Create the ideal home office
StumbleUponMany digital freelancers spend a lot of their time working from home. For that reason it’s important that they have the best possible home office set-up for their needs, because after all, having the right ambience and equipment will help ensure that the jobbing freelancer remains at their most productive. By Jim Hatley and FreelanceAdvisor.
By Jim Hatley
Here’s a quick guide to what you need:
Monitor the situation
First of all, take a look at the space you intend to use as your office. If you are finding yourself stacking papers and repeatedly shuffling through them in order to fit them all on the desk, then you may need to find a larger workspace. As far as technology goes, the same is true; if you are reading from a web page and typing into Word, then you are wasting time and losing your concentration if you are constantly flicking from one application to another. Many people don’t realise how easy it is to set up a second monitor on their machine, or just how much of a benefit it can be to use such a set-up and recent testing has shown a productivity increase of 20 to 30 percent with the addition of a second monitor.
Remember; maintaining order and discipline are crucial to a clear and productive mindset, so keep your workspace as tidy and organised as possible.
Print, print and copy… Lexmark X4650
Multi-function printers are now really cheap and likely be an essential addition to your workspace. Anyone working in print and design will probably prefer to have a separate printer and scanner, but for general purpose use, the Lexmark X4650 wireless multi-function printer is hard to beat for £100. The X4650 connects to the network wirelessly, and the front sports card readers for SD, MS, MMC, xD and CompactFlash, as well as a USB port for memory sticks.
The printer can print from any of these sources as well a photocopy the contents of the scanner, and, being a wireless printer, can be sent print instructions from any computer on the network.
The perfect soundtrack: Sony-XDRS55DABB-Light-Compact-Portable
Some people like listening to music as they work, whilst others prefer background chatter, or the great big Wall of Silence. Whatever your tastes, it’s all about creating the perfect soundscape for your working day.
If you prefer speech-based radio then the Sony XDR-S55 is a nice little digital radio which retails at about £40 and can be plugged into an amplifier for when you want a fuller sound.
iPod owners with space restrictions could do worse than spend £150 on a Bose SoundDock. Ultimately, how you scale your sound system is up to you, but if you do prefer to whistle while you work, then factor one in to your workspace.
Lighten up dear
Finally, consider lighting. Lighting is one of the biggest mood-altering forces that there is. Make sure that you have adequate sunlight entering during the day, but that it’s not all bouncing off the monitor(s) in front of you. Sunlight causes the brain to wake up faster, and stay focused for longer, as well as allowing you to interact more easily with your working workspace. If you are more of an evening worker, then try and get a balance between light levels and mood. Get a decent desk lamp, and try and throw some colour around – you’ll be amazed at how much more happy you are to be working when you feel comfortable with your environment.
Hopefully, this article will get you taking a long hard look at your office, and asking yourself: what will make my work easier?
About the author
Jim Hatley is a live sound engineer and freelance multimedia specialist. He has reviewed technology for the Times newspaper, worked as a freelance IT contractor, and run an internet café. Jim has over 10 years experience within the industry.
About FreelanceAdvisor
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