Why you need an Office
May 12, 2009 by Allison Boyer
Filed under Jobs
It isn’t really fair that I’m giving you advice that I myself don’t follow. Well, at least not all of the time. I’m better than I used to be. The advice in question? As a freelancer, one of the first things you should do is set up a home office…and do your work there. Why?
Image: sxc.hu
- You have to be able to shut the door and “leave the work at the office.” If you don’t, you’ll never stop working. It’s true – just ask anyone who’s ever been my roommate. It’s better to work solidly for 8 hours than on-again-off-again for 12 hours.
- If you have a place to work, your family will know when to leave you alone. I live alone, so this isn’t really and issue for me, but when I visit my parents/sister, I have a spot in my childhood home that is designated as a workspace for me when I’m there for a few days. They know when I’m there that they shouldn’t bother me if they can help it.
- You need to be organized as a business owner. If your office is you couch, you can’t keep your bills, contracts, and office supplies in order, and that can be a very bad thing when you need to find something quickly.
- A workspace will put you in work mode. Take it from someone who knows – when you work in your living room or bedroom, there’s too many other things (TV, cleaning, etc) to distract you.
- The utilities/rent for a home office are deductible on your taxes. Take every penny, people! You can’t claim part of your utilities and rent if you don’t have an official office space, though.
I use my office space about 50% of the time. I used to work on my bed. Yes, you read that right. On. My. Bed. It was a bad choice. I’m much more productive and work fewer hours now that I have a home office.
Do you have a home office?
I have an office “office” and a home office. I couldn’t agree more that especially at home, you need to set space aside for your business. Otherwise, it’s extremely difficult to be productive. A clean, dedicated workspace always leads to a greater deal of productivity!
I have absolutely had an office since day one working as a freelancer in 1988.
It’s moved, changed, morphed, expanded and contracted and I wouldn’t even try running my business without it. I’ve probably written a half a dozen pieces on how to set one up. I view the office as necessary as my computer, even if it’s simply a desk with a file drawer, phone and a lamp.
My office is my dining room table. I would love to have an office, I just don’t have a space available right now. But even though I don’t have an office, it is well known in my house (and in my head, I guess you could say) that if I am at the table with the laptop open, I am working, and please don’t bother me. If I am sitting on the sofa with the laptop, I’m just surfing. Feel free to interrupt. It’s not perfect, but it works for now.
I work in my office and at home both and really enjoy work at home. It feels like I am doing with taking any tention. Yes but there is a lack in it that I forget about the time and It takes too much time after work.