Lynn’s Top Dozen Tips for Remote Bookkeepers

Making the transition to a home office can be an adjustment, am I right? One day, you are chatting at the water about your coworker’s funky shoes and the next, you feel stranded on your couch, feeling lonely for office interaction. 

But stick with me...I’ve discovered some simple hacks that help me feel focused and stay on task when the laundry is calling my name from down the hall.  Let’s dive in:

• 1. Carve out a Dedicated Workspace: Set up a designated area in your home as your bookkeeping workspace. Having a separate workspace helps create a mental boundary between work and personal life, promoting focus and productivity. Make sure you have good lighting.

• 2. Get two large monitors (at least) and set them so that they are placed at eye level to help you maintain good posture. My monitors are 27 inches. Use a large book or a monitor riser to get them to the correct height.   

• 3. Establish a Routine as best you can:  Establish a consistent schedule that aligns with your desired work hours. Having a routine helps you stay organized and creates a sense of structure. I find that I am more productive in the mornings so I try to conduct my meetings during morning hours. Then I can enjoy lunch and have a little break in the day.  This helps me to be a little more relaxed in the afternoon and works well for me.  

• 4. Ditch the Pjs! Sure, yoga pants count as clothes, but taking 5 minutes to look polished boosts your mood and professionalism. I keep a hairbrush, lip gloss, and foundation powder handy for a quick touch-up between Zoom calls.  While you have the flexibility to work in comfortable attire, getting dressed as if you were going to the office can improve your mindset and motivation. 

• 5. Create Boundaries: Communicate your availability and boundaries to colleagues, family members, and friends. Set specific work hours and tell others when you should not be disturbed.

• 6. Use apps like Calendly to indicate when you are available for appointments.  Keep your schedule up to date, and you can block personal time to take that walk around the block. 

• 7. Minimize Distractions: This one is the hardest for me as I tend to be a multi-tasker. I often find myself paying bills online or peeking at LinkedIn several times during the day. Identify and minimize potential distractions in your workspace. Turn off notifications on your phone for a designated period, avoid opening non-work-related websites, and create a focused environment to maximize productivity.  This makes it easier to see how much time you have spent on a client file or project. 

• 8. Take Regular Breaks: It's important to step away from your workspace, stretch, and give yourself mental and physical breaks. I put a notice on my watch to buzz if I have not gotten up in an hour. This clues me to stand up, move around, and maybe grab something to drink!

• 9. Establish preferred communication channels: Email is best as you can have a record of what the client has said, and it can assist you in planning the next meeting. Remember that everything you do as a bookkeeper might be discoverable one day in court, so having explicit emails is a must.

• 10. Set Goals and Prioritize Tasks: Establish hourly, daily, or weekly goals and create a list of prioritized tasks. You can put tasks or reminders on your calendar using the tasks/reminders function. 

• 11. Nurture yourself: It is hard to figure out how to balance work and life if you are working independently. (Let me know if you figure it out!)  Try to maintain your sanity by taking a short walk, walking the dog, getting enough sleep, and practicing stress management techniques like meditation or mindfulness.  My go-to is a quick chocolate break in the afternoon!

• 12. Join a group of bookkeepers for support.  It can be lonely out there!  Having others to talk with is a great way to stay connected, ask questions about bookkeeping, and get up-to-date information about what's happening in the bookkeeping world. Are you stressed about opening your bookkeeping business? Our community support group is made just for you!

There you have it - my blueprint for maintaining structure in a home office without losing your marbles! What other survival tips can you share about flying solo? Let’s keep the conversation going!

After proudly owning a thriving bookkeeping agency for over a decade, Lynn Talbott recently sold her firm to pursue her true passion - equipping other talented financial pros to discover the joys of entrepreneurship. Now as The Bookkeeping Coach, Lynn shares the systems and community support vital to maximizing career freedom without sacrificing profitability or work-life harmony. From transformational group trainings packed with actionable tactics to one-on-one strategy sessions tailored for unique goals, Lynn remains dedicated to guiding ambitious individuals towards confidently operating their ideal practices. If crafting sustainable success beyond the 9 to 5 fuels you, connect with Lynn via LinkedIn to explore customized coaching. With resilience and the right roadmap, you CAN build a business as fulfilling as it is financially rewarding! Check her LinkedIn Profile.