Working from home: how to make it work for you

In the UK, home and remote working is on the rise. More than four million Britons currently work remotely, while over a third of office workers say they'd prefer to work from home than be offered a pay rise.

While working from home sounds like a dream come true, it does require a little bit of planning. Here's how to create the perfect work environment, without compromising on comfort.

Creating a home office

First things first, you need a dedicated work space. It's best to avoid working in your bedroom, as this can have a negative impact on your sleep cycle. Equally, turning the kitchen table into your desk means moving your files every night before dinner.

From setting up your own business to training for a new career, mumandworking can offer help and ideas.

The ideal scenario is a spare room converted into a home-working office. If you don't have an extra room (or if you've already transformed it into a home gym), you'll need to get creative. For example, the space under your stairs can be converted into an office nook. Another option is to pop a desk in the corner of your living room and adding a privacy screen so that you can 'switch off' at the end of the day.

Control your productivity

Whether it's popping the washing machine on or accidentally binge watching your favourite Netflix show, it's easy to get distracted when you're working from home. Apps like SelfControl for Macs block distracting websites (here's looking at you, Buzzfeed), while Toggl tracks the time you spend on different projects. Of course, nothing can beat a good old-fashioned to-do list. You can use an online app like Toodledo, or an old-school physical diary.

Get help with your flexible working lifestyle

From setting up your own business to training for a new career, mumandworking can offer help and ideas.

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See all of our flexible working advice here

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