KICKSTART YOUR WORK FROM HOME WITH THESE TIPS

Which industries will survive the pandemic? If you had to name one which would that be?

#jobsfromhome #workingfromanywhere #workingremotely #skills #workfromhome #WFH #remotework #networking #homebasedwork

Yes! You got it right those who were already WFH in 2020 continued to work right through the chaos – albeit at a slower pace because everything around them was slowing down. But then WFH is not the piece of cake it seems to be – especially for those who have little or no work from home experience. So here’s what you need to know if you are considering remote work opportunities for the first time.

Working from Home (WFH) vs. Remote Work

The difference is subtle yet significant. Remote work usually refers to full time employment but working remotely – not travelling to office everyday – while WFH is usually used for those who work completely from home with little or no commitment.  Besides there are other types of jobs that may fall within the purview of WFH. So think of WFH as an umbrella term to describe all types of employees who do not visit office every day.

Actually, it’s kind of hard to pin down a definition simply because of the sheer flexibility of the arrangement. That said, you may work as a freelancer and get paid per job or you may work for a fixed monthly income under a contract. Some businesses prefer to hire freelancers for a specific project and pay a lump sum. Be that as it may, when you make the decision to work from home there are a few things that you should know. So here goes –

Get Your Goal Right

One of the first things you should do is understand why you want to work from home. There are many reasons why people consider WFH – from staying home to care for an elderly relative or infant to loss of job to pursuing their passion. For instance, if you are bored sick of your desk job, you might consider a more flexible option that allows you to travel to different parts of the city – or even out of town – more frequently. Young mothers with toddlers frequently seek alternatives so that they can be home with their children. Many who are unable to travel because of a disability hope to contribute financially to the family income. Students often sign up to earn some much needed pocket money. Post the pandemic, many are seeking WFH as an alternative career option because they have lost their job.

The reason why you want to work from home will influence your choice of work.

Defining why you want to work from home is important for many reasons. First it helps you prioritize. Second it gives you a sense of the time and energy you devote to work – depending of course upon the type of remote employee you choose to be.

What type of Remote Employee are you?

There are many ways to make money without actually holding a 9-5 job. Not all are suited for everyone. So, along with your goal or objective, you should know which type of remote employee you are – or want to be.

What are the different types of Remote Employees

Are you willing to travel a little or do you want a complete stay at home option? Will you be willing to go to work once or twice a week? Do you want to work fixed hours or need complete flexibility? Are you free on certain days of the month or week? These are some of the questions you should be asking yourself to determine your best approach to WFH. Remember the reason why you chose to go WFH – and align your choices to that. Don’t worry there is no dearth of opportunities and choices – you’ll find a whole list at the end of this blog.

How much time can you spare?

It’s all very well to say I’ll start and see how it goes. That’s may seem like a good way to get started but easy to be carried away – one way or the other – and ignore either work or home. Besides, somewhere down the line, your employer, client, or customer is going to demand commitment. So it’s best to be prepared beforehand.

It’s best to separate work and pleasure right from the start. That way, you can hit the ground running, establish yourself quickly, and achieve the perfect work-life balance.

In order to do that you should first commit to yourself the time you will devote to your WFH. You can approach it in one of two ways. Either first determine the time you have and then pick your job – or vice versa. Whichever approach you take; you should be prepared to spare 2 -6 hours a day if you want to do a decent job – but if that is not possible it’s fine to earmark 2 or 3 slots of two hours each. Of course, a lot will depend upon the work you choose to do but remember to clearly mark out the time of the day for work – and adhere to it.

The amount of time you can devote to work is the third determinant of the type of WFH suited for you.

Determine your Investment

One way to work from home is to set up your own gig – your business. If that’s what you are planning on, you will perhaps need to invest some amount of capital – even if it is a very small amount. Or you might need to upskill before you begin working. Either way, it’s a good idea to set aside the investment money – or borrow venture capital – upfront rather than dipping into your pocket from time to time – or taking smaller and frequent loans. And you should also figure out how you will repay any loans – which calls for some budgeting exercises. But don’t fret if you do not have the capacity to invest.

There are plenty of WFH opportunities even for those who do not have the cash to invest.

Make Your Choice

There are many work from home options available to you and more are evolving every day. If you are innovative, you can even come up with an alternative yourself. Be warned however, that there are dozens out there who are looking to make a quick buck. So when you approach people for work do so with caution.

Now go ahead and take a look at the various WFH options available to you.

What are the different types of WFH Jobs?

In summation, WFH is not that hard to do if done right – but it might take you a while to settle in. All you need is a little bit of caution, preparation, determination – and loads of patience. On that note you might want to see which transferable skills can help you and the new skills you’ll need in the post pandemic era.

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