Company and employee approaches to working practices are changing at a remarkable pace. Largely driven by technology, most specifically the Internet, businesses are adopting more flexible working practices and they, like their employees, are feeling the benefits.

For the company, benefits can include a reduction in the traditional fixed costs of an employee (desk space, computer, telephone, insurance, etc), whilst for the employees themselves, the benefits are even more keenly felt. A lack of commuting to the office creates more time, less travel costs and a more relaxed working week, whilst the ability to manage your own time and workload can greatly increase the quality of work/life balance that you enjoy.

In many cases, both company and employee feel an increase in motivation, loyalty and productivity, and it seems likely that more and more businesses will adopt this approach in the future. But how do you get the most from working from home? Here are a few tips to help make it work for you.

Make your workspace work

One of the most important aspects of working from home is having a clearly defined, dedicated workspace. A separate phone line is a good idea, but ultimately it is an ability to segregate your working area from your living space within the house that will make your flexible working a success. Your workspace should have good light, a clear desk area, a place to file paperwork and a comfortable, ideally ergonomic, chair.

Two of the greatest challenges faced by people working from home are to not be distracted and to be able to walk away from work at the end of the day. A dedicated workspace is not the absolute solution to these challenges, but it is a good place to start.

Set your hours

The thing that attracts most people to the idea of working from home is the ability to manage your own time, so you must take full advantage of this aspect of the arrangement should you begin to work all or part of your working week at home. You will need to be disciplined, and respect the timeframes operated by colleagues and clients, although you can set your hours to suit your natural rhythms.

If you are an early riser, why not use the time you would have spent commuting to begin your working day, and allow yourself to finish earlier in the afternoon? Or alternatively, there is nothing to stop you beginning and finishing later in the day if that suits your body and lifestyle better.

Organisation – the key to flexible working

It sounds obvious, but it is crucial that you remain at least as organised at home as you would do at work. Keep your desk space tidy, your filing in order and your daily objectives planned. This will reduce the time distracted or spent on tedious admin, and will also have the benefit of making you feel professional and that you are truly ‘coming to work’ at home.

An organised, daily routine will help keep you sane, and increase your productivity. Make sure that you don’t engage in too many non-related work tasks, or have friends popping over, during your allotted working time.

Leave the house, and create a good support network

A common issue felt by even the most experienced home worker is isolation, so it is essential to ensure break times during the day where you actually leave the house. This could be a morning walk, or a lunchtime social engagement. Without this daily contact with the outside world, working from home can be quite insular, so build a trip outside into every working day.

By the same token, try and create a good support network of friends and family around you, so that you get some much-needed interaction. A support network can also provide you with a useful sounding board for ideas. There are also a growing number of local business networking support groups that you can join, that will enable you to exchange experiences and make useful contacts.