Good home office plans can influence how successful you are while working from home. This means having the resources to get the job done, minimizing distractions and being comfortable.

Home office plans go beyond a floor plan for your office furniture and equipment(although some are mentioned below). You need to take into consideration the following elements:

A Door

You need a door so you can shut it. It will help you keep the distractions on one side and a productive environment on the other.

This isn’t automatic. Your family needs to know what that shut door means. And they need to come to an understanding of when it’s OK to knock on it. Which is something you’re going to have to figure out for yourself. Don’t let me tell you know what’s important enough to merit your attention.

The door also sets a boundary that separates your office from the rest of the house. It reinforces the concept that the office and what’s inside is for your business — and not for school projects or building forts. (Filing cabinets look like the building blocks of a good foundation…)

NC-17 Rating

I’m not talking about downloading and watching porn in your home office. But you should consider banning the children from your workspace. Simply because it discourages from “borrowing” any of your supplies or equipment.

Dedicated Equipment

All home offices require a computer, printer and phone. Those items also are essential parts of most modern homes. But it’s not a good idea to use them for business and family. You don’t want to keep client information on the same computer your teenager is using for chat (and possibly collecting malware).

And not having to wait for coworkers to print their documents first is one of the luxuries of working at home. Having your own printer prevents the arguments about what is more important: a proposal for a new client or a term paper on Shakespeare.

A Good Desk

What that looks like is up to you. A large surface area is important to some workers. Others just need enough room for a monitor, keyboard and mouse pad. You need to decide what works for you.

Accessibility

Your home office plans should make sure needed resources are easy to access:

• Line of sight: You should be able to see everything you need. Put away files and books that you rarely use. Make good use of bookshelves and vertical files.
• Reachability: Place your most commonly used items within arms length from your keyboard. I’m talking about your phone, notepads, earphones and (perhaps) printer.
• “Within a roll”: OK, maybe you don’t need the printer so close that it needs to be right beside you. Making sure it’s close enough to your chair so that you can get to it with one push — or “roll”. It sounds lazy, but it honestly saves time.

Filing System

One of the best ways to keep papers from piling up on your desk, couch and any available surface area is to create a simple filing system.

Filing cabinets are good for material you don’t need very often. These are the archives of your business. Use bookshelves and desktop vertical file holders for current materials. Make the things you often refer to or add to handy.

You can organize alphabetically, priority, type of work or whatever makes the most sense to you. Just don’t let it pile up.

Lighting

Natural light would be the best. Having a good window also offers a good break once in a while. (Of course the challenge is not to allow the brief break to turn into procrastination.)

Then add as many lamps or fixtures as you need to give you adequate lighting.

Ergonomics

Plant you feet firmly on the floor. Learn how to adjust your office chair so your elbows form a 90-degree angle when you type. Look straight into the monitor.

Get the kind of desk and office chair you can adjust to make an ergonomically-friendly workstation.

Plants

Some people swear to the positive energy created by having home office plants. It can’t hurt to try something simple and green.

More tips for a home office plan

• The good thing about a home office is that you are unlikely to host clients. So it’s possible to save money on furnishing your office.
• Set hours so clients, coworkers and family members know when they can reach you.
• Understand the law for claiming home office expenses as a tax deduction.

What are the most important parts of your home office plan?

(Image courtesy of mlpdesign under a Creative Commons 2.0 Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.0 generic license.)

Source: WorkAwesome

More and more mums are thinking of quitting their jobs and starting a home-based business. Although job security and a regular wage makes a huge difference, many mums feel that it is not as rewarding or fulfilling. After all, the trade-off is usually less time for yourself and with your family.

Not everyone though has the guts to make the transition from a corporate job to setting up your own business. To be honest, working at home is not as easy as it sounds. You have to be financially, emotionally and mentally prepared before you go into this. So, here are a few tips that should help you start on the right track.

1. You have to love what you do.

A big part of succeeding in one’s business is in loving what you do. You must have the passion for it. Passion will motivate you to achieve your goals and objectives, and would allow you to remain committed with your business. It is the same feeling that will motivate you to get out of your bed in the morning and do what needs to be done.

2. Keep it all together.

When you work at home, it can sometimes be difficult to draw the line between stuff you have to do in your office and chores you have to finish inside the house. Set order and discipline and devise a strategy that should keep these two separate at all times

For instance, even if you have a home-based business, set your work time well. If it’s after five, perhaps it’s time to call it a day and attend to the home. If it’s the weekend, try not to do any work or business related tasks.  Schedule deliveries only on weekday mornings, or meet with clients during proper business hours.

If you can’t keep work and home tasks separate, you will wear yourself out by spreading yourself too thin.

3. Expand your network.

Most home-based businesses are small-scale ventures but never underestimate its potential to grow. Don’t be cooped up in your home, hoping clients and potential business partners will come. Socialize with your friends and see if they can give you business leads. Social networking sites are also a great venue to build your network and a great tool for opening up a new potential market.

4. Seek help when needed.

Birth pains, adjustments and problems are normal when starting a business. If you find that you need some expert advice, tap into your network and don’t be embarrassed to ask for help.

You may have a friend who works as an accountant and can help get your books in order. Or your husband knows a lawyer who can give pro-bono work to look into your IP and Trademarks. Your cousin may be a Journalism or English major who can help in doing copywriting work for your website.

Starting a home-based business is not easy but with the right knowledge and deep commitment, it may just be the best decision that you’ve ever made.

A few weeks ago I asked you to send me some pictures of your office, the response was even more amazing than what we got for our last showcase of home offices. There was such great response, that unfortunately I’m unable to showcase everyone’s photo. I picked out some of the best pictures you, our fantastic readers, sent in. Here are the top 15 home office solutions. In case I didn’t include yours, don’t worry – I loved to see them all, they were all great in one way or another. Let’s check ‘em out!

 

Andrew Flynn

(submitted by personal friend: John Swaringen)

This is easy one of my new favourites, the setup with three screens with the speakers on each side. I just love the simple, warm and somewhat minimal elements in a great combination. Great work, Andrew! And thank you for submitting it to me, John! A great addition!

Haley Montgomery

A very comfy and natural setting, makes me want to work there. The best addition to this office is the frog on the couch, it gives it a playful addition to it. It’s just great! Thank you for submitting and sharing your office with us, Haley! I for one, I love it!

Juan Diego Cruz

The Star Wars figures on the shelves, I’m so jealous of them! I love the playfulness. I wish I had more than my Darth Vader bobblehead when I look at this. I just have one question for you, Juan – Where can I get the Star Wars figures?

Callum Chapman

Glass desk, plants, Wacom, iPhone, pen and paper, Smashing Book and a comfy chair – a really sweet set-up, professional, clean, minimal and very bright. I could really see myself working there. Thanks for sharing your wonderful office with us, Callum!

Jordan Walker

Looks like a really organized setup: four screens, a cat, screen cleaner, a laptop, and books. Minimal but yet organized nicely, I like this office – it has a clean yet professional feel about it. Thanks for sharing, Jordan!

Richard Cloutier

Big desk without a whole lot of items on it. It couldn’t be much cleaner than this. Leaves a lot of room for drawing, reading or even eating. Maybe not eating… but still, a great office enviroment. Thank you for sharing it with us, Richard!

Thomas

A lovely desk, a nice piece of art on the wall, and the speaker under the chair and desk gives this office a feel of completeness. Love the cleanliness it has, even though it probably was cleaned when the picture was taken – I still love it! Thank you so much for sharing this amazing office space with us, Thomas!

Salman Suhail

A really nice office that contains additions such as a wide monitor and speakers, and the best addition of them all, a Yamaha F310 Acoustic Guitar. I really like this office, not due to all the high-tech it contains, but for the simple priority of objects. If you like music, a guitar is a must have.

Greg M

The toys in this office makes it look complete as well as what the company stands for. Incorporating what your company does and stands for, is what it’s all about. The older monitor doesn’t detract; instead it adds a stylish vintage feel. If this was intended, I don’t know – but still, it looks great! Thank you for sharing this somewhat retro-style office with us, Greg!

Adriano Araujo

The photographer of this very honest yet natural office describes it as”The concept of real instantaneous photo of home office.” Which means that it’s taken after a hard days work, without preparation or cleaning, and shot with a cellphone camera. I like it a lot, great shot Adriano! Thank you for sharing it with us.

Andy Foulds

Love the scenic outlook from this office. To me – who dosen’t have palm trees naturally – it looks like everyday’s a vacation. The office maintains a natural feel with a wood desk, and it’s amazingly beautiful. Desktop looks great as well, love the background with the tilted folders window. Thank you for sharing this beautiful yet natural office with us, Andy! I like it a lot.

Søren Fritzbøger

Søren uses a very homey office; it is quite similar to my old one in fact. It’s quite nice with it’s simplicity. It’s not very cluttered with uncenessary items. Even if I would have gotten a somewhat cramped feel with the tilted roof, I still like it due to it’s homey feel. Thank you for sharing Søren!

Brad Gillespie

Even if it’s quite hard to see what this office contains, it still gives a cozy feel due to the candles in the glass jars. Some of us aren’t a big fan of dark offices, I would love a light-filled office. But somehow I really like this office, I think it’s the screens, keyboards and speakers that does it for me. Thank you for sharing this stylish and dark office, Brad!

Sritharan Arunan

Love the clean, minimal but yet professional look of this one; the TV with the Xbox 360 below – Amazing addition! Very organized, clean and just simple. It’s very bright and looks quite comfy. That chair is sure something I’d like to add to my own office. Thank you for sharing it with us, Sritharan!

Thomas Eckelmann

Clean, simple yet minimalistic office with a wonderful addition of a wacom and the old white iMac. Love the desk’s round-ness as well as the printer beside it. It makes it feel almost complete, with the wonderful wallpaper and carpet containing a quite modern look. Thank you for sharing this great office with us, Thomas! I like this one a lot.

Honorable Mentions

As I hope you understand I was unable to feature all of your great offices, but I’ve made a couple of honorable mentions for a couple of really nice offices. Reason for mentioning these two are due to it’s creativity, they should really be looked at in full completeness with all images. So make sure to visit each site for a set of extra inspiration, I guarantee that they are both more than great.

Joel Vardy : Web developer and ThemeForest author

Jodi Vautrin Ourhaus – Design marries technology & they buy a loft

Thank you everyone who contributed, all your offices were great! It really means a lot to us to be able to share our fantastic readers very own offices. Maybe in the future, I might even do a follow up on this particular post. Who knows, maybe your office could be featured.

Do you have a favourite of these great FreelanceSwitch readers offices? I for one, found more than a few!

Source: FreelanceSwitch

I write this as a wannabe entrepreneur. I have my sights set high, my heart set on never returning to the daily office grind, my mind set on my goal.

There is just one thing that stands between me and my home business dream.

Procrastination, anyone?

Setting up a home business is the dream for many: who wouldn’t want to roll out of bed into their office, coffee in hand, home comforts just a room away, children looked after? Visions abound of tapping contentedly on the computer in a gleaming home office, while well-behaved angels quietly look after themselves in the other room. Chatting to contented clients, who always pay on time, and increasing profit and productivity by the week. Nay – by the day.

The reality, sadly, is somewhat more flawed. My “office” still doubles as a boxroom, despite my daily vows to finally delve in and clear them out. Cartons of office equipment bought in the first optimistic rush I experienced while planning my business venture remain half-opened. I occasionally glance in there and am baffled at some of the things I picked up. (Really, as a sole trader, do I need a telephone message pad? Who is going to be taking these messages – the cat? As for the various financial records and spreadsheet books, the less said about them the better.)

Meanwhile, after I have waded through the debris and reached my desk, there is so much to do: there are Facebook and Twitter statuses to update, photos to browse, online forums to contribute to, gossip websites to peruse, emails to answer. It never ends.

Then, of course, there is the nagging guilt that, as I am home all day, I should really have the house looking spic and span by the time my significant other gets home from work. And a meal on the table of course – perhaps I could try a new recipe every day this week? If Nigella can do it, surely so can I.

But these things take time: suddenly in a house-cleaning frenzy, I find the afternoon has whittled down to nothing by the time evening falls, and it is time to log off, my entrepreneurial spirit slightly beaten, but buoyed by optimism that tomorrow will be different…

Today is ‘Go Home on Time Day‘. An initiative of The Australia Institute, ‘Go Home on Time Day’ recognises that a very large number of Australians frequently work longer than their standard hours.

The idea has grown out of Australia Institute research which revealed that Australians contribute more than two billion hours of unpaid overtime each year. The research, summarized on the GHOTD website also revealed:

On average, a typical employee works 49 minutes of unpaid overtime per day. For full-time workers, the average daily amount of unpaid work is 70 minutes, which equates to 33 eight-hour days per year, or six and a half standard working weeks. Put another way, this is the equivalent of ‘donating’ more than your annual leave entitlement back to your employer. Overwork can have negative consequences for your physical and mental health, your relationships with loved ones and your sense of what is important in life.

The full report is available from The Australia Institute website here.

The idea of ‘Go Home on Time Day’ is also relevant to those of us who work from home. Working from home can lead to a real tendency to just keep going, pausing only for an evening meal. Sometimes, of  course, this is a good thing. Today I’ve been painting my house in while the weather is good, and I’ll probably do some work tonight to make up the difference. Sometimes there is a deadline which requires particularly long hours, while other times a lull yields the opportunity to go shopping. ‘Work from Homers’ can adjust to these situations because they have the flexibility to do so.

But working from home also requires balance. It is easy to find yourself working longer and longer hours, becoming wedded to your job and forgetting that flexibility and balance were two of the reasons why you left the commuting workforce in the first place.

So today, whether you are in an inflexibility steady office job, a fully flexible work from home job or something in between, take heed of the message: Go Home – or Knock Off – on Time.

So, you have got 3 or 5 balls in the air, all with different labels – children, work, chores and the like – and your are manically tossing them up and catching the others as they fall.

Welcome to working from home.

It takes a dash of organizational skills and a pinch of discipline to make this arrangement work effectively for you and, if you are employed, your employer.

As a new mum and manager of a successful career coaching website I wanted to find out how other people managed their time at home across an ever increasing list of to do’s.

The words strict, routine, organization and multi-tasking are just a few examples of what makes working from home exhaustingly effective. Then there is trying to be focused on the household tasks, looking after the children’s meals and demands as well as being present to enjoy our partner’s daily download of office shenanigans.

Here are 5 top tips to getting the most out of the working from home arrangement:

1. Get a routine – Have a diary and make appointments with yourself to work, play with the kids, have dinner with your partner
2. Get outside – enjoy some fresh air and thinking time – it is okay to take a walk and you will be amazed at how you can clear your mind and refocus on what is ahead
3. Get stuck in – be present for the task at hand, whether this is work or time with family
4. Get satisfied – work out what you need to do today to feel a sense of accomplishment, then do it!
5. Get feedback – ask your family if there is anything you need to change to make it work better, ask your employer for feedback on the same and ask yourself, regularly, if you are happy with things too.

There are a lot of juggling jesters out there working from home; I take my hat off to you!

(Image fhisa)

If there’s one problem shared by all in business, from solo accountants to international corporations, it’s the problem of how to manage time. Alas, we all know we can’t really control time. We can only control the duration of our own events. Time management is really about giving you more time to spend it where you value it most.

Here are 9 fast time tips that can help you manage your day.

1. Change your mindset

   It’s time, only small pun intended, to change the way you perceive time. Each day, 86,400 seconds of time are deposited into your life account. Each person is given the same amount: politicians, Madonna, your boss. Unlike other resources, such as petrol, food, and even money, your time cannot be saved or stored for later use. What you don’t use, you will most definitely lose.

   The most valuable resource you have is money, right? Sorry. It’s time. Our society values money. We hire accountants, financial planners and stockbrokers to ensure we are getting the most bang for our buck. We obsess about interest rates, stock prices and bank fees. We store our money, protect it, plan for it and invest it. But do you invest your time? Or do you constantly wonder where it went?

   Invest your time by committing it to what you value most in life. Sometimes that may be investing in a short-term gain for a long-term reward.

2. Use the “D” method to control paperwork

   Controlling paperwork is like traffic, tax and housework – yes, an unfortunate part of life. Use the “D” method and watch stress disappear.

   • Do it - Some things must be handled immediately
   • Delegate it – Can you give this to someone else?
   • Divide it – The sliced bread method is effective for large projects
   • Defer it – Plan a future appropriate time to action it
   • Dump it - Some things are just a total waste of time
   • D-Box it - Give it a quick scan and file it in a storage box or file
3. Plan your day One of the most essential features of being successful and productive in both your professional and personal life is to plan your purposes and goals for the day ahead. Never allow the excuse of having a demanding schedule stop you from planning your time.The power of a good daily plan is the one thing that will separate you from the “but I never have enough time” crowd. A plan should take about 10 minutes and is best prepared at the end of the day so you will begin the next day with a clear strategy already set.Catastrophes may turn your day pear-shaped, but a plan gives you a map to return to when the dust has settled. Planning your day requires discipline and effort. But the advantages of feeling in control will outweigh the 10 minutes you think you have saved by starting your day without a plan.
4. Triage your priorities Most people think time-saving is making a to-do list. But the real power is in going further by prioritising the activities on your schedule.Prioritise your appointments, tasks, errands and projects. This ensures your day’s tasks align with your objectives and goals. What is critical? What must be completed, started on, or worked on today? What trivial jobs can be left until another day?Remember the difference between the urgent and the important. Some of us may be tempted to say, “everything is important”. But you can’t physically do more than one thing at a time and expect quality or performance. Something must come first. At the very least, a daily plan gives you a place to start.
5. It’s not how much you do that’s critical … it’s what you do

   Time management practices need to work in with the realities of your job. If you’re in a sales-type role, you can motivate yourself by keeping your list relatively short and aiming to complete it every day.

   Those working as part of a team are likely to have large tasks or jobs dependent on other people. Keep one list and ‘chip away’ at it. You may not be able to complete some low priority jobs for several months. If you’re running up against a deadline, raise their priority.

   Managers must make time available for coaching and supervision. While people may let you get away with ‘neglecting them’ in the short-term, your best time management efforts will be derailed if you do not set aside time for others.

   The more unpredictable your job, the more contingency time you need. Constant interruptions are the reality of many people’s work. Studies show some managers are only getting an average of 6 minutes uninterrupted work done at a time.

   Obviously, you cannot tell when interruptions will occur. However, by leaving space in your schedule, you give yourself the flexibility to rearrange your agenda to react effectively to issues as they arise.

6. Play to your strengths

   During the course of a day, certain hours and minutes are more productive than others. Think about how lethargic you move when you are sick or tired. Alternatively, think about how much you can accomplish in the office after hours when there are no interruptions.

   Are you a morning person? Then earmark that time for more creative and confident duties, such as designing marketing materials. By contrast, if you come back to the office glassy-eyed after even the lightest of lunches, set that time aside for stuffing envelopes and other less cerebral tasks.

7. Employ good diary habits

   Whether paper or electronic, a good diary is only helpful if you use it. Don’t maintain separate calendars. Keep key personal and home information with you at all times. This includes numbers for children, family, important medical information and repair numbers. This will help you handle domestic crises on the spot, wherever you are.

   Keep a section for creative brainstorming. What if a dazzling idea popped into your head and you were caught without a diary in a taxi, a meeting, or on the toilet?

8. Take advantage of time gaps

   If you’re out making sales calls, bring more than sales material with you. That way, if you have to wait 10 minutes before an appointment, you can punch out a quick thank-you note to a customer on your laptop.

   A wait in the post office queue doesn’t seem so wasted if you’re updating the status of all your current projects. It may sound obsessive, but hey, it’s one less task hanging over your head.

9. Include an activity break

   Unless you happen to have a large red “S” emblazoned on your chest, it’s not likely that you’re going to function on all cylinders from daybreak to dusk. Don’t overlook some down-time as part of your overall time management strategy. Even a few minutes spent staring out the window can return you to work recharged and ready to rock.

How do you know your time management plan actually works? If you come to the end of the day with important jobs completed or controlled, and you have time to relax and unwind, then your time plan is doing its job.

Now it’s up to you – what matters is not knowledge itself, but applied knowledge.

Natasha Crestani and her psychologist husband Jason are directors of Inspired Honey, running workshops on performance improvement in business and life. They cover time and stress management and decluttering strategies. For your FREE eBook: www.inspiredhoney.com

(Image Vintage85)

Are you tired of working and travelling more than 40 plus hours per week, with little time or energy to see your friends and family? You need to take a peek at life from the perspective of working from home. You can enjoy a full, balanced life, achieve a better overall use of your time and create a happier family.

There are many people who are well suited to flexible working patterns and working from home not only improves these people’s productivity but greatly enhances their quality of life. Successful home based workers have discipline, self motivation and high level organisation skills.

It can be difficult to balance the needs of both your work and your family at home. The important thing to remember is that your home based job deserves the same attention and dedication as an office position. This typically means sitting down to work at around 8 or 9 a.m., setting yourself a schedule and focusing on your work, and being ready to pick up the kids (or go shopping) by 3 pm.

Make sure that you don’t get into the trap of working later and later. If you need extra time once in a while, it is often better to schedule some extra time in the evening when the kids are fed and tucked into bed.

Working at home can be challenging with babies and toddlers as they need to have someone they can go to at any time. You cannot focus or make phone calls with a young child climbing up your leg and demanding your attention. In this case you may find that family day care or babysitters can be just as invaluable as they are for office-based work.

And try to leave housework until that 3 or 4 pm knockoff time. The trick is not to feel guilty about it. After all, you wouldn’t be doing it if you were working at an external office.

Successful home-based work is all about time management. In normal office work, most people spend about half of their day actually doing their work. The rest is spent in meetings, taking internal calls and emails, and, of course, gossiping. When you work from home you can be much more productive if you are a disciplined time manager. Achieving this rests on your ability to plan and achieve the most important tasks first. As Brian Tracy suggests in his book ‘Eat That Frog’:

“You can overcome procrastination and keep going with a great plan.”

You will find the adoption of a simple diary and setting tasks at the start of the day (or the night before) is very important. When you set out major and minor tasks in the order of priority, and check them off as you go, it saves a lot of time. Brian says that 10-12 minutes of planning every day can save up to 2 hours of ‘muddling around’.

Believe me, this is true, especially given the amount of email that interrupts our workflow if we let it. Completing tasks will also unlock your creativity and mental powers.
Work at home job opportunities are on the increase and in huge demand. The growing and future trend of flexible work practices in Australia will only see this situation improve.

(Image D’Arcy Norman)