These days, telecommunications have made it easier than ever to run your very own business from home. This being said, setting up a functional and efficient home office involves just as much planning as a corporate workspace would. Here are several things to keep in mind in order to set up and maintain a workable home office.
Before you even begin to move furniture around, make a list of your basic needs, such as your desk, chair, computer, telephone, filing cabinet etc. Do you need a second desk as a workspace? Do you require a fax machine? Do you need to be able to store files close-by so they can be quickly accessed? Is there any other specialized equipment that is key for performance in your expertise? Once you know your needs, you can then find an appropriate space.
Your home office needs to be comfortable in order to be functional. Try to find a space with plenty of natural air and light. Minimise eyestrain with proper overhead lighting, task lighting and desk lamps where needed. Also ensure your computer screen is positioned so that it avoids any glare from occurring.
Pay attention to the relationship between your computer screen and keyboard, your desk height and your chair positioning. When working at a computer, the optimal sitting position is feet flat on the floor, shoulders straight and wrists up when typing (or resting on a wrist pad). The top line of your computer screen should be at or just below eye level. An adjustable chair, where you can adjust height, tilt and lumbar support, is a good investment.
In order to keep up with clients, competitors and the general business world, dependable infrastructure is a must. This means an efficient computer with adequate memory and a habitual back-up procedure, as well as a fast Internet connection and a quality telephone with dedicated phone line. Working from home means you won’t have an IT support department on hand, so make sure your look for telephone and broadband packages with reputable providers that can provide you with 24 hour support.
Working from home has many advantages, but it does mean you have to develop different disciplines to keep your personal and professional life from spilling into one another. If possible, choose a workspace that is far from busy areas of the house such as the front door, kitchen and living room. Also avoid sharing office supplies with the house and vice versa and limit items in your home office to only business supplies. A dedicated business phone line will also help keep expenses separate and appear more professional.
Manage your home office as you would a corporate office. A formal system of operations is a good idea and will you keep your workflow and workspace organised, and help keep it clean and uncluttered.
One of the key advantages of working from home is flexible hours, however this can easily work against you. Set standard working hours or a schedule and stick to it. At the end of the day, close the office door behind you and return to family time until you clock in on your next working day.
Fiona Roay writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.
