This post is in partnership with Entrepreneur. The article below was originally published atEntrepreneur.com.
本文与《创业者》杂志(Entrepreneur)合作。下文最初发表于Entrepreneur.com。
More and more entrepreneurs are working remotely. They may have an “office” at home, in a co-working space or even at the nearest coffee shop. Fortunately, technology has allowed everyone — even entrepreneurs who commute to a traditional office every day — to benefit from the flexibility of working from home when it’s needed or preferred.
如今,越来越多的创业者开始远程办公。他们可能在家里有一间“办公室”,或者使用联合办公空间,或者就近选择一家咖啡厅。幸运的是,科技让每一个需要或偏爱远程办公的人,都可以享受在家办公的灵活性,那些每天去传统办公室工作的创业者也不例外。
Anyone who works from home will tell you that it has its benefits, yet also challenges. When I started my business in 1998, social media did not exist, I had no clients and most of my friends worked in a traditional office setting.
每一位在家办公的人都深知这种方式的好处和挑战。当我在1998年开始创业时,社交媒体还没出现,我没有客户,大多数朋友也是在传统办公环境中工作。
After working for a large hotel for nearly six years, I had grown accustomed to being surrounded by people each day. Working from home provided peace and solitude, yet I was lonely.
在一家大酒店工作六年之后,我开始习惯了身边每天都围绕着许多人。在家工作确实能享受独处的平静,但我时常感到孤单。
I had no one to interact with except my yellow Labrador. No humans were around for sharing ideas. I worked long hours, many in my pajamas. No one was there to hold me accountable for my work and I had to force myself to rise at a reasonable hour each morning and develop self-discipline.
除了那只黄色的拉布拉多猎犬,没有人可以交流。没有人与你分享想法。我工作很长时间,大多时候是穿着睡衣。没有人让我对自己的工作负责,我必须强迫自己每天早上在合理的时间起床,强迫自己学会自律。
But after a while, I set up a regular routine, joined some networking groups and adopted some best practices. Here are some tips to keep in mind to stay focused on your work throughout the day:
经过一段时间之后,我养成了有规律的作息,加入了一些社交组织,并借鉴了一些最佳做法。牢牢记住下面这些建议,可以帮助你全天保持对工作的专注:
1. Set and keep regular office hours.
1. 制定并坚持有规律的办公时间。
Most people who work from home find they work too much rather than too little. Other remote workers struggle to keep a regular schedule — working a few hours one day and pulling an all-nighter the next.
大多数在家办公的人都会发现,自己做的工作太多而不是太少。有些远程办公者则难以保证有规律的作息时间——某天只工作几个小时,第二天又熬个通宵。
Some interruptions can’t be avoided. Client deadlines may unexpectedly require extra hours. Family obligations can interfere as well, especially if children are home during the day.
有些中断是不可避免的。客户的最终期限可能需要安排意想不到的加班时间。家庭责任也会造成干扰,尤其是孩子们白天在家的时候。
Do your best to set work hours and stick to them. Then try your best to leave work at the “office” and turn your phone on silent and enjoy the rest of your day. Give yourself some time to recharge so you can be as productive as possible.
尽最大努力设定工作时间并严格遵守。然后尽量将工作留在“办公室”,在其他时间将电话调为静音,享受快乐时光。给自己留出充电的时间,以尽可能保持工作效率。
2. Plan and structure your workday.
2. 计划和组织你的工作日。
Structure your workday to maximize efficiency. Take advantage of your body’s natural rhythms and plan your work around your most productive hours.
组织你的工作日,实现效率最大化。利用身体的自然节奏,根据效率最高的时间段来计划自己的工作。
If you know you focus best in the morning, resist the temptation to check email until 10 a.m. or later. A quick review of your calendar when you first start work can set you up for a productive workday.
如果你在早上的注意力最集中,就尽量等到上午十点或更晚的时间再去查看电子邮件。在开始工作时迅速查看一下日程安排,可以让你一天的工作更有效率。
Make a list of your most important tasks before you move on to less urgent business. If possible, shut your office door (if you have one) to signal to others that you’re working and don’t wish to be disturbed.
制定一份“最重要任务清单”,以免将时间花在并不太紧急的事务上。若有可能,关上办公室的门(如果有的话),让其他人意识到你正在工作,不希望被打扰。
3. Dress to impress (even if it’s just for your dog).
3. 着装上要下功夫(哪怕只是穿给你的爱犬看)。
As enticing as it is to stay in pajamas all day, this is not the best work habit. The way you dress affects you psychologically.
整天穿着睡衣确实很有诱惑力,但这并不是最好的工作习惯。你的着装会影响你的心理。
Taking the time to shower, have breakfast, brush the teeth and dress can make someone feel more confident. Maintain a casual (not sloppy) work wardrobe to help you transition smoothly between home and office — even if they’re in the same place.
拿出时间洗澡、吃早饭、刷牙和穿衣服,可以让一个人变得更加自信。衣柜里准备一些休闲的工作服装,可以帮助你在家庭和办公室之间顺利转变——即便它们其实是在同一个地方。
4. Set aside a designated work area.
4. 划出特定的工作区域。
Consistency is an important aspect to working from home. Try to work at the same spot every day. It could be a spare bedroom that you’ve turned into a home office, a desk located in the corner of the living room or even the dining room table.
连贯性是在家办公的一个重要方面。尽量每天在同一个位置工作。比如由备用卧室改造而成的家庭办公室,起居室角落里的一张桌子,甚至餐厅的桌子。
Make sure your workspace functions efficiently for you, your business and your style. Surround yourself with things that inspire you and make you happy including flowers, music and pictures. Make your workspace a place you enjoy going to each day, an area where you can focus and do your best work.
确保你的工作空间按你的业务和个人风格有效运转。周围放一些能够激励你和让你高兴的物品,比如鲜花、音乐和照片。让你的工作空间变成你每天喜欢呆的地方,让你能够保持专注、全力以赴地工作。
5. Take breaks.
5. 频繁休息。
Schedule time for frequent breaks throughout the day. Rise from your desk, stretch or walk around the house or down the street. Take a lunch break and enjoy a midday meal.
安排出频繁的休息时间。从桌子旁站起来,伸伸懒腰,或者绕着房子或在大街上走走。安排午休时间,享用一顿美味的午餐。
If you need a little socializing, go out to lunch with friends or clients. A major advantage to working from home is having flexibility. If fitness is important to you, a quick trip to the gym can reinvigorate you and make for a productive afternoon.
如果你需要参加一些社交活动,那就去和朋友或客户一起吃午饭。在家工作的一个重要优势就是灵活性。如果健身对你很重要,迅速去健身房运动一下,可以让你充满活力,精力充沛地开展下午的工作。
6. Avoid distractions.
6. 避免干扰。
One challenge of working from home is accountability. With no colleagues or partners nearby, it’s easy to become distracted. There are always errands to run and chores at home to do. Do your best to put off household tasks, like laundry and dishes, until you’ve gone “home” for the evening.
负责任是在家办公的一项挑战。由于身边没有同事或合伙人,你很容易走神。你会有各种差事需要处理,也需要解决各种家庭琐事。尽量将家庭任务推迟到晚上“回到家”之后去做,比如洗衣服和洗碗等。
Stay focused on work throughout the day to maintain consistent productivity. Avoid online distractions as well. Limit the time spent on email, social media and websites unrelated to work.
让自己专注于工作,可以保证持续的工作效率。此外,还要避免在线干扰。限制花费在与工作无关的电子邮件、社交媒体和网站上的时间。
Set a timer on your phone or computer if necessary. Don’t waste time or money on meetings or activities that are counterproductive to your success.
若有必要,在手机或电脑上设置定时器。不要把时间或金钱浪费在那些对个人成功不利的会面或活动上。