| I ended up working at home gradually, making the | | | | it became obvious that this desk wasn't going to work. |
| transition from working at our "real" office to working | | | | It wasn't set up for computers, and even though the |
| at the house bit-by-bit. I was forced to "bring the office | | | | desk was huge, I had no elbow room after installing |
| home" the first year we published our Half Price | | | | printers, a fax, a scanner, and so on. Plus - my dining |
| Camping Guide because I needed to get rid of the | | | | room didn't look so elegant any more... |
| interruptions at the office - just for a month. | | | | Within a few months, I bought an inexpensive |
| After that month was over, I realized how much I like | | | | computer desk, stretched out in comfort in a rolling |
| working at home, and decided to do it as often as I | | | | computer chair, and relocated it all to a back room in |
| could. Although our campgrounds must be staffed 24 | | | | the house, which is now the kids' classroom, my office, |
| 7, and my husband and I have to inspect the properties | | | | and the laundry room. It works out great, and my dining |
| often, there really isn't much of the bookkeeping that I | | | | room is just for eating again. |
| can't do from home. | | | | And my last hurdle was my grown daughter. If you |
| I find that the serenity of my own home gives me a | | | | have grown children, you know that they never really |
| quiet state of mind. I'm able to be more creative, get | | | | grow up. She called me all day long - sometimes for a |
| more done with less interruption, and I like that the kids | | | | recipe, sometimes just to chat. I had to lay down the |
| can spend their time doing what they want, rather than | | | | law... 9am to 5pm are office hours. "Don't call me |
| having to hang around the office, waiting for us to | | | | unless someone is bleeding." Some things are no |
| finish our day. They homeschool, so when their lessons | | | | different at home than they are at a "real office." |
| are done, they are free to walk to the video store, visit | | | | Those are just a few of the early adjustments I had |
| with other homeschool friends in the neighborhood, | | | | to make to be able to work from home, but I've lived |
| watch a movie, or just hang out in their own rooms. | | | | and learned, and you will, too. I hope this simple |
| We're all more relaxed and productive! | | | | checklist will help you get through the first few steps |
| But it didn't take long to figure out that I was going to | | | | of setting up your work-at-home lifestyle. |
| need to upgrade a few things in order to really "work | | | | Check out your new "office area." Is it really set up to |
| at home." My first problem was internet. This was | | | | be an office, or are you compromising in areas that |
| back in the day when broadband was new. It was | | | | don't make sense? Get started right, and create a real |
| quite expensive, too, and while it was immediately | | | | work environment that you can live with long-term. |
| added at the office... I was hesitant to spend the extra | | | | Are your internet speed, phone plan, and other |
| money at home. | | | | must-have technologies up to speed? If you can |
| Then again, if I got on the internet, I was tying up the | | | | afford it, get what it takes to work efficiently. If you |
| phone line. I was waiting until night time to do any online | | | | can't afford it yet, make it one of your earliest goals to |
| work, working until 10pm, and keeping the phone line | | | | get your office set up as professional and user-friendly |
| free during the day. Really, how productive was that? | | | | as you possibly can. |
| Wasn't I just buying myself more hours, instead of | | | | Do your friends and family realize that you now have |
| making life easier? Depending on your financial situation | | | | office hours, even if you are home? Make it clear, and |
| - go ahead and get the services you need as soon as | | | | be very firm from the beginning, that you are not to be |
| you can. | | | | interrupted when you are working. Set hours and stick |
| I was pinching pennies in the wrong places, losing | | | | to them - then "go home" for the day, and do not |
| efficiency, and not really honoring my own assertion | | | | spend your "family time" in your office. It's easy to get |
| that this was really "my office." Take a look at what | | | | addicted. Trust me. |
| you need... and get it as soon as you can afford it. | | | | Get set up with a good office supply resource, and |
| Inconvenience and wasted time will not help you be | | | | other methods of having the things you need delivered |
| successful. | | | | to your home. If this is not possible, plan carefully |
| The next thing I faced was spending too much money | | | | before you buy. Buying in bulk can save you |
| on supplies. I needed lots of printer ink, printing paper, | | | | thousands on office supplies. |
| blank post cards - we went through a LOT of printing | | | | Perhaps the word ergonomics is new to you, or |
| in those days... and because we are twenty miles from | | | | you've always ignored it before. I cannot stress |
| a larger town, I bought everything at Wal Mart, near | | | | enough how important it is to have a proper computer |
| my house. | | | | chair, a hands-free headset for your phone, and to use |
| I remembered that our office supply company could | | | | correct posture when you are working on your |
| as easily deliver to my house as to my "real" office. I | | | | computer. Work-at-home enthusiasts may be wealthy |
| placed an order with Reliable, my favorite office supply | | | | and happy - but most of them have bad backs and |
| company, and saved a ton by buying in volume. (Note: | | | | carpal tunnels syndrome. [ A great career is not worth |
| Reliable delivers anywhere within 1 day- PLUS, you get | | | | giving away your health! Hopefully, these thoughs will |
| free cookies if you order $100 or more!) Need I say | | | | get your creative juices flowing, and you can establish |
| more? Act like a business, and save by buying in bulk | | | | your own "work at home" world, in comfort. Your |
| whenever you can. | | | | day-to-day reality is changing, and remembering to |
| And the other factor that wasn't working well was my | | | | re-evaluate your needs is something you owe yourself |
| desk. I was working on an antique roll-top desk, in my | | | | - because you're one of the special people that can |
| dining room. It was a nice feeling for a few days... then | | | | be your own boss. Be the best boss you've ever had. |