Working from home is becoming the ideal for many people – a 2003 report stated that more than 50% of the incomers to one particular area in Wales were intending to work from home. As readers of this book on downshifting, you probably have similar plans – not dreams now, you’re thinking positive! As someone who has done it since 1985, first in London, then Wiltshire and now in the Scottish Highlands, I can commend it highly, but there are some considerations we must take on board. Let’s review these now, in some detail.
Working From Home Successfully
Working from home involves:
- establishing a workspace separate from your living space;
- designing or acquiring the facilities to help you work efficiently;
- keeping on top of your paperwork by having and using a system;
- being firm with yourself in setting and sticking to a work schedule;
- being equally firm in switching off and maintaining a domestic life;
- acquiring (and learning how to operate) the necessary technology;
- building up a range of local suppliers and tradespeople you can trust;
- identifying your different roles and maintaining (or delegating) them.
Let’s consider the implications of each.
Establishing A Workspace
You really need to be able to close the door on your workspace and walk away from it. If you have children, whatever their age, you equally want to have a space which can be decreed out of bounds if you want. You need to be able to concentrate when you’re in work mode, so you’ll have to think carefully about arrangements if you have young children around. It’s also valuable to be able to shut out family pets if there’s any danger that they might hit the delete button with their paw or get their tail caught in your lathe, potter’s wheel or other equipment.
Then there’s the question of whether clients will be coming to visit you. Where this is fairly infrequent, it can be acceptable to hold your meeting in the sitting or dining room. For consultancy types of work, the visiting client will expect you to have a functional office, even though you might choose to meet him in your dining room (your version of the ‘boardroom’). Have your materials and paperwork to hand and dress professionally. If necessary, excuse yourself and go to your office to get additional materials – it reinforces the fact that you have one.
Your workspace may be more workshop than office, in which case you’ll want to keep it separate to cut down on noise and dust entering your living space. Each situation will have slightly different requirements, but in all cases you will have some set-up which allows you to keep your business affairs separate and in order.
Take advice on health and safety issues – it’s best to keep visitors out of any area which involves working equipment (your insurance may stipulate that anyway) and these visitors will include family
members. Don’t get careless just because you’re working at home. Business rules still apply.
Designing Or Acquiring The Facilities
If you’ve already worked as an employee doing similar work, you should be fairly clear about the facilities you’ll require, from the absolute necessities through to the total luxuries. Let’s focus on office space for a start.
If you’re planning to work as a consultant, writer, designer or in some other activity which is largely thinking/writing/communicating, this is likely to be your entire work space. If you’re involved in activities which require more of a workshop environment, or work out and about, running a market garden, holiday cottage business or estate, you should still have a separate, although smaller office area to allow you to keep your paperwork under control.
So, what do you need in your office space? You’ll need:
- a desk with enough space for your computer, phone and writing room;
- a comfortable chair;
- suitable lighting;
- filing and storage cabinets or cupboards;
- book shelves or, preferably, closable cupboards;
- table or workshelf space to spread work out (dependent on your job);
- technological equipment (expanded in a later section);
- potentially, a sitting area for thinking/meeting clients.
Additional facilities will be important to individuals – heaters, if a warm atmosphere helps your concentration, and a music system, for similar or creative reasons. Clock, calendar, inspirational or motivational picture, large pot plant, kettle – it’s up to you.
When designing your room layout, you may be in the situation where you can specify the location of power and communication sockets. To avoid trailing cables, it’s an idea to have at least one double socket on each wall where you are likely to install equipment.
Your phone socket and any additional internet/fax link-ups you may have should be accessible from your desk. Basically, if you need to use any piece of equipment or facility on a regular basis, it should be available and ready for use in your office. The key tools of your trade should take priority place.
If you need a more practical workshop arrangement to carry out your vocation, the positioning of equipment, storage for raw materials, tools and accessories should again be arranged for most convenient use. Where your work will create dust or fumes, consider the need for extractor fans. The positioning of power take-off points and sockets will also be important. As we’ve already mentioned, try to have a separate, clean area for your office administration, to maintain a positive, professional standard and appearance.