Working at home as a virtual assistant, freelancer or online service provider offers a great deal of ease and flexibility with scheduling. While sitting on the couch in pyjamas to work might be tempting, a home office provides the structure and quiet that a person needs to complete important tasks.
A Separate Space
Setting aside a spot in the home for the office is necessary. Individuals who have a spare bedroom may wish to consider allocating this area to their work tasks for peace and privacy. Even if an additional room is unavailable, securing a spot in a part of the bedroom or den will make do. The worker should have enough space for a computer, telephone and any other work-related materials. The other family members should know that this space is dedicated to work only.
Easy Access
Scrambling to find important documents or phone numbers in the middle of an office is unprofessional, and the same is true for those who work at home. Individuals must prioritise their documents and equipment. A computer desk with shelves or drawers on it is optimal since the individual will easily be able to access all of their work-related supplies. Having a phone near the computer also ensures that conference calls or order submissions don’t go awry.
Various Workstations
If an entire room has been dedicated to the office, the individual should try to set up a couple of different workstations. For example, having both a coffee table and a love-seat near the computer allows the worker to move around a bit during the day. People who work from home might even wish to set up a computer on an elevated platform so they don’t have to sit all day – a bit of standing work can be great for variety!
Book Shelves
Even if the work isn’t directly related to reading and writing, the worker likely has some sort of manual or supplementary material that he or she needs. Stocking the bookshelf with these most important items will help to ensure that everything is in the office. Furthermore, the worker can use these shelves or file cabinets to keep track of receipts, orders or other pieces of important information that are related to various clients. Of course, this bookcase will also serve as an element of decor for the office.
Decorating The Office
Just as people like to decorate their offices at work, individuals should have no qualms about adding a little bit of character to their work spaces at home. Photographs around the room or pretty elements of decor like mirrors and plants help to remind the individual that this space need not be one of stress and frustration. They have the ability to work from home and, therefore the ability to decorate the office in any style that they see fit.
Organising a home office is a task that requires some diligence and patience, but the effort will pay dividends for both the worker and his or her business.
How do you organise your home office? Comment below.