Working from home in 2013

Thinking about working from home?

Today’s guest post provides some pointers if you think this might be the year you start working from home.

There has been a lot of press in recent months highlighting the benefits of working from home. A recent study showed that people who work from home are actually more productive than when in the office. With more managers and staff understanding the positives from home working – this could be the year you set up your home office.

The Office Blues
The monotony of turning up to the office every day can get tiring. Many workers have a lengthy commute on top of the long working days they put in. This can be damaging to their health and productivity.

Staying Focused
Working from home can have some real benefits. Without the distractions of office banter and loud phone calls from colleagues, you are able to get your head down and get on with the tasks that need to be done. Your concentration can greatly improve, and as a result you can work much quicker and more efficiently.
However, there are plenty of home distractions (a fridge full of snacks, the TV, your comfy bed) that can make it more difficult to concentrate. Sticking to a strict schedule can help ensure you don’t get lured away by these home comforts.

No More Commuting
When working from home, the two hours you would otherwise have spent commuting to the office can now be spent working on those reports that need sending out or catching up on yesterday’s emails.

Setting up Your Home Office
If you’re lucky enough to have a whole room to dedicate as your office, then make sure you plan the layout carefully. For example, you might want to sit near a window so that you can take advantage of the light. If this is the case, keep it in mind when choosing furniture so that you can get the sizing right.
If you don’t have the luxury of devoting an entire room to your home office, that doesn’t mean you can’t still benefit from a dedicated space. Invest in space-dividing furniture, such as storage units or shelves to segregate your office space from the other parts of your home.
It’s worth investing in a quality adjustable chair to ensure you are comfortable and help prevent back problems later on. Consider comfort when setting up your desk as well. For example, using a laptop docking station or a keyboard and mouse rather than your laptop can be far more comfortable and place less stress on your body.

Budgeting for Your Home Office
Assuming no structural changes are needed, furniture and office equipment will likely be the biggest outlay. It’s useful to plan your budget for this project ahead of time. Developing a savings plan or researching the various small loan options is a good place to start.

Of course, the most exciting part of having a home office is making it exactly how you want it! If you want to paint the walls bright yellow, or have your favourite print or poster displayed on the wall, go for it! Making the space your own will serve as a constant reminder of how brilliant working from home actually is.

This guest post was written on behalf of Money Matters, the Sainsbury’s Bank blog. The views expressed in this post are those of the author and not of Sainsbury’s Bank. Any links to Sainsbury’s Bank product pages contained within this post are there to provide information, not to directly promote financial products. Sainsbury’s Bank accepts no responsibility for the content of external websites included contextually within this post. All information in this post was correct at date of publication.