| Dealing With Isolation and Staying In Touch |
From "Home Office"
episode HOF-105 |
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Working from home offers many advantages -- like flexible schedules and avoiding a commute to work -- but it comes with some downsides, including isolation, absence of camraderie with working peers and the loss of that energy-boost that can come with an active office-environment. If you find yourself carrying on long conversations with the dog or inviting the UPS delivery man in for coffee, you may be suffering from isolation issues. Here are some things you can do to deal with them: - Fess up to your need for human contact. Schedule time in your day for phone calls with out of town friends and relatives and make plans to meet old colleagues for lunch.
- Then, search for professional organizations to attend lectures, classes and social events.
- Arrange to work outside of your home one day a week..whether at the library or at the offices of some of your clients.
- Don't spend more than 2 days in your home without leaving. That can really make you feel isolated and negatively impact your productivity. Even getting out to walk the dog or going to the market can help.
There are also some technological aides that will help you stay connected with the outside world. Phone specialist David Larson believes that cellular phones are helping busy professionals stay more connected than ever. "Above and beyond the ability to call from a remote area," says Larson, "you can now send an e-mail text message to a business partner or even check the weather or your stock quotes." Some models feature internet access using wireless microbrowsers and other high-end features like one-touch voice-mail access, large phone directories, security locks and roaming indicators. Some even double as palm-top organizer devices. Aside from selecting a cellular phone with the features you want, you need to consider the options available among various phone contracts. If you're a frequent business traveller, look for a plan with good nationwide coverage. Otherwise you may simply opt for a good, local digital plan. Do some comparison shopping befor you sign on the dotted line.
RESOURCES :
homeworking.com
An informational site devoted to people who work from home.
Web site: www.homeworking.com
The Home Team: How Couples Can Make a Life and a Living by Working at Home
Model: 1889438324
Author: Shirley Siluk Gregory
published by Bookhome
The Cell Phone Handbook : Everything You Wanted to Know About Wireless Telephony
Model: 1890154121
Author: Penelope Stetz
published by Aegis Pub. Group
The Cellular Connection: A Guide to Cellular Telephones
Model: 0471316520
Author: Robert Steuernagel
Published by Wiley-Interscience
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