I've worked full time from my home since 1992 and can't imagine doing it any
other way. Whether you work full-time from home, occasionally telecommute, catch
up on work in the evening or run a household, you need some sort of dedicated
office space in your home.
If extra space is difficult to come by, you'll need to get creative. I've
seen people attempt to use a hallway, part of a bedroom and even a closet. These
spaces, however, are full of disadvantages.
It's difficult to work while children are running everywhere. If you're
working near your bed, you might think about napping constantly. If you're too
cramped, you can't spread out your work or lay out projects. In my home, I
commandeered the formal living room: No one ever used it anyway, so it was
wasted space. Perhaps you can steal the guest room.
Set Yourself Up for Success
If you're going to be working from your home full time, use this
checklist to ensure that you're set up for success and maximum productivity.
Here are some initial considerations:
1. Where will you set up your home office?
2. How will you modify the space to meet your needs?
3. Can you lock the door? Can you lock the windows?
4. Do you have sufficient lighting for that area?
5. Can you get privacy if you need to make a phone call?
6. Where are the electrical sockets located? Will you need additional power
sources?
7. If your home office is in a basement that tends to get damp, do you need
a de-humidifier?
8. Do you have a desk? Is it large enough to do office work?
9. Do you have enough storage space, such as a file cabinet, bookcase,
credenza, closets, etc.?
10. Where you will store backup disks? Is the storage area safe from fire,
flooding, etc.?
11. What office supplies you will need?
12. Do you already have a personal computer that you use at home? Will you
need different software or to upgrade the RAM? Will others have to stop
using it for personal purposes?
13. Do you need to have a modem installed on your home computer?
14. Are there sufficient phone jacks in the area you've designated for your
home office?
15. Do you need separate fax, internet and business lines?
16. Do you have voice mail or an answering machine?
17. Do you have a smoke detector in your home office area?
18. Do you have a fire extinguisher near your home office?
Regardless of whether you work full-time from home or a few times each month,
your home office has some common requirements.
Furniture and Storage
You'll be sitting a lot, so make sure you're comfortable. A folding chair
will soon make your back ache and your productivity wane. Insufficient storage
space will result in piles of paper all over the floor. So make your home office
function like a traditional office. Think through all the elements that surround
you while you work:
1. A professional office desk and worktable
2. Sturdy filing cabinets and drawer space for files (quality pieces that
won't fall apart)
3. An ergonomically correct chair
4. Bookcases or shelves to hold binders, trays, phone books and reference
manuals
5. Stackable storage units that maximize your space vertically
6. Large garbage can
7. Supply caddy/accessories
8. Stackable trays for inboxes and outboxes
9. A large, standing document sorter with slots for envelopes, fax paper,
letterhead, etc., that fits under your desk for easy access
Computer and Peripherals
Don't skimp in this area--make your computer fly. You don't want to waste
time waiting for a program to run. Get the fastest computer you can afford, one
that is upgradeable. It will be obsolete within a year or two, and you'll want
to be able to adapt so you can stay current. You'll need:
1. A computer with lots of RAM, a large hard drive and a DVD burner
2. A docking station. Your main computer should be a laptop that can be
hooked into an external monitor when you return to your home office (no
transferring files).
3. External backup system (such as Godaddy.com or an external drive)
4. DSL, cable or satellite internet connection (no dial-up)
5. High-security remote access to your offsite office computer (such as
GoToMyPC.com)
6. USB hub such as Linksys 2.0, which has seven easy access ports to plug
in your keyboard, MP3 player, PDA docking station, digital camera, USB flash
drive, etc.
Software
You should select software packages that talk to each other to minimize
copying and keystrokes. I use Microsoft Office products because more software is
designed around that platform than any other. My contact manager works with my
word processor, which works with my accounting software, which in turn works
with my graphics package. Here are my requirements:
1. Spam filter, such as Mcafee.com
2. Internet security and virus protection, such as AVS (free) or Norton.com
3. Integrated contact management, such as ACT or Goldmine
4. Fax within the computer, such as WinFax Pro
5. Postage, such as Stamps.com, Pitneyworks.com or DHL.com
6. Accounting, such as QuickBooks Pro for business
7. E-mail software, such as Microsoft Outlook
8. Spreadsheet, presentation and word processing suite
9. Calendar, such as Microsoft Outlook, or a paper planner
Other Technology and Equipment
Now add all the peripherals that go with your new setup:
1. A separate business phone line and fax line so your clients don't get
voice mail saying, "You've reached the Smith residence."
2. Wireless headset (I use GN Netcom plus receiver lift)
3. Cell phone and PDA. These can be separate but optimally you should have
a smartphone that includes PDA and e-mail access
4. Pager or text pager (only if you're required to carry one)
5. High-quality laser printer, copy machine, and scanner (separately or
all-in-one)
6. Telephone with voice mail
It takes money, time and creativity to set up a home office. Who knows?
Setting up a clean, organized, productive office space at home might allow you
to consider more work-at-home or other home-based business opportunities.
Laura Stack is the president of
The Productivity
Pro Inc., a time-management company that caters to high-stress industries.
Laura is the author of Find More Time, Leave the Office Earlier and
The Exhaustion Cure.
Copyright 2008 by Laura Stack. All rights reserved.