Working From Home

Posted from Royal Oak, Michigan--

Working from home is not for everyone, but I sure do enjoy it. 

The key is to avoid distractions.  If you aren't focused, you can always find something else to do besides work.  Most work-at-homers find it helpful to keep distractions out of sight and to have a dedicated work space.

I bought a 5,000 square foot home a couple years ago so I have lots of office space for the Edison House work, including a Jack-and-Jill office suite, two walk-in closets and a full bath.  I have a web cam for teleconferences and a few other toys that allow for maximum creativity, but my favorite work possession is my Herman Miller desk chair.  It was expensive, but well worth it.  I spend lots of butt-time in that chair. 

I also love my Bluetooth wireless headset, which allows me to talk on the phone while doing other things around the house.  Very handy.

One of my secrets for time-management is to cluster activities.  So I try to batch process outgoing phone calls, e-mail activity and errands.  I get out of the house at least once a day. 

Discipline is not an issue for me.  I don't have a boss, but I wake up every day around 5 am and am often sitting at my desk by 5:10.  It helps to love your job!

I have an output station (my desk) where I talk on the phone and do computer work and an input station (easy chair near the upstairs fire place) where I often write after dinner.  In the summer I write on the backyard patio, which overlooks the Red Run golf course.  

Working from home is very nice.

Comments

[Ed Maurer]

I can relate to this one big time. Working from home has it's advantages but only if you are disciplined. I find it very easy to pull away and try to do house cleaning or errands around the home. Separating the office within your home is a great way to make it work.