Telecommuting
Lesson 3: Setting Up Shop
Preparing your home office
So you've officially found a telecommuting position and now you need to convert your home office/kids' playroom/gym/library/living room into a place to actually get some work done. Where do you start?
Well, the first thing you need to do is make a space that is used exclusively for work. Ideally, you should have a room dedicated to nothing but your job with a separate desk, computer, phone line, printer, etc. Of course, this simply isn’t an option for most of us. So the next best thing is to make sure you keep your work stuff completely separate from everything else.
Everyone’s home environment is different, so my best advice is to start by filling out the Model Telecommuting Checklist on page 91 of Telecommute!. This is the best way to assess your home office situation and determine what exactly you need to do to design your home office. Some things you’ll need to consider include:
Once you figure out where to start, you’ll need to get to work. Here are some things to keep in mind as you organize your home office:
Put aside a special place for work
Put together a space used exclusively for work, even if it’s just a tiny file box under your desk. Keep all work-related papers, reports, files, etc. in that box (or whatever space you have), and only take things out of the box during “work” hours. Pretend you are actually leaving home and going to the office. When you are finished working for the day, pack up your box and put it away. Don’t leave any work-related items lying around, unless the desk is only used for work. It’s too easy to get work and home items mixed up, and that’s not the way to stay organized as a telecommuter.
Keep it together
Keep all of your office equipment (phone, fax, copier, etc.) in the same room, if possible. You don’t want to go walking all over the house every time you need to make a phone call or a copy. It will not only waste time, but it will make you more easily distracted (especially if the phone is in the kitchen!).
Organize your computer
You’ll need to set aside files and programs on your computer that are used exclusively for work. You don’t want to have to scroll through all your favorite recipes as you look for an important report for work. Keep home and work files separate, if possible.
Get comfortable, but not too comfortable
You’ll need to have an ergonomic chair, wrist pads for your keyboard, good lighting, etc. in your home office just like you did at the “real” office. You’ll be spending as much time there as you used to at the office, and you don’t want to be trying to get your work done on a wobbly card table and folding chair. Of course, beware of getting too comfortable. In other words, don’t try to work in your recliner with a laptop! This is just asking for distraction.
Create a direct line to work
Make sure you have all your work phone numbers, emails, etc. handy at all times so you can stay in touch. This will not only keep you in the loop at the office, it will also make you feel less isolated.
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