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How I Make Working From Home Work For Me

Last Updated: March 23, 2020 BY Michelle Schroeder-Gardner - 130 Comments

Disclosure: This post may contain affiliate links, meaning I get a commission if you decide to make a purchase through my links, at no cost to you. Please read my disclosure for more info.

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How I Make Working From Home Work For MeEver since I switched to self-employment, I’ve had several people tell me their thoughts on whether or not working from home would work for them. Usually these people say one of two things.

One phrase I often hear is “Oh, you are so lucky to be able to work from home. I would LOVE that.”

The other phrase I hear is the exact opposite “I would absolutely HATE working from home. That would never work for me.”

I know several people who work from home and couldn’t possibly love it anymore than they already do (I’m in that group), and I also know those who have worked from home in the past and completely hated it.

Whether we’re talking about working from home for yourself, or working from home for others, those who work from the comfort of their home usually experience similar problems and situations.

Working from home obviously isn’t for everyone, but below is how I make working from home work for me:

I still have an office.

When working from home, you will most likely still need some sort of office area. This is so that you can have a dedicated work area where you can stay organized and stay on task.

If you have an extra room, then you may want to convert it into a home office. If you do not, then you may want to take a section of a room, whether that be your dining room, living room, guest room, etc., then make a small dedicated workspace for yourself.

Also, you need a place that can allow you to conduct professional video meetings, interviews, and phone calls without a lawn mower or a dog barking in the background. For me, this has never bothered me, but I know others who have worked from home usually say this is one of their problems. You don’t want to be on an important phone call when there’s a bunch of noises outside distracting you or the person on the phone.

If you occasionally need something more professional than a home office but you know you won’t use it too often, then you may want to look into renting a shared office for your business. This way you have a place to conduct professional meetings and possibly even have a conference room that is available for you when you have to meet with clients.

Related: 15 Of My Best Working From Home Tips So You Can Succeed

 

I leave my home every now and then.

Some days, you may want to work from somewhere new. I always prefer to work from home over anything else, mainly because I can easily get distracted with people watching. Others I know enjoy working from a Starbucks, a park, or a rented shared office.

Every now and then, getting out of your home and switching things up may help so that you do not feel like you are stuck in a rut or secluded from the outside world.

Another thing you may want to do is to break up your work day. This is one of the things I love most about working from home. I have a flexible schedule, and I can do other things during the day that I want to do and work at a time that works better for me.

I recently bought a membership at an indoor rock climbing gym. It was somewhat expensive, and when I had my day job I probably would have never bought it. However, now that I work from home, I need a fun little break in my day so that I can rejuvenate and feel more motivated to work. Having a small break in the work day is very helpful because otherwise I would probably just work 16 hours a day without a break. It’s also a great way to work out and have fun at the same time.

 

I still have a social life.

Leaving your home is also a good idea if you ever feel lonely. Loneliness is a big reason for why many people think that working from home won’t work for them.

You might want to join a club, go to networking events, meet up with friends and/or family for lunch or dinner, and more.

 

I make sure I have fast and reliable internet.

One thing that can really ruin my work day is not having quick internet. Lately, my internet has been much better, but before I would occasionally want to throw my laptop out the window.

Having fast internet for many work at home jobs can make your work day move along much more efficiently.

 

I set a schedule and make goals.

Since you are working from home, it can be easy to forget about the work you need to do since your workday is a little different.

You need to create a schedule and stick to it. Decide when you’ll wake up, when you will work on a task, and what your goals are. Setting a schedule and setting goals will help keep you motivated and you will be less likely to procrastinate.

 

I try to eliminate distractions.

It is extremely easy to get distracted when working from home. Before you know it, you might watch TV for hours on end and waste a whole work day.

Here are different ways to eliminate distractions:

  • Turn off your TV. TV has been my number one distractor.
  • Download apps that will turn off social media for you. This way you are locked out of any distractions and you are unable to turn it back on by yourself.
  • Turn off the wi-fi in your home. This ties back into distracting yourself with social media. If you don’t need wifi for your job, then I highly recommend this.
  • Prep your meals. If you distract yourself from working by eating (yes, I do this too), then you may want to look into prepping your meals so that you can spend less time making your meals. Also, don’t buy unhealthy snack items so that you have nothing quick to resort to.

 

I have off days.

You can’t work every single day, at least not forever. In order to keep your sanity, you should have off days.

This is something I still struggle with. I find myself working nearly every single day. It is hard to stop since it is so easy for me to work, and also because I do enjoy it so much that it doesn’t really feel like work.

Even with that, you still need an off day. For me, I like to pick my least busiest days, which are usually during the weekend. I will still reply to emails just because I don’t want to wait until Monday and there be 1,000 emails in my inbox waiting to be answered.

 

I hire help.

Having help is a big reason for why I am able to do so much. I hire different parts of tasks that need to be done to three virtual assistants. It makes life so much easier because I can focus more on the bigger picture.

There are many things you could hire out. You could find a babysitter or helper for your children, you could have someone clean your home, you could hire an employee or a virtual assistant, and more.

When I worked at my day job, I even had a client who hired someone to pay his bills. YES, it was an odd job but he hated it so he had someone else do it.

 

I let people know that I am still working a real job.

Ever since I started working from home, people have been popping out from all over asking for favors and telling me that since I do nothing during the day that I should have tons of free time.

If I do say no, I sometimes get guilted into doing it because people tend to think I’m just being lazy. I think this is really the only thing about working from home that bothers me. I’m fine with doing favors, but there is a point to where you might actually be hurting yourself if you are doing more favors than what you can realistically take on. Rarely is there a day that goes by where at least one person doesn’t ask for a favor. I love my friends and family, but I need a break every now and then! P.S. If you are someone who asks for favors from me, don’t take this the wrong way 🙂 It’s just that doing 15 favors a week gets very tiring…

You need to inform others that you are still actually working. You are just working in a different environment now but just because you are working from home does not mean you are unemployed. If I was working in an office building doing the same exact tasks, would my job be viewed differently?

Would you prefer to work from home? 
Would working from home work for you?

 

 

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130 Comments
Filed Under: Blog, Business Income, Career, Extra Income, Life Tagged With: Blog, Career, Extra Money, Life, Self-employment, Time Management

About Michelle Schroeder-Gardner

Michelle is the founder of Making Sense of Cents, a blog about personal finance and traveling. She discusses how her business has evolved in her side income series. She paid off $40,000 in student loans by the age of 24 mainly due to her freelancing side hustles. Click here to learn more about starting a blog!

Comments

  1. Revanche says

    October 27, 2014 at 1:30 am

    I don’t have an issue with focus so I love working remotely. I get way more done when I work at home versus working in an office where people feel compelled to schedule meetings or pop by my office for some chitchat, etc. It might be good for networking but honestly, when it comes to getting through a huge pile of work in a chunk of time, working from home is the best.

    I have to admit that I keep the tv on during the day for the dog, but it’s good for me to have a little bit of background noise that I can very easily ignore. If PiC’s spending the day working from home as well, though, I can tell he’s completely distracted by the tv. I’m about to set up a nice little desk “station” since we don’t have room for an office, and that’s going to make it even easier.

    Your last point has been my major pet peeve. Whenever I’m working from home, people think I’m free to take calls and just gab for hours. My schedule is flexible, not empty! So I now screen calls just as much at the “home” office as I do at the regular office.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:37 am

      Yeah, the last one is something that has been stressing me out a LOT lately 🙁

      Reply
      • Revanche says

        October 28, 2014 at 12:45 pm

        Is it worth setting your personal contact stuff (Gchats, phone) on “office hours” such that you don’t pick up or respond during them?

        Reply
        • Michelle S. says

          October 28, 2014 at 1:48 pm

          I’ve never done that, but I know others do. I’m sure it’s worthwhile if people text or call a lot during the day. I’m good with just ignoring phone calls haha 🙂

          Reply
        • Jay @ ThinkingWealthy.com says

          October 28, 2014 at 7:32 pm

          I think there’s a give and take here. I have gmail up all day at the office and email back and forth with my sister as we have time. (On slow days for both of us, it gets up to 50+ total emails.) But Gchat can annoy you if you have extra talkative or, how shall I put this, persistent friends!

          Jay

          Reply
          • Michelle S. says

            October 28, 2014 at 9:58 pm

            Haha yes those persistent friends can halt a work day! 🙂

            Reply
  2. EarlyRetirementGuy says

    October 27, 2014 at 3:57 am

    I’ve just started a new job which involves alot more working from home. I think I will miss the social side of the office workplace alot, at least to begin with. My parents both worked from home during their careers and they said it can be quite lonely, especially if you are part of a team which has members who do work from an office and you can become left out of discussions.

    Saying that; I love the thought of being able to work from anywhere. If the weather is nice next summer I’ll run some power cables out the window and sit in the garden to work. Plus the flexibility is pretty invaluable.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:38 am

      Yes, the flexibility is amazing. I love being able to work from wherever!

      Reply
  3. Jayson @ Monster Piggy Bank says

    October 27, 2014 at 4:48 am

    At first, I didn’t liked the idea of working from home. But, when I tried it, it liked it. However, I did not resigned at my work. What I am doing now is I work at office weekdays, then I do work from home every Saturday or any days where time permits. Time is flexible for working from home, which I really like.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:39 am

      That’s awesome Jayson!

      Reply
  4. Autumn @ The Barefoot Budgeter says

    October 27, 2014 at 6:14 am

    At my last job, i worked mostly in the office, but if I really needed to get something done then I went home and knocked it out. There are just so many distractions in a traditional office. Right now I don’t have the option to ever work from home and I miss it. My ideal situation would be 3-4 in the office and 1-2 at home.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:41 am

      Yeah, there were a lot of distractions when I had my day job. The distractions often made it hard to work!

      Reply
  5. Mrs. Frugalwoods says

    October 27, 2014 at 6:17 am

    When Mr. FW worked from home, he had a dedicated office in a small room upstairs. It was ideal to have this separate space because if he was in there, I considered him to be “at work” and I wouldn’t bother him. If the door was closed, I’d actually text him if I needed anything just to respect the boundary of work and home!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:42 am

      Yes, this is exactly how a dedicated work area is important. Without it, I think it would be very hard to work. That being said, I do spend a ridiculous amount of time working in my living room haha.

      Reply
  6. Charlotte says

    October 27, 2014 at 6:33 am

    I LOVE working from home! Even thought I don’t work for myself, my company lets us work from home 2 days a week and it’s a perk that I adore. I get so much done on those days because I don’t have any of the normal office distractions. It also opens up my schedule a lot since I’m not commuting and I have way more flexibility to run errands, do a workout, etc. I’d work from home every day if I could!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:43 am

      That’s definitely a great perk!

      Reply
  7. Sarah says

    October 27, 2014 at 6:54 am

    I work from home and also fall into the category of “loving” it. I don’t have a home office, but once we get a house that is definitely happening! For now, I work on the couch which is fine since I have to watch the two little ones. I also agree about the “favors” thing. For me, it wasn’t always favors but more just friends and family always wanting to make plans. I guess I sometimes feel like people don’t think I actually have a job because it’s from home. I’ve had people say, “Well, you work from home so can’t you just work later?” Yes, I could…but then I’m missing dinner with my family and relaxing with my husband! Would they want to work later?! Probably not!! Anyways, rant over…but I totally see where you’re coming from with that!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:44 am

      Yes, it is extremely annoying!

      Reply
  8. Will - First Quarter Finance says

    October 27, 2014 at 7:03 am

    I read on lifehacker (go figure lol) that breaking up your workday makes you more productive. You can work longer each day and your brain loves for your body to get up and move. I know if I work 8 hours straight, I get restless.

    And my family are farmers so they think if I’m not outside sweating, I’m being lazy. Very hard to get my point across that I’m working while ‘sitting on the computer’.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:45 am

      Haha yeah a lot of people don’t understand the work that goes into it all.

      Reply
  9. Jen @ Save to Splurge says

    October 27, 2014 at 7:09 am

    Your last point is so true for me! Hearing things like “you’ve got all this time on your hands anyway” or ” it’s not like you have anything better to do” gets old quick! I’m still learning how to deal with those kind of comments. It’s hard to say no, but I know I have to put me and my business first if I want to succeed.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:45 am

      Yes, it definitely gets old quick. I’m wondering if any of the people who constantly ask me for favors will red today’s post haha!

      Reply
    • Megan says

      October 27, 2014 at 2:05 pm

      When people say things like “oh you have so much time,” I think it is important to be prepared to say something back. I would run with “well, I wish but it takes all my time to do x,y,z.”

      Reply
      • Michelle S. says

        October 27, 2014 at 7:12 pm

        Yeah, I try to, but I’m always afraid people will just assume I’m being snappy and complaining :/

        Reply
  10. Holly@ClubThrifty says

    October 27, 2014 at 7:17 am

    I enjoy working from home. I have an office, but I mostly work in my living room. I never get sick of being here when it’s nice outside because I could leave any time if I wanted. The only time I go crazy is during winter when it’s awful outside. Sometimes I lose my mind if I’ve been here for several days in a row without venturing out.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:46 am

      I mostly work from my living room as well. Love my couch! 🙂

      Reply
  11. Stefanie @ The Broke and Beautiful Life says

    October 27, 2014 at 7:36 am

    I’m not wild about people speaking to experiences they’ve never had. There are pros and cons to working from home as you know, but when people get extreme about their stance without ever having done it, it seems a little ridiculous.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:47 am

      I agree Stefanie! It bothers me a lot when people assume I just do nothing all day because working from home must be so easy…

      Reply
  12. Natalie @ Financegirl says

    October 27, 2014 at 8:04 am

    I think working from home will become more common in the future. Your list is a great example of how it can be done effectively. I haven’t hired virtual assistants yet, but I won’t be surprise when that day comes.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:48 am

      Thanks Natalie!

      Reply
  13. Andy | Income by Example says

    October 27, 2014 at 8:38 am

    I work from home for my main job and also with side projects and at times it does get rather lonely which bums me out, but I remember how fortunate I am to set my own schedule, run errands when I need to, not have someone breathing over me, etc. My friends give me crap for it, but I know they wish they had the freedom I do!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:58 am

      Yes, I know they would all love the freedom as well! 🙂

      Reply
  14. Michelle says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:20 am

    I would love to work from home. The big issue would be setting up a dedicated space because my place is LITTLE 🙂 Luckily there are a number of really nice shared workspace businesses in my area. I really enjoyed this list.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 9:59 am

      Thanks Michelle!

      Reply
  15. Brian @ Debt Discipline says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:23 am

    I’ve only work from home for a handful of days over my career. If I did long term I would like to have a dedicated work space. I like the ideas of being about to work ASAP as opposed to having to get ready and commute. Seems like you could be much more productive.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:00 am

      Yes, being able to work right when you get up is a huge positive. So much time saved!

      Reply
  16. Travis @debtchronicles says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:38 am

    Having an office – a dedicated space to work – is crucial. I do my online activities at home during the evening, and used to just plop the laptop down in front of me as I watched TV with the family. It was SO inefficient. Now I give myself a dedicated amount of time to work uninterrupted. I get more done, and it’s much better quality.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:01 am

      Yes, it is extremely inefficient. I still work a decent amount from the couch in my living room, but I still try to make sure the TV is off.

      Reply
  17. Grayson @ Debt Roundup says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:59 am

    I am actually pretty lucky as I have flexibility to work from home when I need to. I used to do it and it wasn’t for me. I like to socialize, but now I enjoy the ability to do so now and again. I do have a dedicated office and that helps out quite a bit.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:02 am

      That’s awesome that you have the flexibility to choose. A great perk to have!

      Reply
  18. Emily @ evolvingPF says

    October 27, 2014 at 10:08 am

    I’ve been surprised at how well I’ve taken to “working” (funemployment-ing) from home. I’m still very productive! I wish there were more days when I didn’t have to leave my house at all, but it seems I still leave about once per day to do an errand or something social. I definitely need to get a consistent workspace set up and some more ergonomic devices. Using a laptop keyboard and touchpad all day is no bueno for my wrists!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:09 am

      Yeah I find myself leaving at least once a day as well. Sometimes it’s a real struggle to get me to leave haha!

      Reply
  19. Tonya@Budget and the Beach says

    October 27, 2014 at 10:25 am

    Working from home is one of the best parts of working for yourself. I love not having to commute, especially in LA. Whenever I do have to drive somewhere in this city for whatever reason, I always thank my lucky stars! And it saves gas, and I need savings help wherever I can get it! The downside of course is that it’s hard to “turn off” work.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:31 am

      Yes, not having a commute is a huge positive. It saves us a decent amount of money, and honestly there are just some crazy drivers out there so I am happy I can avoid them!

      Reply
  20. kammi says

    October 27, 2014 at 10:43 am

    Maybe not from home, but I’d love to have an opportunity that would allow me to travel extensively. Soon, I will accomplish this! 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:54 am

      Good luck Kammi! 🙂

      Reply
  21. Jayleen says

    October 27, 2014 at 10:54 am

    I love being a stay at home mom and blogger! I have to admit that I get distracted easily and feel guilty if i let housework go. I’m working to find a balance!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 11:09 am

      I’m bad when it comes to housework. Luckily Wes helps me out with that!

      Reply
  22. MMD says

    October 27, 2014 at 11:15 am

    If I were a person who worked from home, I would always make sure to get out and go places every other day. I do that even now at my current job just to help break up the monotony of the day and make it feel less like an institution.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 11:44 am

      Yes, this is something I always try to do. In fact, I’m about to head to the rock climbing gym soon! 🙂

      Reply
  23. Courtney says

    October 27, 2014 at 11:36 am

    Hi Michelle, loved this article because I love working from home myself and these are some great points. One thing I find is that I get more distracted in an office environment by chatting with coworkers. At home I can focus more and I’m more determined to focus because I’m at home, I don’t want to take advantage of it and then lose my productivity, credibility and my job. When working from home you really have to take it seriously and work just as hard if not harder than you would in the company office.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 11:45 am

      Thanks Courtney! 🙂

      Reply
  24. Nicola says

    October 27, 2014 at 12:04 pm

    I still can’t decide whether I’d like to work at home all of the time – I think I’d get easily distracted and lonely too. Maybe half and half is the answer – half in employment with someone else, and then half when I’m in charge of what I do. Maybe! 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 12:09 pm

      Yeah, it’s not for everyone. I love it though!

      Reply
  25. DC @ Young Adult Money says

    October 27, 2014 at 12:13 pm

    I would even go so far as to say that working from home full-time is a goal of mine. The work I do can technically be done remotely so it’s something I’m working towards and will seek out in future jobs. There are some jobs I would like to do – such as own a startup – that may require an office of sorts. I’m not entirely opposed to it, it all depends on the work you’re doing.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 5:53 pm

      Sounds like a great goal DC 🙂

      Reply
  26. Adam says

    October 27, 2014 at 12:25 pm

    I work from home for my regular job most of the time and also fall in the category of loving it. Working for a company becomes much easier when you’re not constantly in the middle of office politics and the many distractions of coworkers. I feel like I’m less distracted at home than I am in the office. In my experience, the schedule is the most important part of making it work. Getting up by a certain time and working by a certain time, keeping my lunch break (lunch break?) to a minimum, and ending by a certain time. My family knows that during my “office hours”, treat it like I’m not even there. Great article!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 6:48 pm

      Thanks Adam!

      Reply
  27. Dan @ Our Big Fat Wallet says

    October 27, 2014 at 1:12 pm

    I’d say Im probably in the middle of the road in terms of if it would work for me. I can’t really say for sure as Ive never tried it but I think it would be both positive (not having to commute) and negative (feeling lonely some days). Im curious though, what tasks do you outsource to others?

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 6:55 pm

      I outsource some writing on my other websites and some technical aspects on my websites.

      Reply
  28. Lauren says

    October 27, 2014 at 1:49 pm

    I enjoy working from home, but I do get distracted easily. I would never leave home to work before, but I recently started bringing my laptop to the library, and it’s been nice to power through an assignment without the distractions and comforts of home. Always good to change things up once in a while.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 6:55 pm

      Yes, changing things up every now and then can really help. Thanks Lauren!

      Reply
  29. anna pry says

    October 27, 2014 at 3:34 pm

    I ‘work’ from home entering giveaways and make a decent amt of $ without having to get a job outside the home or pay for daycare. I got some good tips/reminders on maximizing my time! Having the fastest internet i can get is so important for me

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 6:56 pm

      Do you mind if I ask how often and how much you win from giveaways each month? I want to start entering giveaways more often! 🙂

      Reply
      • anna pry says

        October 27, 2014 at 8:52 pm

        I enter things off and on all day, in between household chores and doing stuff with my kids. On a good week I get $200 or more. Sometimes I hit a dry patch and dont win anything for a week or two but it probably averages out to $600/month for me right now. If i win something I dont need or want, i sell it on craigslist or ebay. Or use as gifts which cuts down on expenses. It does take a lot of time but I can usually cover groceries and ‘extras’ with my winnings.

        Reply
        • Michelle S. says

          October 27, 2014 at 10:02 pm

          Wow that is awesome! Good job Anna 🙂

          Reply
  30. Kayla @ Shoeaholicnomore says

    October 27, 2014 at 3:41 pm

    If/when I get to the point that I’m working from home, I’m going to have to do a lot of things you suggested – shut off the TV and make sure I have a dedicated work space, plus a set “work schedule” so I don’t just keep thinking “I’ll do that later” and never get anything done.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 6:56 pm

      Do you think you’ll work from home ever? Seems like you have a lot of online side hustles right now! 🙂

      Reply
  31. Syed says

    October 27, 2014 at 4:44 pm

    I’ve never had to work from home because of the work I do, but since I have been doing a little freelancing I do experience some of what you talked about. TV isn’t as big a distraction for me as just being on the computer is. I’m getting better with it but oftentimes I’ll find myself on a sports blog or picking up a computer game I left off on. I’ve found that just picking 2 or 3 things to get done for the day and focusing on them usually helps me. Great job and thanks for the insight!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 6:57 pm

      Thanks Syed! 🙂

      Reply
  32. Brittany at Equipping Godly Women says

    October 27, 2014 at 5:07 pm

    I work from home and I LOVE it! The key for me is making schedules and to-do lists. That way I can use the toddler’s nap time productively, and get off the computer in the evening when it’s time to spend time as a family (That’s the plan anyway…)

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 6:58 pm

      I love it too! I’m extremely grateful that I am able to do this. 🙂

      Reply
  33. Jason B says

    October 27, 2014 at 5:17 pm

    I would have no problem working from home. I am disciplined enough to stay focused and get the work done. A few years ago this wouldn’t have been possible.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 7:00 pm

      Good job Jason! Many people are not disciplined enough so it ends up not working for them.

      Reply
  34. Carolyn Flanagan says

    October 27, 2014 at 5:32 pm

    Thanks for all the good tips, I work from home too and find a lot of these are very helpful!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 7:01 pm

      Welcome Carolyn 🙂

      Reply
  35. Michelle S. says

    October 27, 2014 at 6:47 pm

    Yeah, sometimes I can get really distracted and not get a single thing done. Today is actually one of those days!

    Reply
  36. jefferson says

    October 27, 2014 at 6:49 pm

    I think you are absolutely doing it right, Michelle.

    Even working at home for my corporate job, I know that I have to carve out some personal space or productivity is just not going to happen.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 7:02 pm

      Thanks! 🙂

      Reply
  37. Tammy S says

    October 27, 2014 at 8:04 pm

    My husband worked from home for years and years. He finally decided to go back to work in the office when he felt he was wasting more time and energy going back and forth for meetings. He was getting frustrated also with all the neighbor women calling him and asking him to help them with problems they were having. Lol

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 8:23 pm

      Haha that would be so annoying about the neighbor! It is a major problem when you work from home. Most people just assume you do nothing all day long.

      Reply
  38. No Nonsense Landlord says

    October 27, 2014 at 8:11 pm

    Working from home is great, especially if you can get away at lunch time. And be able to quit at a reasonable time.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 8:24 pm

      Yeah, sometimes it can be hard to quit working for the day. It’s something I struggle with still.

      Reply
  39. kay ~ frugalvoices.com says

    October 27, 2014 at 9:47 pm

    I love working from home. I don’t answer the door at all. I don’t answer the phone for extended family. I don’t like getting distracted because I tend to lose focus and momentum. This was a great post. I’m going to recommit to making a schedule and sticking to it. I got rid of the TV over a year ago, but I can get just as distracted watching YouTube videos. It definitely takes a lot of diligence to work from home. I don’t think people who have never done it realize just how much self discipline it really takes.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 27, 2014 at 10:03 pm

      Yes, it takes a lot of self discipline. Thanks Kay for reading! 🙂

      Reply
  40. Melissa @ Sunburnt Saver says

    October 27, 2014 at 11:33 pm

    I think the only thing I wouldn’t like about working from home is not seeing new people (or any people) all day, but with the rise of affordable rentable work places (coworking locations I think they’re called?), I think nowadays it’s totally feasible! As long as I could get out occasionally and chat with new people, I’d be fine. Dream job! 😉 Also – home office is a MUST.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 28, 2014 at 10:37 am

      Haha yes dream job! 🙂

      Reply
  41. Taz W says

    October 28, 2014 at 5:05 am

    thanks for the great tips.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 28, 2014 at 10:38 am

      Thanks Taz!

      Reply
  42. Joana Bento says

    October 28, 2014 at 5:28 am

    Those are amazing tips but I think I wouldn’t be so organized to make it work

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 28, 2014 at 10:42 am

      Yes, organization is key.

      Reply
  43. Veronica Lee says

    October 28, 2014 at 7:57 am

    The best part of working from home is not having to commute. I hate getting stuck in traffic jams.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 28, 2014 at 10:46 am

      I agree! I hated commuting to and from work each day when I worked at an office.

      Reply
  44. Michelle S. says

    October 28, 2014 at 10:38 am

    Coffee shops don’t really work for me. I need complete silence in order to work haha!

    Reply
  45. Michelle S. says

    October 28, 2014 at 10:54 am

    That’s great that the results have been amazing 🙂

    Reply
  46. dojo says

    October 28, 2014 at 2:40 pm

    I also work from home and it’s great. We share the ‘office’ with our 8 month old daughter (since we need to keep an eye on her), but it’s still OK. Love the freedom to create my own schedule and the clients I work with 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 28, 2014 at 2:44 pm

      Sounds like a great thing 🙂 Good job!

      Reply
  47. Manolis Saviolakis says

    October 28, 2014 at 4:55 pm

    I like this giveaway.Yeah, there were a lot of distractions when I had my day job. The distractions often made it hard to work!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 28, 2014 at 7:57 pm

      Yes, it can make it very hard to work. Thanks for stopping by today! 🙂

      Reply
  48. Michelle S. says

    October 28, 2014 at 9:56 pm

    It’s been an issue, but not with my neighborhood. I don’t think any of our neighbors know what we do.

    Reply
  49. Becca says

    October 29, 2014 at 1:33 pm

    I have never worked from home before, but I think I would be terrible at it (at first). I am terrible with getting distracted but I would like to attempt it some time and see if I can learn to love it and succeed.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 29, 2014 at 4:12 pm

      I thought I would be terrible at it as well. It’s not too bad though 🙂

      Reply
  50. Jon @ Money Smart Guides says

    October 29, 2014 at 4:06 pm

    I agree with everything you say. Sometimes I need to get out of the house and work from a Panera, but I have to keep an eye on distractions. Another key is reminding people that I actually work. When I first started many of my friends thought I slept in until noon and watched TV the rest of the day. Even my Mom is surprised when I tell her on a weekend that I am working. Yes, Mom, I actually work haha!!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 29, 2014 at 4:18 pm

      Haha yes, people still don’t really believe me when I tell them I’m busy and working!

      Reply
  51. Myles Money says

    October 29, 2014 at 4:23 pm

    One of the biggest problems with working for yourself is keeping yourself motivated when no-one is looking over your shoulder all the time and cracking the whip: working for yourself takes a lot of self-discipline.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 29, 2014 at 5:09 pm

      Yes, it definitely does. Thanks Myles!

      Reply
  52. Jef Miles says

    October 30, 2014 at 5:58 am

    Wow Michelle, the comments are really taking off here.. If I were to work from home, I’d definitely need to set a schedule and stick to completing the 3 tasks that are going to move my business forward. Sounds great in theory, not sure how it would go in practice, will have to see one of these days 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 30, 2014 at 10:22 am

      Yes, you’ll have to see 🙂

      Reply
    • Dawn M says

      September 25, 2017 at 8:54 pm

      The 3 task are???

      Reply
  53. Mrs. Maroon says

    October 30, 2014 at 1:11 pm

    I have worked my corporate job from home for six months. We moved to a new state, 250 miles from the closest office, but through the power of technology, I can perform my engineering functions from here. I do have a dedicated office space which is key. I find my biggest distraction is the kitchen – not good for my productivity or waistline! I used to justify the snacks because I was pregnant, but I can’t use that any more. Speaking of which, my favorite part is that working from home has allowed me to regain a portion of my paycheck while keeping Mini Maroon 2 home with me. Her 2.5-year old brother does go to child care… otherwise I’d never get anything done!! We are just in our first week of back to work, but so far I really love it!

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 30, 2014 at 1:26 pm

      I’m glad you love it. Sounds like a great situation 🙂

      Reply
  54. Amanda @ My Life, I Guess says

    October 30, 2014 at 2:11 pm

    I’ve sort of been “working from home” since being laid off (ie: blogging, a little bit of freelancing, but mostly applying for jobs) and I find it difficult. The distractions get the better of me every time and I cannot get much done when my fiance is home. I tried setting up a home office, but it’s become more of a storage room, which makes it harder to concentrate 🙂

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 30, 2014 at 2:25 pm

      I hope you figure it out! It’s definitely hard for many to stay on task.

      Reply
    • Lemuel Danilo says

      October 31, 2014 at 9:22 pm

      That is only at the beginning. Meantime, focus on developing your other skills so that you can widen your scope. As far as my experience is concerned, after you land your first job online, it will not be too difficult to get your second. As you build your reputation online, you will find it easy to look for a gig online. Good luck!

      Reply
  55. Lemuel Danilo says

    October 31, 2014 at 4:31 am

    I agree working from home is not for everyone. I have been working from home for the last 5 years. I can say from time to time I still miss having an officemate beside me but when I compare working from home and working in an office, I can see a lot of advantages working from home. For me it is an opportunity to widen my horizon as I get to work with people from across the globe. And also I have all people telling me how lucky I am to be working from home and that they also wanted to but afraid to try.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 31, 2014 at 3:34 pm

      Luckily, I have my husband as my office mate 🙂

      Reply
  56. Dennis Seymour says

    October 31, 2014 at 6:37 pm

    I have to admit, focus is a big part of my problem when working from home but I found out that waking up earlier, around 6am and starting everything early, finishing important things BEFORE lunch time is the best.

    The rest of the day is for everything else that won’t really take too much creativity.

    It’s good that you mentioned the “favors” part – It’s annoying! People always think you aren’t doing anything. That’s one thing that I still need to work on, it’s hard to say no to people you love lol.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      October 31, 2014 at 7:23 pm

      Haha yes it is definitely hard to say no. It’s something I still need to work on.

      Reply
  57. Beth Anne says

    November 1, 2014 at 2:03 pm

    I totally feel you on the last point! My mom is really bad about asking me to do favors and such during the day. Sometimes I have to just say no I have to work! I do like having flexibility so I can do errands during the day or dr appts without having to take “time off” like when I had a regular job and then work later in the evenings but sometimes I just need day hours to be productive!

    I would totally love that job to pay other peoples bills! My mom has always wished she could afford to hire a personal chef so she eats better/doesn’t have to cook every night.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      November 3, 2014 at 12:55 am

      I would love a personal chef. That would be amazing!

      Reply
  58. The Phroogal Jason says

    November 4, 2014 at 11:49 am

    I always remind people that I do have a job that takes a lot of time. But when I do run into someone I know and they say I have the life because I don’t have to work. I just nod my head instead of trying to explain I probably work more hours than they do.

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      November 4, 2014 at 12:13 pm

      Haha it annoys me so much. I can’t help but correct them.

      Reply
  59. Dawn says

    November 4, 2014 at 12:35 pm

    Hi! I’ve been enjoying reading through your site. I have been debating on starting a blog, but I’ve never been great with words. I also am having a time trying to come up with a name. Should I use my name or figure out something ‘catchy’? Which do you find is best?

    Reply
    • Michelle S. says

      November 4, 2014 at 12:46 pm

      Hello Dawn!

      I recommend you check out this post – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/2014/08/how-to-start-a-wordpress-blog-on-bluehost.html

      I think it’s up to you and what type of blog you are wanting to create. Something catchy usually works well though.

      Reply
  60. Cierra says

    March 23, 2015 at 9:45 pm

    i’m only 18 years old and I’m actually trying to find jobs that are strictly work from home. I have a chronic illness and never see myself being able to work in an office on a regular basis. :/

    Reply
  61. Abby says

    January 14, 2016 at 10:28 am

    Hey Michelle, I am looking at starting a blog, my own business, I don’t know something. I want to work from home but I cannot figure out what is the best route for me. Should I try to get a job at a call center from home, try to be a virtual assistant? Regardless I need to make an income of some sort, but I want to be able to enjoy what I do as well.

    What is your opinion?

    Reply
    • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

      January 14, 2016 at 10:31 am

      I have never worked at a call center, but I have been a virtual assistant. I enjoyed being a virtual assistant because you were basically your own boss.

      Reply
      • Abby says

        January 14, 2016 at 10:44 am

        How do you get yourself recognized and out there. I am trying to start a blog…and I am failing miserably. I started back in 2013 and I just recently started to work on it again and well it is not going so well. I am an administrative assistant now so I think a virtual assistant would be a great transition, but I would need to make a decent income. I don’t want my husband to have to go on the road and work again. I don’t know where to look or even where to start!

        Reply
        • Michelle Schroeder-Gardner says

          January 14, 2016 at 10:57 am

          There’s a course I recommend if you want to become a virtual assistant. You can find it here – https://www.makingsenseofcents.com/virtualassistant

          Reply
  62. DNN says

    March 19, 2019 at 5:37 pm

    I love the internet because had I know what I know now about affiliate marketing, blogging and content marketing, I too would be close to $20 million in “side hustle millionaire $ gUaP $.” 🙂

    Reply

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My name is Michelle and I'm the author/owner of Making Sense of Cents. Learning how to save money and make more money changed my life. It allowed me to pay off $40,000 in student loans, start my own business, and I now travel full-time.

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