it to when she was sleeping. Also it did mean juggling childcare if he needed to go to meetings, I could see that he was super stressed with being a sort of stay at home dad.

He advises to have a good routine and be organised, also have a good support network of people who can help out at short notice.

I have a office space just for work as I get to easily distracted. Try to keep to a set routine but take plenty of breaks

Have a designated space, or ideally a room. Sit on a proper office chair, don't stay in your PJs and work to a schedule as you would at work.

Take a proper break at lunch and get out of the house otherwise it can feel isolating.

I have a radio on in the background as I find going from a noisy office to silence is distracting

Have a dedicated room to work in and stick to a schedule :)

Make sure you have an office space - where you can be away from any distractions. Plan your day with a schedule.

You must have a designated space, make sure people know you are working, and keep a log of what you have done

Unfortunately I am unable to work from home in my job as it is lab based. I would love to have the option though, I'm just in the wrong profession.

Routine is absolutely key! It's much easier to be self-disciplined when you have a set routine and have planned proper breaks etc. It can be isolating so ensure you do get some adult contact during the day - even if its just chatting to other parents on the school run or giving a friend/family member a call. I would say mainly, enjoy it! If you plan your time properly you can have some you time during the day and remind yourself of the perks of working from home :)

I'm lucky enough to work from home and have to say that the first couple of months were a learning curve.

My biggest piece of advice to anyone would be to get organised. You have to focus on what you are doing and organise your time efficiently. Many days I've looked up and gone over my hours - and you also need to learn to switch off from work! No sneaky checking your emails etc.

1. Make sure you get up and move about, exercise is important
2. Still arrange to meet others or have an hour out to go see a friend for a coffee, you are still entitled to a break!
3. Don't do the housework when you are working from home. You need to switch off and concentrate on earning your ££££

4.Protect your weekends! They are yours to have family time not to be bogged down doing what you do monday to friday.

1. Make sure you have a designated space to work from so you can switch off from distractions

Finally number 6... If you have a dog, they relieve stress. Give yourself 5 minutes to have a cuddle :P

I work from home once a week and in the office for the rest of the time. I save tasks that I really need to concentrate on for when I am at home, that way I appreciate the time to make progress with the work, and get immersed in it, rather than being distracted by the laundry that needs doing!

Create boundaries. Make sure that there is a way to keep personal and work lives separate. It doesn't take long for meal times to be missed, kids to go without a trip to the park etc. Set a start and finish time and stick to it. Plan your week, try not to take on any last minute bits or you'll find that the family life goes on without you while you're burning yourself out.

It's important to remember you still need to have breaks for lunch, and have a walk about! It's too easy to just get so involved that you forget you're still entitled to these things.

Definetely have an office space, and a planning board!

1. Be prepared for the horror of the first year as you adjust. I really thought me & dh would end up separating.

1. Try and treat it as a standard job. I set 9-5 strictly. Dh doesn't it is makes family life very difficult.

1. If you can have a 'work area' like an office etc. Try and reclaim the house as the home.

1. Get up and dressed and ready for work. Don't be tempted to slob about. Otherwise you don't work as efficiently.

Don't try to work with children in the house!

I a tally find I work fine in my own clothes lounging on the sofa. It is, however, essential to avoid wondering onto websites or checking non-work social media.