It may scare you to consider the fact that you can work from home, but by thinking about it for only a moment you'll pick up on all the benefits. You can get you work done faster, more efficiently, and save money by not having to drive anywhere.
You shouldn't get excited about the benefits of working from home before you consider the potential pitfalls of doing so. There are some pretty serious things you need to have in order before you can call walking down the stairs "going to work."
You probably know about all the fun that is in store: you can set up you office the exact way you want to. You are the boss. You can chose the layout of your new office, as well as the aesthetic. This is one of the primary things to look forward to about your new working arrangements. That being said, there will also be some hard labor required before you can call your home your office, and your office your home.
Picking the right room to christen your office can be both a science and an art. You may be stuck with the only room available (in many cases this is actually a good thing-save time and money by not having to decide between rooms-but you may have a couple options. As far as space goes, we generally say the bigger the better. A larger workspace allows you to organize more effectively, fit more people in for meetings and discussions, and it mentally opens up your space and your mind. One of the biggest complaints among all business professionals is that they don't have enough space.
You also need to be sure that the space will meet your needs categorically. If this doesn't happen, you might need to reconsider working at home at all (it's that important). Here are some basics you need to be sure of before you continue:
-Space and utilities for a desk, chair, computer, phone, gumball machines, and general office supplies (maybe a shredder?) -Filing and storage for documents and old records -Shelf space for books and supplies -Work area for technical and non-technical labor-stuffing envelopes, opening mail, assembling materials -Meeting space for working and meeting with employees, investors, partners, etc. -Specialized space and utilities may be needed for the specific type of work you do. One specific clause to consider is that unless you have a separate room or space you cannot claim your home as an office and therefore be eligible for the home office tax credit (which I would highly suggest aiming for).
Even if your house wasn't built with a room that easily transfers to "workspace" you can always throw in some elbow grease, and convert an existing room in a "do it yourself" manner. You could change a living room, bonus room, spare bedroom, or garage into a livable workspace with a few simple additions. I would suggest new carpet and furniture, coupled with some infrastructure upgrades such as electrical outlets and a phone jack.
Deciding to work from home can turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you, especially if you can manage to combine equal parts purpose and comfort. It'll give you a productivity enhancement, and will remind you why it's so great to work for yourself.
Once you've figured out how to work from home, help other get there too by offering your help and advice!
You shouldn't get excited about the benefits of working from home before you consider the potential pitfalls of doing so. There are some pretty serious things you need to have in order before you can call walking down the stairs "going to work."
You probably know about all the fun that is in store: you can set up you office the exact way you want to. You are the boss. You can chose the layout of your new office, as well as the aesthetic. This is one of the primary things to look forward to about your new working arrangements. That being said, there will also be some hard labor required before you can call your home your office, and your office your home.
Picking the right room to christen your office can be both a science and an art. You may be stuck with the only room available (in many cases this is actually a good thing-save time and money by not having to decide between rooms-but you may have a couple options. As far as space goes, we generally say the bigger the better. A larger workspace allows you to organize more effectively, fit more people in for meetings and discussions, and it mentally opens up your space and your mind. One of the biggest complaints among all business professionals is that they don't have enough space.
You also need to be sure that the space will meet your needs categorically. If this doesn't happen, you might need to reconsider working at home at all (it's that important). Here are some basics you need to be sure of before you continue:
-Space and utilities for a desk, chair, computer, phone, gumball machines, and general office supplies (maybe a shredder?) -Filing and storage for documents and old records -Shelf space for books and supplies -Work area for technical and non-technical labor-stuffing envelopes, opening mail, assembling materials -Meeting space for working and meeting with employees, investors, partners, etc. -Specialized space and utilities may be needed for the specific type of work you do. One specific clause to consider is that unless you have a separate room or space you cannot claim your home as an office and therefore be eligible for the home office tax credit (which I would highly suggest aiming for).
Even if your house wasn't built with a room that easily transfers to "workspace" you can always throw in some elbow grease, and convert an existing room in a "do it yourself" manner. You could change a living room, bonus room, spare bedroom, or garage into a livable workspace with a few simple additions. I would suggest new carpet and furniture, coupled with some infrastructure upgrades such as electrical outlets and a phone jack.
Deciding to work from home can turn out to be the best thing that ever happened to you, especially if you can manage to combine equal parts purpose and comfort. It'll give you a productivity enhancement, and will remind you why it's so great to work for yourself.
Once you've figured out how to work from home, help other get there too by offering your help and advice!
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