Successfully Work at Home

Receiving Proper Instructions

Telecommuters are regular employees of a company who work at home (either full time or part time), not in an office with other employees. As a remote worker, you may feel out of the loop in company dealings and work progress, so it's advisable to make sure your boss gives you explicit instructions on the work you are expected to do and any projected due dates. Just like in a normal office setting, communication is key; call your boss or supervisor if you are unsure of your duties, or call in with daily or weekly progress reports. If you drive in to your company periodically for meetings or updates, be sure you have all the necessary papers, folders and information when you return home to work.

Setting Up Your Home Office

Set up a clean, clear and quiet place in your home where you can work in peace. Make sure family members know that this is where you need to concentrate and work; you may want to lay down some ground rules also. Choose a comfortable chair, use heat or air conditioning to regulate the temperature, have adequate lighting and decorate your workspace to induce creativity.

Office Equipment Basics

Depending on the work you're doing, some basic office equipment may include a desktop or laptop computer, printer, scanner, fax machine, copy machine, filing cabinet, calculator, phone, personal data device, Internet access, email and/or Web cam. Keep basic office supplies on hand, including calendars, paper, pens, printer ink, staples, a stapler and manila folders. You may also need to purchase software for office management, financial management, invoices, desktop publishing and photo manipulation.

Creating a Schedule and Sticking to It

If you're new to being your own boss, budgeting your time is critical. You may need to portion out your workload, set priorities, write tasks on a calendar or take other steps to ensure you meet deadlines and finish your work on time. As working from home is the ultimate in flex-time, work whichever hours you prefer, unless your company requires you to be available during some core hours, and give yourself goals to achieve daily or weekly. Just remember to be flexible and allow time for unexpected situations that may arise.

Avoiding Distractions

Being able to stay at home with your kids may sound convenient, but if you're expected to be working and producing results for your boss, you need to concentrate and avoid distractions. If you're looking out the window too often, close the curtains. If the dog is licking your hand or the cat is walking across your keyboard, close the door. If the cake in the fridge is calling your name, denote a specific time when you'll take your break and eat your lunch.

Getting up and Stretching

With no boss watching you, you're free to leave your workstation. If you're getting stiff or achy and your eyes are blurry, you may want to stand, stretch, squat, run up the stairs, go get the mail or take the dog for a walk. Working alone for long hours at a time could make you antsy and uncomfortable. A short break, and even a healthy snack, may refresh your body and mind.

Other Issues

There may be some other concerns when you work from home. Consult with your tax and legal advisers to determine, for example, whether you qualify for a home office deduction and reimbursement for certain office expenses. Always save receipts. If you use your own car for business, keep track of mileage, destinations and car repair for possible deductions. If customers are visiting your home office, you may need to add liability coverage to your homeowner's insurance policy. Now that you have all that you need, feel free to sit back, relax and work productively from home.

This article is general in nature and does not constitute legal, tax, or investment advice. SunTrust makes no warranties as to accuracy or completeness of this information, does not endorse any non-SunTrust companies, products, or services described here, and takes no liability for your use of this information.