Keeping the Right Attitude When You Work at Home

A Home Business Article Contributed by Sarah White

Keeping the Right Attitude When You Work at Home

If you work at home, particularly if you aren't dealing face-to-face with people on a daily basis, it is easy to forget that you are actually running a business. Your attitude may begin to slip just because you forget what it's like to be in a normal business atmosphere (one without kids running around all the time and piles of dirty laundry in your work space). If you find yourself in need of a work at home attitude adjustment, follow these simple tips.

The Work at Home Wardrobe

Just because you work at home doesn't mean you have to dress like it. Sure, one of the perks of working at home is that you can work in your pajamas and you never have to wear hose again if you don't want to, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't dress like a professional just because you don't have to. If you constantly do most of your work in sweat pants and never put on shoes, you might find yourself adopting a casual attitude about your business.

You might start allowing more interruptions and being less productive with your time at work. If any of this sounds familiar, try getting dressed for work every day this week. You don't have to dress exactly as you would have for your office job, but at least make yourself presentable and put on shoes. Going through the motions of getting ready for work will put you in a better mindset and remind you that what you are doing is serious and important.

Network While You Work at Home

In almost every business it is important to network, but it is even more important when you work at home. Networking with other business people can help you see trends in the marketplace as well as allowing you to meet potential clients and business partners. If you work from your home most of the time, it is especially important to get out every now and then and meet other people for lunch to talk business or even at a professional meeting.

Consider joining the local chamber of commerce, Rotary or other social organization. Being among other professionals can help reshape your attitude about your business as well as allowing you to make valuable contacts and hopefully sales as well.

Smile While You Work at Home

This may sound silly, but it's actually true that smiling makes you feel better. You don't just have to smile when you feel good; try smiling when you feel bad and see if it improves your mood. If you make an effort to smile while you work (of course we would hope you're smiling because you love your job and not because you're forcing yourself to) it will be reflected in your work. If you're making a lot of phone calls, take a moment between each to smile.

The person on the other end of the line will actually "hear" that you are smiling and your positive attitude will make the person you called more receptive to your pitch. And all that smiling likely will change your attitude, too.