subject: Making your home office more efficient [print this page] Making your home office more efficient Making your home office more efficient
When you're used to working in an office, working at home can seem like a step back. After all, in an office environment, you're likely to have access to a range of facilities such as fast and convenient printers, photocopiers, scanners and fax machines. Even your telephone may be much more high-tech, with better conferencing facilities and call reception. However, it's perfectly possible to make your home office as efficient and well-equipped as your workplace. All it takes is some wise purchases and sound organisation.
It might seem obvious, but the first thing to do if you're going to work as effectively at home as you do in the office is to make sure you have an appropriate desk. A converted coffee table won't do: you need a proper desk, a comfortable chair and a bright desk lamp to ensure that your home office feels as 'work-like' as possible. Next, you'll need stationery, from a simple writing pad and pens to a stapler, paper clips and files. A desk calendar might also be worth having, in order to keep a strong visual reminder of your deadlines even when your computer isn't on.
Your computing device is another important consideration. If your home office is equipped with a desktop computer, you might want to consider buying another monitor. Working with two monitors may increase efficiency and save you time switching from one window to another. Alternatively, if you have a laptop, you may want to consider buying an external keyboard so you have the option of using your laptop device as a monitor. Then, consider which software is the most appropriate for your work environment. Microsoft Windows is likely to be your default option but if many of your business clients use Linux platforms, it may be worth installing a variation of this free open-source software on your machine too.
Once you're satisfied with your computing hardware and software, it's time to think about your peripherals. For example, a printer is a crucial part of a well-equipped home office but if you need a copier and scanner as well, you could encounter problems with both space and money. Recently, all in one printers have seen a rise in popularity. These multifunction devices usually combine printing, photocopying, scanning and sometimes fax capabilities, and are compatible with a range of computing equipment and wireless internet connections.
What's more, despite these many functions, an all in one printer is unlikely to occupy much more space than an average home printer. As a result, their efficiency and space-saving advantages make them an essential part of any well-furnished home office.
