Saturday, May 2, 2009

(27) Work at Home - Designing Your Work Space

The key to successful business is designing your work space well and effectively. Before you begin to work at home, ensure that your work space is conducive to your business requirements.

When you are designing your work at home space, you may need to organize items somewhat differently than they would be in a corporate office. For example, in a business office, you may have items such as copiers and fax machines that are shared by several people. That will not be the case with your home office space. It's important to set up your home office as in order to be just as efficient there as you were in working outside the home. Here are some tips to remember to get the best use from your home office space.

Privacy

Particularly if you are handling sensitive information, you will want to take the necessary precautions to keep your home office secure. When you work at home, you will need to be even more careful about passwords, network security and customer credit card information. If at all possible, have a room where your computer, telephone, fax, printer and other necessary equipment can be closed off and secured against noise, interruptions from family members or friends at inopportune times and usage of your business computer for playing computer games. One of the major complaints from those who don't have some lockable space in the home for business use is constant interruptions.

Comfort

If you are trying to use the couch for an office chair and balancing a laptop on the coffee table, chances are good that you won't get much accomplished on the computer. You should have a computer work station and a comfortable office chair set up so that your posture is ergonomically correct. When you work at home, you'll find you are more comfortable if you choose a good office chair for working time. Make sure it is adjusted to the correct height so your feet are flat on the floor and your hands and arms are at the correct angle.

Efficiency

When you work at home, it seems only logical to say that you should set up the space in a manner that will promote efficiency. Yet, many people don't think about where the telephone is located in relation to the place where you will have a notepad. The supplies for the computer may be in another room, because that's where the cabinet is located. If you have to go downstairs to get material from the printer, it will detract from your efficiency and from your ability to get things done. So, think about what items you are likely to need most often and try to keep them close at hand.

Layout

Arrange the area where you work at home in a way that takes advantage of room features, but be aware also of problems that may arise. A common issue is lighting. An office made from a bedroom may only have one overhead light that may or may not provide adequate lighting. Another room may have too much natural light entering the room and creating a glare on the computer screen. Be aware of light sources and air movement when you arrange your space.

There are a lot of elements that go into making your home business a success. One such element is your work space. Sort it out well and you can be on your way to financial freedom. Feel free to explore this website to find some of the best money making opportunities online where you can work from home.

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