If you’ve been looking to take your career to a different level, have you pondered the idea of working from home?
More and more Americans are discovering that calling home their daily office proves better relaxing in the long run that is despite all the work that oftentimes is required.
Whether you run a small business out of your home or telecommute for someone else out of your residence, having a reliable and comfortable home office is all but a necessity, especially when you’re going to be spending so much time there.
Face it; if you work from home in a cramped, uncomfortable and downright dismal place, how much work do you honestly think you can done from there?
With that in mind, here are some tips for making home the perfect office spot:
- Spacing – First and foremost, what kinds of spacing do you have available for a home office? If you live by yourself, you’re more likely to have little to no problems crafting out a spot that you can comfortably do work in. On the other hand, those with families may have more rooms available, but they also need to make sure they find one with a door on so they can shut off the outside world (spouses, kids etc.) when need be. Look for a room that has at least one window, is relatively soundproof (you don’t want to be right next to the washer/dryer or facing a busy street out front etc.), and affords you privacy;
- Comfort – The last thing you want is being crammed into a room that has bad lighting, little or no natural ventilation, and is hard to keep warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Remember, you’re trying to work during the day or night, so focus is an important part of the equation. If you’re not comfortable going to your office area, getting work done could be an issue;
- Outdoors – Even though your main focus working from home is just that, getting work done so you have money coming in, it doesn’t mean you can’t be all work and no play. With laptops and other mobile devices, more workers are working outside their homes than ever before. When the weather cooperates, you can even work outside in the yard and/or by the pool (if you have one) from San Diego pool builders or another such contractor to get some fresh air at the same time. The main goal here is to work, but also take time to enjoy some of what life has to offer, including outside your residence;
- Money – Lastly, while you don’t want to spend through the nose with creating the perfect home office environment for your small business or telecommuting needs, you can and should buy what it takes to make you both productive and comfortable. If money is a little tight at the moment, buy only what you definitely need early on, and then add things as time goes along. If your small business or the work you’re doing for someone else is working out and landing you added customers, you may find a little bit more money in the pipeline down the road, funds that can be used to improve your home office setting.
About the Author: Dave Thomas covers topics on small business and finance.