Telecommuting is all the rage these days and virtual assistant positions abound in nearly all walks of internet and business life.
Many people work full time from home now, and as such having a home office is not just a perk, but an absolute necessity, which offers some sound benefits to the user as well.
For one, a person can conceivably work out of their home while caring for young children, which adds up to considerable savings and peace of mind.
Someone who is busy working at home has the luxury as well of taking care of inevitable last minute items in the comfort of their own home without constant interruptions.
With any project, jumping in feet first, without really knowing what you want, need or will find useful is not the way to go.
You will be spending a significant amount of time in your home office and your lifestyle, that of your clients and their visits will also be something that must be taken into account when planning your home office.
To have yourself taken seriously as a professional, your space should be one of the most important aspects of consideration!
Specific steps that you should consider with regard to your new home office are:
1. Think about your business and how it functions, and what are its goals.
What kind of space will you need to be an effective business person, what type equipment and how will it operate..
Selecting a space that is too small will impact greatly your efforts to focus on the business at hand and to be creative and functional in that business area.
Many people make the mistake of thinking that a small corner in the living room will make a suitable office when in reality it won’t.
The interruptions will be constant and the clientele who may visit will be spilling over into your day to day life, which is a factor you might want to consider and discuss with a partner prior to choosing an area such as that.
If this is the only location available, try to find a stylish way to set it apart such as a Japanese printed screen, or a tall shelving unit that still works in your environment.
2. Some people can work effectively with noise and traffic, some cannot. While you might need natural light, many people find it a distraction and don’t want that aspect in their office, so a basement would work well for them, while you might feel claustrophobic. Some need light and air; others can work
What is the best spot in the house for you to be able to function effectively and to work to your best advantage.
Focus is of paramount importance in a home work situation.
As most of us know who work in that arena, if you don’t work that day, you don’t get vacation pay. Its important to be able to concentrate and get the job done in a professional way.
Make a list of locations that might be suitable and then pare them down one at a time until you find the one that is perfect for your particular needs.
3. A separate room: To be able to use your home office for taxation purposes, it must be a separate room dedicated to your work, not a corner office in your living room, which really doesn’t scream professional any way does it?
In deciding which space or room is going to work for you, you will need to be certain that you have enough electrical outlets, phone lines, lighting, air/heat flow, etc.
4. Furnishings: This ties into space too. If you already have items like a desk that you plan to use, the size of those
items may alter your plans slightly. Be prepared to be a little more flexible and choose another space to prevent yourself from having to purchase new and significantly more costly desks and tables, rather than to adjust the space or room to suit what you already have.
Finally, little things mean a lot: A potted plant, some personal touches, can make or break a positive working environment.
A place that’s too dull or calm will put you to sleep. One that’s too bright can cause headaches. That’s why point 1 continues to be important. Know yourself and your working style and design accordingly. A home office need not
cost a fortune to work very well, and for most start-up companies it SHOULD NOT cost a lot. Buy what you need to function effectively. Let the rest wait until you know your operating profit margins. To find wonderful designs for your new home office
Take a look over at Planning a Home Office.
bem
August 23, 2010
The problems with central and decentralized work stations. I have a certificate from Suffolk Community College and 8 years previous job experience as a clerk typist. The problem in this country – Freedom of Speech. The handheld instruments should be outlawed and homeoffice/computers limited. How can we centralize and decentralize with the constant problems on the rise. Its not about upper class lower class. Its about self-respect. As a firm believer in the foreseen. There should be a few laws passed on about computers in homes and texing. Future problems are on the rise. My husband works daily at home at the computer. The man is expressionless – All my good natured abilities to make him a better person is a flux. He was never a computer expert but a psch major from Dowling College. His current employer put him on for his masters. How fortunate for his success. My role as a parent and caregiver is to stop the insanity of office equipment and to gravitate to the less stressful things – such as “Freedom of Speech”. Workstations are for the production of things. If we continue to upgrade “DECOR” without calculating the RIGHT from WRONG. Big troubles on the rise.
A workstation complete without dust and residue. People should be reminded that each and every individual has a right to LIVE without the harmfulness of texing. I am glad I have stepped away from the struggles of handling equipment. I am a handler of relationships. As an experienced and reserved mother and step-mom life can be challenging and people should learn to respect. The problems on a daily schedule are never faced. My soul is cleansed and if it wasn’t I would be in deep shit. I’ll stop to carry out my daily routine just a heads up. I’m not a firm believer in to much television either. I work hard as a housewife and wish to continue soul-searching. My two boys are my world and never want to see them in harms way. The bewitching things I’ve experienced by being a step-mom are a fright. I am glad I was in therapy for 16 years without guidance – a human can suffer. At current time health and proper nutrition is #1. Being 50 years old can frighten many. Age is always a factor and RESPECT for others on give and take is KEY.