How to Set Up Your Home Office

There is no "one perfect way" to set up a home office since we are all a bit different in our organizing style, our circumstances, and space available. What we need to do is to cover the bases and enable you to determine YOUR perfect "Home Office Set Up" solution.

First, determine your organizing style for the office itself. Are you more of a Visual person, where you need to see everything as it pertains to your business? Are you more along the lines of a Logical organizer, where order and structure are the main focus of how you will work the most productively? Or, are you more Inspirational, needing to have all of your nick knacks around you in an aesthetically pleasing environment to help motivate you to work, free from all distractions?

Knowing WHAT your environment needs to be in order for you to be the most productive is the most important element of your office. Understanding and realizing this element, determines what your choices are for your base of operations.

Many people will only have one or two choices for their office. Although the ideal scenario is to have a room that is strictly used for your office, it is not always feasible, especially if you are just starting your home based business. However, it is important that you identify your choices and make a quick list of pros and cons using your organizing style as a guide.

Quickly make a list of your choices. Be sure that each area has the necessary equipment, and/or can have the necessary internet connections and phone lines needed to run your office.

Is it a spare bedroom?
Using the loft?
Perhaps even the attic?
How about ransforming the formal dining room into a makeshift office?
Dare I say, even your master bedroom ONLY as a last resort. Try and keep your bedroom as YOUR room and sanctuary.

Once you have listed your choices, determine which category fits your organizing style the best.

If you are a logical organizer, you probably do not want to be in an open area where family and life can disrupt your business. If you are more inspirational, keep yourself away from distractions. Once you have decided on your perfect solution, you will need to lay down the ground rules.

For more information on how to set up your home office and to identify the basic ground rules every home office should have, check out our podcast.

Until then,

Happy Organizing!
Suzanne McLoone
Organizational Empowerment