Given our current circumstances, it’s no surprise telework is on the rise. A lot of us are working from home. Fortunately, there are a number of people who have run home businesses for years, and the tips and tricks they’ve come up with will serve us all well now. There are far too many tips to list in one short article, but here are a few favourites:

Get a Really Good Internet Connection

When you work from home, if you can’t use the Internet, a good portion of your day might be out the window. You should invest in reliable, high-speed internet while you’re working at home. Though wireless connections seem to be all the rage right now, you want a wired connection. They’re faster and they cause fewer technical problems.

Create a Space Away from the Noise

There’s a common theme with at-home work – it’s easy to get distracted. When you work in the same place as you play, you might find yourself paying attention to things other than your work. Keep your workspace tidy, but don’t stop working in order to do chores – you should schedule separate times for both. Entrepreneur has a great article dedicated to helping you establish your workspace – it’s well worth a read.

Keep Aesthetics in Mind

There are things that are conducive to work and things that aren’t. Keeping plants in your workspace, hanging your business licenses around the room, having a well-sorted filing cabinet – these things will all remind you that you’re in a space that’s dedicated to productivity and growth. Your state of mind has an important effect on your work – aesthetics can be an important influence.

Keep a Schedule

When working from home, it can be tempting to stay in your pajamas all day – don’t do this. You’ve got a business to run. Routine is part of what keeps us grounded, and it’s especially important when you’re at home for work and pleasure. Get up at the same time every day, have a morning routine, schedule meetings, work, and break as you normally would. Encourage your employees to do the same. Schedule video conference meetings to replace your in-office meetings. It’s important to keep in touch with your employees.

Take Advantage of Tax Breaks

There are a number of different deductions you can get when you work from home. The most straightforward of these is the work-space-in-the-home expenses deduction. In brief, this deduction can be used for expenses paid from working in the home, and can include rent, power, water, property taxes, and more. 

A number of other potential deductions might be applied if you’ve purchased supplies or services to enable you to work from home. Our accounting firm in Winnipeg can help you take full advantage of all the tax benefits available when working from home.