Work from Home Checklist

Can you handle working from home? This question is tougher than it sounds

Try a few "practice days" before you make your final decision.

Will you be working from home occasionally, part-time, or full-time? This will affect both your ultimate decision and possibly your approach to the task, as well as any budgeting concerns.

Make a list of the pros and cons

Will you be saving money, or spending more on office supplies? If you're a freelancer, you'll have to open an IRA, and also consider health insurance. These factors should all be taken in to consideration.

A quiet room or personal area with enough space for all your supplies

This should be ;separate ;or partitioned off from the rest of your home, a place where you can work undisturbed.

Laptop or desktop computer

Both are good, but if you have to pick, a laptop may be your best bet, since it's portable.

A desk and comfortable adjustable desk chair.

Pens, pencils, and any other necessary writing tools

Legal pads or notebooks; paper

Memo pads/sticky notes

Printer and paper

Dry-erase board with markers

Bulletin board with pins

Filing cabinet with file folders

If you run a business out of home, this ;may be necessary.

Specialty tools of your trade

This could be a draft board with a place to stash blueprints, or a dressmaker's dummy. Whatever it is you need for your job, you better make sure you have it!

Ensure your work space is conducive to working

This sounds like a no-brainer, but if you don't set up an office environment that allows you to comfortably work and stay focused, you won't be productive.

Schedule your day

In order stay motivated and productive, you need a structured routine so you can effectively manage your ;tasks, especially if you have deadlines to meet.

Track your Time

Monitor how much time is spent not working. What are you doing, and how much does it detract from your work schedule?

Avoid checking personal email or visiting social networking sites during work hours

This can distract you for hours, and will inevitably cost you your day...and possibly your job.

Stay Connected

If you work from home full-time, it's easy to lose contact with family and friends. Set aside time during the day (during a break, for example) to call or email close contacts...stay in the loop.

Take breaks

Even working from home entitles you to a respite from your desk. Just be sure it's a reasonable break, and you use it wisely.

Change your scenery

If you're going stir crazy, it's ok to step out for a walk, or bring your work with you - take your laptop to a coffee shop or favorite place and work from there for an hour or two.