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Working from home brings with it a whole host of benefits. Not only do you get to have control over your working hours and the work that you take on, but you also get to work in your pajamas, which – let’s be honest here – is one of the upsides of an out-of-office job. However, there are some essentials that you’ll need if you’re going to work from home (and make a success out of it). We’ve noted down five things that you’ll require if you’re going to wave the office goodbye and take on flexible working.

#1: A home office

When working from home, an office is key if you want to ensure that you have your own space to work. Many people struggle with this, as they work in areas that are usually used for relaxation, meaning that it’s hard to switch off at home or – worse still – it’s hard to get motivated. A home office will allow you to have a clear differentiation between work and downtime, which is good news for you in the long term.

#2: Great IT software

When you work in an office, it’s easy to take the fact that you have great software and IT support for granted. When you begin working from home, you’ll find that you may be missing some things that you really need, and you can find yourself in an IT-based nightmare. Fear not, however, as investing in the right software and IT support will mean that you’re well-equipped to tackle any issues.

#3: A comfortable chair

Unfortunately, working from one of your dining room chairs just isn’t great news for your neck and back, particularly if you’re undertaking a role that takes up more than 40 hours of your time each week. Ergonomic chairs are vital if you want to come out of your home office right as rain, instead of feeling great levels of discomfort. Look into the benefits of ergonomic chairs, and see whether it’s worth investing in one.

#4: Self-motivation

One of the key things that you need if you’re working from home is some self-motivation. Without a boss standing over you telling you what to do, you can find that you’re watching TV or cooking, or mopping the floor, or doing anything that allows you to procrastinate a little. To smash working from home, work out what motivates you and make sure that you up your productivity levels as much as you can.

#5: A schedule

Ultimately, you need to have boundaries if you’re going to work from home. Start your tasks at 9 am, and shut your office door firmly behind you when 5 pm rolls around. The last thing that you want to do is find that you’re up until 12am trying to quickly get your work finished, after watching The Simpsons all day. Make boundaries and schedules, and do your best to stick to them and keep a healthy routine going.

If you ensure that you have all of these five things, you’ll soon be a work-from-home whizz!