Is working from home the cushiest gig ever, or the most difficult one?
Seasoned teleworkers would say: both! Here are three ways it can become awful if not managed properly and four ways to enjoy its awesomeness if it is.
First, teleworkers save a lot of time by not commuting. But, what starts off as extra free time, can easily turn into extended work hours when you aren’t clock-watching as closely as you would if you had leave your work site to race home to meet other obligations on time.
Secondly, when wardrobe isn’t an issue, you can be super comfy in your jammies and slippers, on the sofa, with your feet up while you work. But, if you aren’t careful, laziness can creep up on you and result in a lower quantity and quality of work getting done. 
Thirdly, working at home eliminates the distractions of people frequently dropping by your work area, chatting incessantly and wasting valuable time. At home, the distractions don’t go away, they just become different ones, like family and friends who drop by, pressing chores that need to get done or worse, feelings of complete isolation.
So what can new teleworkers do make working at home awesome for their supervisors and for themselves?
Dedicate Work Space
Establish a dedicated workspace and use it. No, this doesn’t mean the sofa is always where you work. It means, pick a room in the house where you can have a desk, chair, office supplies and equipment. Having everything in one space lends itself to structure, focus, and productivity. You will feel like you are ‘at work’, you will be able to find everything, and you will be less tempted to work around the clock when you can walk away and shut the door.
Stay Connected
It is great to eliminate the distractions of colleagues dropping by your desk, but when you completely eliminate it by working from home, that could lead to feelings of isolation. For that reason, stay connected to your co-workers. In fact, rather than default to email for all communication (we do that even we are in a workplace), pick up the phone. This will help you feel more engaged; cut down on incidents of miscommunication; speed up getting some things done and; dispel any doubt that you are actually working.
Ask for What You Need
Even if you have a computer, cell phone, printer and office supplies, still ask your manager to provide basic home office items (excluding furniture). At first, using your personal equipment may seem like no big deal, but it will eventually become one when you have to repair it and buy parts, supplies and accessories for it. Using your own cell phone means co-workers and customers can call you whenever it is convenient for them, but you can’t just turn it off or leave it home if it is your link to family and friends.
Be Clear on Expectations
Every supervisor has his own preferences and expectations. Meet with yours to make sure you are very clear about his. For example, is your workday based on delivery of products or services or by time on the clock? Must you be available during certain hours or are your hours flexible? How often, if ever, are you expected to go into the office? Do you have the equipment for virtual meetings and collaboration, such as Skype, conference calls, SharePoint, electronic group messaging services? Schedule regular check-ins to make sure expectations haven’t changed and that you are still on track.
By following these simple tips, your teleworking experience could be simply awesome!
