| Copyright (c) 2006 Setting up a home office is one of | | | | speakers (sometimes) and other ancillary equipment |
| the most important tasks you will face when you | | | | you may have. |
| make the decision to work at your own home. Your | | | | 5. You need office supplies. |
| home office can be a corner in your kitchen, living | | | | It goes without saying that you need to have normal |
| room, a room in your basement if you have one, or | | | | office supplies. Even if, as an example, your work is |
| even in your own sleeping room. | | | | online you still need to have your own set of pens, |
| When you make the decision on where to set up the | | | | pencils, erasers, calculator, printer, stapler, and a cup of |
| base of operations of your business, there are some | | | | nice hot tea or coffee. |
| factors you need to consider before setting it up in a | | | | On a final note: |
| way that suits you. | | | | One of the main challenges you may come across |
| 1. Having privacy and a quiet time is crucial! | | | | really comes from your friends or family. They do not |
| You want your office to be as isolated as possible. | | | | work from home and it may seem to them to think |
| You will be trying not to have any distractions from the | | | | that if you do, you have all the time in the world to to |
| people that are in the house. Can you imagine trying to | | | | do what ever you feel like doing. Things such as a lot |
| speak with a client or focusing on something that is | | | | of sleeping, many hours in front of the TV, and many |
| important, and having family members such as kids | | | | enjoyable things in life. |
| screaming in the background and disturbing you? | | | | This can become a major problem if you do not set |
| Sit down with your family and explain to them the | | | | the parameters. Setting out the ground rules and letting |
| importance of your work and why you need them not | | | | them know this is important to the overall health, |
| to bother you. | | | | success, and well being of your business. |
| 2. Is the area that you are in well lit. Does it have | | | | You must set the rule to awaken in the morning at a |
| enough lighting? | | | | certain time and prepare yourself for your work day. |
| Proper lighting is extremely important. Spending hours | | | | A good way to keep on top of things is by sitting |
| at a time in a space that has a low set of lighting can | | | | down after everyone went to sleep that night and |
| harm your eyestrain which, after long periods of time, | | | | prepare or make goals on what you want to get done |
| could lead to more serious problems with your vision. | | | | in the next day. |
| 3. You need to have your office dust free and | | | | You must also remember to take time out for yourself. |
| ventilated. | | | | Most people believe that working at home comes with |
| It is always important to clean the room that you are | | | | certain privileges, and it does. However, it can also |
| working in. It is very important to keep your computer's | | | | become all-consuming and take total control of your |
| fan clean and dust free. You should also clean you | | | | life. |
| desk a few times a week. | | | | Don't allow that to happen. Create your schedule and |
| 4. Are there plenty of electrical outlets? | | | | live by it. Make sure you turn off the lights, shut down |
| Take into consideration what appliances you will have | | | | the computer and "go home" at the end of your work |
| in your work space. Your computer system will require | | | | day. |
| an outlet for your cpu, monitor, scanner, printer, | | | | |