ESSENTIAL ELEMENTS FOR YOUR HOME OFFICE

Freelancers who work in activities performed with a computer need a defined space to work. Those who carry out their activity in the offices or other facilities of the customer, in their vehicle or in any other place, need a space where they can keep in order their files, their accounting paperwork or any other element they may need to develop their professional activity. For many of us, this means setting up a home office.

When working from home, having a good workplace is essential to making sure work gets done efficiently. It doesn't have to be a separate room, but it should be a comfortable space that allows you to do your work without distractions. If you cannot have a full home office, you might consider setting up a desk and a chair in a room or a quiet corner of your house. This will be one of the most important decisions you will make as a freelancer who works remotely.

In my particular case, I have a room in my house dedicated to my professional office. In the beginning, when I started working as a freelancer, I managed with my laptop on the corner of the living room table. Gradually, as my workload increased, I realized that I had to find a separate site to develop it. Visits, family phone calls, housework, TV, my children's music, my husband doing DIY..., in short, the normal things that happen in any home and that should happen away from the professional environment. Because the solution is not to order everyone to be silent while you work, but to find the right place to do it without anyone bothering you and without you bothering them either. After all, they are at home.

One option is to set up your office in a guest room or spare bedroom. This solution has pros and cons. The positive side is you will have an entire room for your office, which will give you plenty of space to put everything you need: shelves, filing cabinets, desk, etc. Additionally, the room will have windows, its own power outlets, and heating/cooling system that can be controlled separately from the rest of the house.

The downside is that if you use a guest room as an office, you will no longer be able to receive guests. Also, you may feel like you are at work even when you should be resting at home. And if you live in a small house or a one-bedroom apartment, you won't have any spare room to convert in office.

Another option is to install the office in a corner of the house. Perhaps one end of the kitchen table could serve as a desk. Perhaps there is a place in the living room where someone can sit in front of a laptop, on top of a coffee table. Or maybe you can find an unused space under the stairs.

Personally, I do not recommend this option, except in the case of specific moments in which you must make a query or a quick check. If your workload is high, these temporary places will take away your concentration, apart from the fact that you will have your work stuff scattered throughout the house. In other post, REMOTE WORK, HOME OFFICE I explain some general aspects regarding the organization of this important space.

You may not have all the necessary items for a complete office, but at the very least, try to cover the following to turn your spare room into a productive workspace:

A desk. You will spend a lot of time working in it, so it must be large enough to house all your work materials, as well as your computer and accessories. Use a desk if possible, but you can also use a large table. You should also consider a height adjustable desk or a standing desk. If you work long hours, sitting all day can negatively affect your health.

An ergonomic chair. This is another important element of your home office. You will be spending a lot of time sitting on the chair, so make sure it is adjustable and keeps your back straight. If you adopt a bad posture too often, try placing pillows on the back of the chair for support.

Adequate lighting. Natural light is best (daylight helps keep you awake and alert), but if that's not possible, invest in some good lamps or lighting fixtures to help illuminate your workspace.

Air conditioning. As important as light is working at a suitable temperature. In my particular case, I must ensure that my hands, and particularly my fingers, remain warm while using the mouse and keyboard. When you've been still for a while, watching the screen, concentrating on what you're doing, maybe you don't realize, but cold hands have less sensitivity and work at a slower pace.

A quiet place. The space you choose for your home office should be quiet and distraction-free.

Telephone and internet connection. If you spend a lot of time on the phone with clients or buyers and have trouble taking calls on your mobile phone, you may want to get a landline phone for your home office so you can keep up with the demands of your business. Although nowadays smartphones have everything you need to manage calls, video calls, online meetings, etc., you may find it useful to have a landline or a second line, for when your main line is busy. Paying for Internet access is also important, because you will certainly need to be connected to the network.

These are what I consider the essential elements. Any other added convenience will help increase comfort and, by extension, creativity and productivity. The limit is up to you.

If you want to know more about my experience as a freelancer, check out these other posts:

HOW TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL (I)

HOW TO BECOME AN INDEPENDENT PROFESSIONAL (II)