14 Things I’ve Learned About Working at Home

By Gene Marks
The Hartford Small Biz Ahead | Originally published: June 24, 2019
Updated: June 6, 2023

This year will be the 14th year that I’ve officially been working from home.

In fact, not only have I been working from home, but also I’ve been running a business from home all this time. A real business: with employees, contractors, customers, suppliers, and all the other headaches you can expect from doing this.

I once had an office with my father. But after he passed away in 2005, I shut it down. We saved lots of money on overhead, but I admit there have been a few cultural challenges—but that’s another topic for another day. Today, all of my people work from their home offices, too. We do see each other at client meetings and the occasional company event, but we’re solitary. Most everyone enjoys the autonomy and independence, though. I, for one, love it.

I’ve learned a lot about working from home and I’d like to share that knowledge. So, to celebrate these 14 years, I’ve come up with 14 things you should be doing if you decide to work from home, instead of going to an office. So, here they are, and not in any order of importance.

1. Have a separate workspace. Don’t create an office in your bedroom, because that will look bad on video calls. Don’t set up a space in the kitchen, because that’s for eating. If you really want to successfully work from home (not to mention, take advantage of some tax benefits), then you need to create a dedicated, separate place of business. I’ve been lucky enough to live in a large house, so I always had a room dedicated to my office. Maybe you have a basement? A closet that potentially can be converted? Or at least a part of your apartment that can be designated as work only?

2. Put in a door. And shut it. If you’re living with other people, you need to be able to shut them out of your professional life. You’ll be on calls or you’ll want to focus on your work and, if you’re in a situation where people can just walk in and out of your workspace and distract you with their silly stories and other dopey nonsense, then, hey…you might as well be working in an office!

3. Bathe. Yeah, you heard me. I don’t want to hear that you care about the environment and you’re conserving water. Just take a shower. Every day. Same time. It really does have a psychological impact. I bathe. You’re welcome.

4. Eat lunch out. Whenever I see people in an office or working from home eating at their desks, it depresses me. Everyone needs a change of scenery, and one of the joys of working from home is that no one knows when you’re in or out. So, go out. OK, it doesn’t have to be every day, and I know you can make a sandwich at home. But when you emerge into the bright sunlight and walk or drive to a nearby deli for a sandwich, you are reminded that there really is a whole big world going on out there all around you. Use the opportunity to smile and converse with other human beings in person. People really are nice…[MORE]

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To read the entire article by Gene Marks at The Hartford Small Biz Ahead website, visit: 14 Things I’ve Learned About Working at Home