- After lunch try to go work from a cafe or a public space where you have some "humanity" noise. Keeps you sane.
- Make work dates, we are social.
- Make sure you leave the house at least a couple times a day (even in the winter).
- Stay away from having a tab open with Social Media, block it on your main browser :P
- Learn to love podcasts.
- Invest in a very expensive espresso/coffee machine.
- Invest in Tea and a very large teapot.
- Learn how to cook, it's a good break too.
- Live downtown, so that you have things and ppl close by.
- Have a place with at least a balcony so that you can get some air and work from there too.
- Get a laptop, if you are going to not be in a office, don't replicate a cubicle in your house. Change up where you work, dinning table, sofa, desk, floor, etc...
- Buy a bike, and bike to the cafe in the afternoon.
- Make friends with other telecommuters/freelancer/artists/etc...
- Keep your place organized and clean, you spend a lot of time there.
- Meet close by ex-coworkers/friends for lunch.
- Stop working everyday at the same time.
Remember, it's not a vacation! But it's not an office setting either! Focus on getting the best out of each. You have a blank slate for you to create your best work environment now. Don't be afraid of trying different stuff and routines. You worked in offices for many years (school is part of that) it will take some time to get use to the new environment with lack of "forced" structure. You will be amazed about how much more you get done.
Happy working!
(edited for formatting, excuse any grammar erros and typos)
I love my AeroPress. I got one last year for Christmas, and have enjoyed it ever since. My thoughts in a bit more detail: http://www.alittletothewright.com/index.php/2011/01/aeropres... (Disclosure: Affiliate links within, use rgarcia's link if you'd like to avoid that)
A blade grinder like that won't do a terribly good job for something like an AeroPress. Grind quality is one of the most overlooked aspects of good coffee.
You really need a decent conical burr grinder to get a consistent fine grind. I like my Capresso grinder that I picked up for something like $70, but a quick googling turns up several well-reviewed burr grinders in the $30 range.
If you don't make money out of posting on HN, don't get into it, it's a time sinkhole
I think you are making a decent point, but with too generic of a statement. If gaming isn't worth the money/time you spend on it, don't do it. But that should be criteria for many things, and it's very hard to do correctly and unbiased.
I've been working from home for eight years now and every single item on this list is spot-on.
- Like it or not, your spouse or significant other's days off will become your days off, so plan accordingly.
- Invest in a good chair. You'll touch it more than anything else in the world and long after you've ditched your current computer, you'll still be sitting in the same chair.
- Join a gym, preferably with classes that you need to schedule in advance so you can 'commit' to your entire week's workout schedule so it doesn't slip.
- Have a spot in your house that is always for work.
I've found having a musical instrument around to be incredibly helpful. It's great to take a 10 minute break to strum on a guitar, let your brain focus on something different and get your subconscious working.
Been doing it for four years and couldn't agree more with most of this list. Plus, I'll add a couple of these to my repertoire. I'd also add that getting a fair amount of exercise reduces the cabin fever that comes with working from home. And the flexible hours allow you to get to the gym when no one else is there. I've found the biggest problem is not staying focused but being able to turn work off at night and live a somewhat regular life. +1 for Podcasts and maybe add Howard Stern and Sirius to the list :)
Aha. I find shoutcast.com useful in this regard: I tune to a station with mostly soulless repetitive music. It somehow creates a space around me but doesn't make me "listen" and steal focus. Also, it requires no care and feeding after the first click.
What gets me trough:
- Wake up at the same time everyday.
- Shower and change!
- Have breakfast.
- After lunch try to go work from a cafe or a public space where you have some "humanity" noise. Keeps you sane.
- Make work dates, we are social.
- Make sure you leave the house at least a couple times a day (even in the winter).
- Stay away from having a tab open with Social Media, block it on your main browser :P
- Learn to love podcasts.
- Invest in a very expensive espresso/coffee machine.
- Invest in Tea and a very large teapot.
- Learn how to cook, it's a good break too.
- Live downtown, so that you have things and ppl close by.
- Have a place with at least a balcony so that you can get some air and work from there too.
- Get a laptop, if you are going to not be in a office, don't replicate a cubicle in your house. Change up where you work, dinning table, sofa, desk, floor, etc...
- Buy a bike, and bike to the cafe in the afternoon.
- Make friends with other telecommuters/freelancer/artists/etc...
- Keep your place organized and clean, you spend a lot of time there.
- Meet close by ex-coworkers/friends for lunch.
- Stop working everyday at the same time.
Remember, it's not a vacation! But it's not an office setting either! Focus on getting the best out of each. You have a blank slate for you to create your best work environment now. Don't be afraid of trying different stuff and routines. You worked in offices for many years (school is part of that) it will take some time to get use to the new environment with lack of "forced" structure. You will be amazed about how much more you get done.
Happy working!
(edited for formatting, excuse any grammar erros and typos)