---
title: "Guidance You Might Soon Need: “10 Rules for Working at Home”"
canonical: https://jimcarroll.com/2020/03/guidance-you-might-soon-need-10-rules-for-working-at-home/
updated: 2020-06-08T11:16:20+00:00
---

# Guidance You Might Soon Need: “10 Rules for Working at Home”

![](/wp-content/uploads/2007/11/jim-sm1.jpg)As Covid-19 continues its relentless march to havoc, we might find a greater number of people finding themselves participating in the largest ever ‘work-at-home’ social experiment

If you find yourself in that circumstance, make sure you have a plan!

I’ve been working in a home office since 1990, and so with 30 years of experience under my belt, I have some insight into how to best manage your time, your sanity and your life.

And in fact, way back in 2003 – 17 years ago! – I wrote a post that included my list of ’10 Rules for Working at Home.’

It seems a good time to now share it!

In the area where I live, the school system has an annual “take your kid to work day” for Grade 9’s. Today was the day for my eldest son — and since I’ve been working at home for 18 years, I suggested it might not be a good idea to have him hanging around here for the day watching TV!

So we sent him off to work with the local grocery store……

18 years is a long time in a home office. Back in 2003, I wrote an article, “10 Rules for Working At Home.” Here’s the short list.

- **Make a daily plan, set a commitment**. You’ve got a job like anyone else, and quite simply, you have to get things done.

- **Make space**. Your home office has to be just that — an office. … do things to ensure that your office is “someplace separate.”

- **Don’t feel guilt** Don’t feel bad if you take some private time here and there! It’s part of the balance…

- **Set boundaries**. Learn to shut the door. That’s got to be the most important thing when it comes to developing a healthy separation between your work day and your home life.

- **Kick back**. In your home office, you’ll have a desk. That doesn’t mean you have to do all of your work there!

- **Educate your coworkers**. Working at home means that you are in the vanguard of a workplace revolution.

- **Talk to your mailman**. When you work at home, you’ve got to make sure that you replace water-cooler chit-chat with something else. Get out and talk to people!

- **Appreciate the rewards**! Love your job! Realize that you’ve got the best of both worlds — you’ve got a great career, and you get to spend time with your family.

- **Plant flowers outside your window and buy a birdfeeder**. Take the time to make a home office that will drive you to results, and that will spur you on to enjoy your work!

- **Recognize that you get a lot more done**. That’s a simple truth.

- **Have a laugh**. Did we say a list of 10? I have 11!