Feature Article: Setting Up Your �Office� Space at Home

I�ve worked full-time from my home since 1992 and can�t imagine doing it any other way. Whether you work full time out of your home, occasionally telecommute, catch up on work in the evening, or run a household, you need some sort of dedicated �office� space in your home. Offices can serve as the family computer center, a place to do paperwork, and the occasional work-at-home office. 

The first big question is where to locate your home office. Until the last few years, most builders didn�t catch on to the popularity of a built-in home office. If you have a computer, you probably need more than an antique writing desk in the living room. But if you only use your �office� to pay bills, write letters, and return phone calls, you can get away with a corner of the kitchen. 

In most homes, extra space is difficult to come by, so you�ll need to get creative. I�ve seen people attempt to use a hallway, part of a bedroom, and even a closet. However, it�s difficult to work while children are running around you, you see your bed and think about napping, or when it�s too cramped. So I�ve always commandeered the �formal� dining room or living room�no one ever used it anyway�so it�s wasted space. Or perhaps you can steal the guest room.

Set yourself up for success. If you are going to be working from your home full-time, use this checklist to ensure you�re set up for success and maximum productivity: 
� Where will you set up your home office?
� How will you modify the space to meet your needs?
� Can you lock the door? Can you lock the windows?
� Do you have sufficient lighting for that area?
� What office supplies you will need?
� Where are the electrical sockets located? Will you need additional power sources?
� Do you have enough storage space, such as a file cabinet, bookcases, credenza, closets, etc.?
� Where you will store back-up disks? Is the storage area safe from fire, flooding, etc.?
� If your home office is in the basement, and if the basement tends to get damp, do you have a de-humidifier?
� Do you have a personal computer that you already use at home? Will you need different software or upgrade the RAM? Will others need to stop using it for personal purposes?
� Do you have sufficient office equipment for your home office?
� Do you have a desk? Is it large enough to do office work?
� Do you need to have a modem installed on your home computer?
� Are there sufficient phone jacks in the area you�ve designated for your home office?
� Do you need a separate fax line, Internet line, and business line?
� Do you have voice mail or an answering machine? 
� Do you have a smoke detector in your home office area?
� Do you have a fire extinguisher located hear your home office?

Regardless of whether you work full-time from home or a few times each month, your home office has some common requirements:

Furniture and storage
� A professional office desk and worktable
� Sturdy filing cabinets and drawer space for files. Invest in quality pieces that won�t fall apart.
� An ergonomically correct chair
� Bookcases or shelves to hold binders, trays, phone books, and reference manuals
� Stackable storage units that maximize your space vertically
� Large garbage can
� Supply caddy/accessories
� Stackable trays for �in� and �out� boxes
� A large, standing document sorter with slots for envelopes, fax paper, letterhead, etc., that fits under your desk for easy access.

Computer and peripherals
� A computer with lots of RAM, a large hard drive, and a DVD burner
� External back-up system (like www.godaddy.com or an external drive)
� DSL or cable or satellite Internet connection (no dial-up)
� High-security remote access to your offsite office computer (like www.GoToMyPC.com) 
� USB hub such as Linksys 2.0, which has seven easy access ports to plug in your keyboard, iPod, PDA docking station, digital camera, USB flash drive, etc.

Software
� Spam filter, such as www.mcaffe.com 
� Internet security and virus protection, such as www.norton.com
� Integrated contact management, such as ACT (my favorite) or Goldmine
� Fax within the computer, such as WinFax Pro
� Postage, such as www.stamps.com, www.pitneyworks.com, or www.dhl.com 
� Accounting, such as QuickBooks Pro for business or Quicken for home only
� Email software, such as Microsoft Outlook
� Calendar, such as Microsoft Outlook, or a paper planner, such as www.franklincovey.com 

Other technology and equipment for people who work at home
� A separate business phone line and fax line if you conduct business from home so your clients don�t get voice mail saying, �You�ve reached the Smith residence.�
� Wireless headset (I use GN Netcom plus receiver lift)
� Cell phone and PDA, which can be separate, but optimally a SmartPhone, which includes PDA and email access
� Pager or text pager (only if you�re required to carry one)
� High-quality laser printer, copy machine, and scanner (separately or all-in-one)
� Telephone with voice mail

Who knows�setting up a clean, organized, productive office space at home might allow you to consider more work-at-home or other home-based business opportunities.

Make it a productive day! �

(C) Copyright 2006 Laura Stack. All rights reserved. 

This article may be reprinted provided the following credit line is present: �� 2006 Laura Stack. Laura is the president of The Productivity Pro�, Inc. and the bestselling author of Leave the Office Earlier and Find More Time. She presents keynotes and seminars on time management, information overload, and personal productivity. Contact her at 303-471-7401 or www.TheProductivityPro.com.�