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HOME (Related) ::Home-Based-Business (Related)
Work at Home Tips - Getting Set Up
By Anne M. Pierson (Related)
Article Word Count: 1111 [View Summary (Related) ] Comments (0) (Related)
I ended up working at home gradually, making the transition from working at our "real" office to working at the house bit-by-bit. I was forced to "bring the office home" the first year we published our Half Price Camping Guide because I needed to get rid of the interruptions at the office - just for a month.
After that month was over, I realized how much I like working at home, and decided to do it as often as I could. Although our campgrounds must be staffed 24/7, and my husband and I have to inspect the properties often, there really isn't much of the bookkeeping that I can't do from home.
I find that the serenity of my own home gives me a quiet state of mind. I'm able to be more creative, get more done with less interruption, and I like that the kids can spend their time doing what they want, rather than having to hang around the office, waiting for us to finish our day. They homeschool, so when their lessons are done, they are free to walk to the video store, visit with other homeschool friends in the neighborhood, watch a movie, or just hang out in their own rooms. We're all more relaxed and productive!
But it didn't take long to figure out that I was going to need to upgrade a few things in order to really "work at home." My first problem was internet. This was back in the day when broadband was new. It was quite expensive, too, and while it was immediately added at the office... I was hesitant to spend the extra money at home.
Then again, if I got on the internet, I was tying up the phone line. I was waiting until night time to do any online work, working until 10pm, and keeping the phone line free during the day. Really, how productive was that? Wasn't I just buying myself more hours, instead of making life easier? Depending on your financial situation - go ahead and get the services you need as soon as you can.
I was pinching pennies in the wrong places, losing efficiency, and not really honoring my own assertion that this was really "my office." Take a look at what you need... and get it as soon as you can afford it. Inconvenience and wasted time will not help you be successful.
The next thing I faced was spending too much money on supplies. I needed lots of printer ink, printing paper, blank post cards - we went through a LOT of printing in those days... and because we are twenty miles from a larger town, I bought everything at Wal Mart, near my house.
I remembered that our office supply company could as easily deliver to my house as to my "real" office. I placed an order with Reliable, my favorite office supply company, and saved a ton by buying in volume. (Note: Reliable (Related) delivers anywhere within 1 day- PLUS, you get free cookies if you order $100 or more!) Need I say more? Act like a business, and save by buying in bulk whenever you can.
And the other factor that wasn't working well was my desk. I was working on an antique roll-top desk, in my dining room. It was a nice feeling for a few days... then it became obvious that this desk wasn't going to work. It wasn't set up for computers, and even though the desk was huge, I had no elbow room after installing printers, a fax, a scanner, and so on. Plus - my dining room didn't look so elegant any more...
Within a few months, I bought an inexpensive computer desk, stretched out in comfort in a rolling computer chair, and relocated it all to a back room in the house, which is now the kids' classroom, my office, and the laundry room. It works out great, and my dining room is just for eating again.
And my last hurdle was my grown daughter. If you have grown children, you know that they never really grow up. She called me all day long - sometimes for a recipe, sometimes just to chat. I had to lay down the law... 9am to 5pm are office hours. "Don't call me unless someone is bleeding." Some things are no different at home than they are at a "real office."
Those are just a few of the early adjustments I had to make to be able to work from home, but I've lived and learned, and you will, too. I hope this simple checklist will help you get through the first few steps of setting up your work-at-home lifestyle.
Check out your new "office area." Is it really set up to be an office, or are you compromising in areas that don't make sense? Get started right, and create a real work environment that you can live with long-term. Are your internet speed, phone plan, and other must-have technologies up to speed? If you can afford it, get what it takes to work efficiently. If you can't afford it yet, make it one of your earliest goals to get your office set up as professional and user-friendly as you possibly can. Do your friends and family realize that you now have office hours, even if you are home? Make it clear, and be very firm from the beginning, that you are not to be interrupted when you are working. Set hours and stick to them - then "go home" for the day, and do not spend your "family time" in your office. It's easy to get addicted. Trust me. Get set up with a good office supply resource, and other methods of having the things you need delivered to your home. If this is not possible, plan carefully before you buy. Buying in bulk can save you thousands on office supplies. Perhaps the word ergonomics (Related) is new to you, or you've always ignored it before. I cannot stress enough how important it is to have a proper computer chair, a hands-free headset for your phone, and to use correct posture when you are working on your computer. Work-at-home enthusiasts may be wealthy and happy - but most of them have bad backs and carpal tunnels syndrome. (Related) A great career is not worth giving away your health! Hopefully, these thoughs will get your creative juices flowing, and you can establish your own "work at home" world, in comfort. Your day-to-day reality is changing, and remembering to re-evaluate your needs is something you owe yourself - because you're one of the special people that can be your own boss. Be the best boss you've ever had.
Your work-at-home Coach,
Anne Pierson
Anne Pierson is a work-at-home coach and host of a social community for those who work from home, or just want to! Her site offers a free course on making money online, a free member forum, articles, tips, resources, and a step-by-step guide for getting started with your own online business - with no investment. The site is absolutely, 100% free, all products and affiliate programs are member reviewed or endorsed by personal experience. The site offers a free monthly newsletter, and requires no commitment to any programs. It is a simple-to-use resource for those who want the freedom of a home business, and shows you how to get started - with or without a web site.
Become a member at no charge by visiting the web site. http://www.learn-to-work-at-home.com (Related)
Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Anne_M._Pierson (Related)
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Article Submitted On: March 17, 2007
M. Pierson, Anne. "Work at Home Tips - Getting Set Up." EzineArticles 17 March 2007. 25 April 2007 <http://ezinearticles.com/?Work-at-Home-Tips---Getting-Set-Up&id=492802 (Related) >. APA Style Citation:
M. Pierson, Anne. (2007, March 17). Work at Home Tips - Getting Set Up. EzineArticles. Retrieved April 25, 2007, from http://ezinearticles.com/?Work-at-Home-Tips---Getting-Set-Up&id=492802 (Related) Chicago Style Citation:
M. Pierson, Anne. 2007 Work at Home Tips - Getting Set Up. EzineArticles (March, 17), http://ezinearticles.com/?Work-at-Home-Tips---Getting-Set-Up&id=492802 (Related) (accessed April 25, 2007)
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