Working at Home on the Internet Webpage Archive

Originally posted on the Working at Home on the Internet (Blogger) Blog on March 13, 2006

Just imagine… No more crowded buses, No more traffic jams, No more suits and ties, high heels, dull meetings or office politics. Just you and your computer. Alone, all day.

If this sounds idyllic, read this before you rush out and quit your job. I hope this dispels a few myths about working at home.

The Dream:Extra time to spend with family, exercising, or recreation.

The Reality:While you won’t spend time commuting, you probably will spend more time working all hours of the day and night. Be sure to set regular hours. Separate work time from home time.

The Dream:You are invisible to clients over the phone and on the computer.

The Reality:It is true that you can’t be seen and can lounge around in the buff if you want. The fact remains, you need to maintain a professional demeanor, that is difficult if you are in your bathrobe.

The Dream:No more office politics.

The Reality:It gets lonely home all day by yourself. You may have a pet to talk to, but that probably isn’t very rewarding. Try to set a certain time of the day to get out. Go get a coffee, meet clients, go to the gym.

The Dream:Quiet time, so you can get some work done.

The Reality:Sometimes, it gets too quiet( see previous entry), and other times the phone keeps ringing with sales calls, or someone knocks on the door trying to convince you to change your cable provider.

The Dream:You don’t have a boss looking over your shoulder all day.

The Reality:Look in the Mirror. You are the Boss. It takes a lot of intestinal fortitude to push yourself to make sure the work at hand gets done. Being the boss means taking on all the responsibility.

The Dream:No more sharing office supplies.

The Reality:No more sharing office supplies, printers, copiers, fax machines, not to mention a computer. There is no IT guy to fall back on, it’s up to you if your system crashes. Make sure you have good equipment, with a good support system.

The Dream:Tax write-off’s.

The Reality:This isn’t too far fetched. You will get to deduct some office space, equipment and services. This depends on the area in which you live. In this area, we need to pay an Estimated Tax on what we feel we should earn, and the deductions go against your next filing (which still has to be paid in advance).

Don’t let any of this dissuade you from starting your own Work at Home Business, these are just a few things to let you know what you may be up against in your quest. I, personally, feel the rewards far outweigh the drawbacks in owning your own business.

Originally posted on the Working at Home on the Internet (Blogger) Blog on April 6, 2006

A recent press release from SonicWall Inc. gave the results of a Work at Home (remote worker) Survey. It apparently shows that the greater freedom of out-of-office workers helps keep workloads up-to-date and reduces bad tempers.

Here are some of the results of 941 participants world wide…

Productivity:
76% of employees surveyed said they were more productive.
61% of their managers agreed.

Security:
88% stored passwords in easy to find places.
12% used encripted passwords.
56% relied on memory.
4% used the same password for all their devices.

Personal Habits:
39% of both sexes wear sweats
12% of males wear nothing
7% of females wear nothing
44% of women showered
30% of men showered
33% of men shaved
18% of men take a break to do chores
38% of women do the same

Couldn’t do at Office:
35% eat and drink at various times
45% listen to music
28% watch TV
21% take an afternoon nap
12% take a longer lunch

Accessing Work:
80% never lost temper with support staff
40% experience problems accessing corporate network
50% access applications other than E-mail
50% accessed corporate network daily
86% accessed corporate network several times a week
22% used cell phones or PDA’s

What does all this show? I’m not really sure, but I saw myself in a couple of the catagories, so I thought it was an interesting snapshot of Working at Home.

Procrastination Doesn’t Work at Home

Don’t let procrastination get in the way. When you are faced with something you may not feel like doing, it is easy to put it by the wayside.

Excerpt from the Work at Home Forum“Creating an Ideal Home Office Environment” Author: Vishal P. Rao (Administrator).

This is an example of the type of information available at the Work at Home Forum. There are also discussion groups where you can ask questions YOU may have.

When creating your home office, you need to make sure that it is comfortable, well lit and convenient. Therefore, it is important that you purchase the furniture and accessories that are most desirable to you. After all, you will be working in the office, so it should be inviting, pleasant and appealing to you. Some of the items listed below will help you turn your office into a place that is comfortable, attractive and an ideal working place.

Plants – One or more plants are great to keep in your office, as they help to clean the air and provide oxygen in your working space. Furthermore, plants and flowers are pleasant to look at and provide you with a sense of serenity.

Good lighting – Having proper lighting in your office will help to reduce eyestrain and will make you feel more alert and motivated when working. If it is at all possible, it is a good idea to make your office in a room that has a window, as the best lighting is always natural light. However, even if you have a window there will be times when you will work at night or perhaps early in the morning before dawn. Therefore, having a desk lamp, as well as a bright overhead light can make all of the difference and help you stay focused when working.

Comfortable seating – Make sure the office chair you select is supportive and is comfortable to sit in. The best type of chair to purchase is one that is ergonomic, and adjustable.

Pictures – Whether it is pictures of your family, pets or beautiful landscapes and scenery, etc., pictures add atmosphere to the walls of your room, and are always pleasant and welcoming to look at.

Color – Did you know that color has an effect on your mood? For this reason, the color of your office matters. Light, cheerful colors, particularly light blue, are calming and make your office space an ideal place to work. Painting or pasting wallpaper that is dark or full of wild designs can make you feel overwhelmed, depressed, stressed or distracted.

Music – Having a stereo, mini radio or sound system on your computer may also be something you will find, calming and pleasant. While some people work better in complete silence, others find silence to be uncomfortable and would prefer to have low, easy listening music on as background noise.

Aside from the above mentioned suggestions, you should also keep in mind that where you place your furniture in your office is important. The reason is because if you don’t position your furniture in an orderly manner, you may not have convenient access to the equipment you need.

For instance, if you have a phone in your office, you should keep it on or near your desk so you can reach it easily without having to get up and interrupt you work. An ideal home office environment is one that you feel relaxed and content in. The object is to make your working area one that is free of distractions but is organized and peaceful.

I hope you found this informative.