One Third Of Australian Workers Are Working From Home - Could You Make It A Success

One Third Of Australian Workers Are Working From Home - Could You Make It A Success A  report in the Sydney Morning Herald suggests that more Australian workers than ever before are choosing to work from home. The reasons behind this are not surprising and often relate to things such as a desire for a better home/life balance, cutting costs on office rent and travel, as well as choosing their own working hours. And the decision seems to be paying off  research reported in News.com indicates that freelancers (many of which work from home) are contributing a whopping $51 billion to the Australian economy each year! But while this all sounds great, working from home can come with challenges. Here are a few ways that you can heighten your chances of making a success out of being a home worker. Stick to office hours The beauty of home working is that you can be flexible with your hours. Got a medical appointment coming up? Then take an hour off. The kids Christmas show at school? Make up the time later. But although this freedom is convenient in moderation, it can become a slippery slope to a disorganised and irregular work schedule. Where possible try to stick to some sort of routine. Of course, therell be times when a tight deadline means working into the evening or family commitments disrupt your working day. But in general, its best to stick to regular working hours when you can just as you would in an office environment so that the lines between your work and home life dont become blurred. Dress for work There is no dress code for home working but that doesnt mean you shouldnt make an effort. Sometimes the temptation to stay in your pyjamas might be strong but showering, dressing and getting ready for work will put you in a more focused mindset and help to separate work and home time. It also means youre prepared for any unexpected conference calls! Have a designated work space These days there are a number of office options available for those who want to  work from home successfully from garden offices to loft conversions. But your work space doesnt have to be fancy. The idea is that you have a designated area from which youre happy, comfortable and able to work productively. It could be a spare room or even just a desk but it should be functional and well organised. If you can, design and decorate your work space in a way that inspires you  according to Entrepreneur, the colour yellow is thought to induce creativity while low wavelength shades like pale blue are calming. Green plants are also a great addition to your work space they arent just aesthetically pleasing but also keep the room free of toxins. It helps to lay down some privacy rules so the rest of the family know not to bother you when youre in your work space. Eliminate distractions Working from home can be notoriously dangerous for distractions whether its that pile of mounting dishes, your favourite midday TV show or the lure of social media. In the absence of a boss or colleagues keeping tabs on you, its down to you to remain disciplined. Try to save domestic chores for your home time just because youre in the house it doesnt mean youre not at work. Take breaks Another danger of working from home is not knowing when to switch off. Indeed, many home workers are guilty of over working rather than under working! But knowing when to take a break is important. At the very least you should take a lunch break (just as you would in an office) to refuel, re-energise and return to your work feeling fresh and inspired. Many home workers find that taking a stroll or even including a midday gym session into their working day can help them to remain focused. Ultimately the choice is yours and eventually you will find the best routines and working practices to suit you. About FlexCareers FlexCareers has engineered game-changing technology to connect talented individuals with progressive employers offering flexible work. FlexCareers also offers a fully integrated suite of coaching, training and re-accreditation courses for skills enhancement, including our proprietary return to work Relaunchship Program. FlexCareers host regular employer roundtable events to help move the needle on flexibility and gender diversity in the workplace, and are regular contributors to a variety of businesses and publications, supporting learning and best practice thinking in flexible working practices. If you need support to develop, embed or review your flexible working policies and programs, you can contact us here . For Employers | For Job Seekers | FlexCoach | FlexPro | The Blog FlexCareers is changing the way careers work. Join the conversation and connect with us: Facebook | LinkedIn | Twitter Free Career Coaching Join FlexCareers and our panel of FlexCoaches every Monday night in the TALENTED FLEXIBLE WORKFORCE Facebook Group. Access support and discuss the issues that matter to you with our community of job seekers and employers.