How to work from home and not fail in the attempt

Working from home can be tricky if you don't create some limits. At home there are a greater number of distractions that can divert you from the work that must be done daily. This is a new frontier, with its challenges and learnings; and so Dave Stocke, Community Manager at Oracle, offers some recommendations to improve the productivity of those who work from home.

1. How do you establish the space to work from home?

Ideally determine a space to become your home office, with a chair and a comfortable desk to work with. In this space you can place all the necessary elements for your optimal performance.

2. Is there a specific number of hours per day that you should allot to work?

85% of the people in this branch work from home and if you are not in a meeting with a client you will be at home. This is why the number of hours can be difficult to define.

You may come up with a brilliant programming idea at midnight and rush to your work area to create amazing codes, but about 8-10 hours later you'll be sleepy and it will barely be mid-morning.

Ideally, create a formal pattern, such as from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., leaving some flexibility for meetings or calls from another continent via Skype.

3. What are some tips to help productivity?

The first is leave your workspace for lunch, at least a few days a week. Avoid eating at your desk as much as possible, because it helps a lot to clear the area, get fresh air and if you can go out where there are people, the better.

Exercise, go out and do some physical activityGo to the gym, ride your bike. With this you will recharge your spirit and have excellent humor.

Similarly, you must have a "back office" In case the internet connection fails, your neighbors have a scandalous party or you simply need to change the scene.

4. Advantages and disadvantages

You travel less and spend less on gasoline or public transport. You don't have co-workers to distract you, and you don't worry about stunning others with speaker calls.

And on the downside, you don't have a big office to show off and impress. But you make up for it with flexible time and outdoor activities.

5. How do you organize a team working from home?

If they are in different cities or times, it is important to have a basic communication system that everyone uses frequently: email, chat, tweets or other. Also have a phone on a set schedule, since it is not okay to just communicate by email.

If they are in the same city, it is advisable to meet at least once a week to make a status of the activities and tasks that each member of the work team is performing.

6. How to get your family to respect your time and office space?

You must be clear with them and tell them that while you are working it is as if you are in an office. Day-to-day affairs will have to wait until a break, lunch break, or the end of the workday. Then they get used to that rhythm.

Now you will have no excuses for not being more productive when working from home.