Working from home is getting more and more popular. Whether you are a freelancer taking advantage of the competitive gig economy, a mum who wants the flexibility or a business start-up, working from home is a great way to achieve the lifestyle you are looking for.
However, working from home can throw up a few problems.
If you are setting up your own business or advertising yourself as a freelancer, it is unlikely that you will want to give out your home address to the whole internet. Privacy may be under threat but there’s no need to give away everything!
Similarly setting your working hours can be more difficult. Flexible working is one of the main things that draws people to working from home but you do need to have some consistency so your clients know when they can contact you.
Finally, you will need to find a space in your home where you can work peacefully. This can be especially tough for stay-at-home parents who are also looking after small children but is possible with a couple of simple tricks.
Using Your Home Address
If you don’t want to give out your home address, getting a PO box is a good idea. This will give you an address you can safely give out to strangers and will give your clients somewhere to send mail safely.
Finding a PO box near to your home can be quite difficult and one of the disadvantages is that you will need to check for mail regularly. A compromise is to use a company like https://physicaladdress.com/. They will give you a PO box and accept your mail safely. Then they offer a further service to scan and email your post so that you don’t need to leave the comfort of your home to see what has arrived.
Setting Your Working Hours
As you are working from home, you can set your own working hours and so you should think carefully about when and how you work best. Many freelancers set similar hours to an office and work 9 – 5 but if you work better early or late, feel free to change your hours to suit you.
Another option is to work your hours around other things you do such as childcare or hobbies. There is no reason that you couldn’t work in the morning, take a long French-style lunch and then work into the evening. Just make sure your clients know what to expect from you.
Finding Space to Work
Our homes are gradually shrinking but since we also want to make space to work here, a compromise will be necessary. While a separate office is a luxury worth investing in, you can also create a good working space with smart storage solutions and a desk kept out of the way.
You will need to think carefully about whether you choose to work in the kitchen or in a living area but a good tip is to work wherever there is the most natural light. This will give you lots more energy and make you feel better too.
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