When you work from home, you have to find ways to distinguish between work, family, friends and rest – all in the same space!  Learn how you can design a comfortable working area within your own home.

Working from home can be difficult.  No boundaries, no clear lines you can draw to make everyone understand that "mom is now working". It can be very difficult for children or partners to understand that even though you're in the house, you're not available. It's difficult to live up to the expectations your family has of your when you are physically present at the same time as getting your work done.  On the other hand, the reason you're working from home is because you want to have more time with your family, or a more flexible job. So how can you manage both?  Not an easy task! But there actually are ways in which it might be easier to battle demands for peanut butter sandwiches or neighbors just popping in to say hi, as well as enjoying the advantages of working from home.  And the most important condition for productive home working is setting up your office or working area to create privacy and comfort.

Where you work

Choose a corner in the house where you are comfortable and relatively secluded.  If there is a spare room, or empty walking closet – those would probably be the best choices. If not, try setting up a working area in the attic or basement, or any other place that might become suitable. 

You might think it's a bizarre idea to open an office in a garden shed, but actually some cleaning up, a little paint and some furniture, might turn your old attic or musty basement into a very comfortable office.  Just make sure you get the needed equipment so that your office appliances won't suffer from dampness, heat or dust.  For example, if you use a computer, it won't enjoy the humidity in the basement.  If you will be working in a limited space, it may be best to use a flat-screen computer monitor to avoid radiation.

The bedroom is another good option, since it's usually empty during the day.  But it might limit your working hours. Not all partners enjoy the noise of typing on the computer or phones ringing while they are sleeping…! It might also be uncomfortable for you with such a short distance between your bed and your office. Talk about a recipe for getting sick of work, when it's the last thing you see at night before closing your eyes and the first thing you see in the morning!

Other areas in the house might be too noisy and noticeable, making you susceptible to family nagging.  The kitchen would be a good example for where not to work.  If you are also the chef of the house, just seeing you in the kitchen area might make your family hungry and demanding. If your home business is a catering service or cookie baking then this rule is a little less useful (!).

Make working from home an efficient and comfortable option for you by designing your working place according to these criteria.  Set some ground rules and arrange your working environment to ensure clear limits between home and work.

Working Hours, No more 9 to 5!

One of the most advantageous aspects of working from home is the ability to work in very flexible hours.  Saving on commute time to and from work can make a big difference when every minute counts.

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