If you work from home you are not alone

The number of people working from home in the UK in 2001 was 2.2 million. This number reflected a massive 65 to 70 percent increase in home workers over the period 1997 to 2001. Since 2001 it is estimated that home working is increasing by 15% per annum, through choice for some people and necessity for others. Around three-quarters of all ëhome workersí are in the private sector. Most of these people are professional or managerial, with 25% being involved in the property market in some way.

What impact does working from home have on you, your family and your house?

C France, who works in local government and lives in the Highlands says ëworking from home has given me the opportunity to gain more control over my life. I live in the area of my choice and mostly organize my working hours to suit myself. Neither of these was possible before working from home. Working at home means I feel as though I live in the area, not just passing through in between the daily commute.í

The obvious advantages are that home workers are on hand for their family, the stress, cost and time pressures of commuting are reduced and you can finally become the proud owner of the dog you always wanted! But there are costs; the necessity of planning and defending your time and using it constructively; the pressure that working from home has on relationships and the need of a workspace within your home.

Planning and defending your time.

When working alone from home you have to know yourself, be self-motivated and be able to structure your time. Structuring time starts with listing every aspect of shouldering your workload and smoothly running your business and being honest about the tasks that you always shun or shrug off. To work successfully from home you have to focus on your core abilities and where ever possible employ others to do the jobs that take time but detract from your main skills.

A key area of self-knowledge is being realistic about the amount of energy you have. On a weekly or monthly timetable how many projects can you reasonably undertake? On a daily basis you can protect yourself by tackling challenging projects and difficult people when your energy is high and deal with simpler tasks when you know your energy is lower.

Combining your work and your domestic diary allows you to monitor the balance between work, family and leisure and stops you double booking your time. To survive working from home you have to give yourself time off. There has to be a clear beginning and end to the working day and the working week.

Your brain cannot deal effectively with more than four big items in one working day without becoming confused and exhausted. If you have seven or eight major items needing your attention, be strong and plan each one into your diary over the next three days, leaving enough time for routine emails, phone calls and sending invoices.

Donít deal with the most recent job or work problem just because it is fresh in your mind. Add it to your diary and give it the correct priority.

Planning your workspace.

If you work from home your insurance company needs to know, particularly if you are inviting clients into your home.

When working at home a separate telephone line is essential. Your mother or your toddler answering the phone will reduce your professional credibility. Also you can minimise interruption by not giving your work number to friends and relatives. People expect established businesses to have landlines, especially if you are selling a product rather than a service.

If all you need is a laptop you may be able to work in a corner of the breakfast room, but the privacy of a dedicated room provides continuity and concentration. A separate office or study allows you to shut the door on your work the end of the day.

If you intend to work from home permanently you can separate your work from the rest of your life with a purpose built office in the garden. This is a major, long-term investment that needs careful thought. If you are going to spend money building an office it should be of the quality of InsideOut Buildings garden offices the quality of your house and adds value to your property.

This is what Dr Edwards of North Wales has to say about working from home in her office in the garden: - In the past I used to arrive at work frazzled from the short, but very tedious journey, across the city. I used to start the day feeling stressed and irritable. Now, I saunter up the garden path - saying Good Morning to the rabbit on the way, hearing the birds singing, and more often than not startling the inquisitive squirrel that races along the top of the fence to the tree above my InsideOut garden office I arrive in my office with a smile on my face. Working from my own office in my own garden has improved my working environment beyond belief. Colleagues who visit me are green with envy!