Working from home can seem like a dream come true; from saving money on commuting, to never having to change out of your pyjamas (if you don’t want), and according to some stats, being happier on the job. Data shows that working from home increases employee productivity, drives efficiency, lowers stress and boosts moral. But that’s not to say it doesn’t come with its own challenges: an unplanned visit from a friend, young children running around, and even TV and household distractions.

In my most recent blog, I'm sharing the key to working from home efficiently and effectively. Here's a snip-it of some of the tips. Check out all my 11 tips in my blog.

1. Make a special space for yourself: You need to feel professional when working from home and working off the kitchen table sometimes just doesn’t do it. Find a room that isn’t used much (living room and/or dining room) and carve out a spot.
2. Give your “office” a makeover: When you find a spot for your office, invest in making it into a workable space. Add bookshelves, couches, cabinets, etc. If you’re sharing your space with a spare room, look into getting dual purpose furniture, such as a murphey bed.
3. Invest in technology: Get yourself a high-quality printer, computer, high-speed internet, dedicated phone lines, to name a few things. These are your tools of the trade and if they're sub standard it makes working from home harder.
4. Jump on the app bandwagon: Use the many amazing software/apps that exist! Skype for conference calls, the cloud for data storage and sharing, apps for file management and easy accessibility. You don’t have to be in the same location to retrieve your information or share it.
5. Network: Now that you work from home, it’s more important to network and put yourself front and center. You may be getting a lot done but you aren’t surrounded by people who ‘see’ it. Establish a monthly meeting with your co-workers to catch up, or brainstorm a new idea. Face-time is always a good idea.