5 Tips for Telecommuting
Working from home is great, especially for introverts who dislike dealing with people on a daily basis. Unfortunately, most of us will have to telecommute at some time or another (every day for some of you) or collaborate on a project. Yes, telecommuting is still much better than putting on pants and driving to work every day, but it still has its difficulties. Ritika Trikha at CareerBliss shares several tips to make your telecommuting experience easier:
1. Send Files Securely: Unsecured broadband or wireless networks (public Wi-Fi hotspots) can be risky. Be careful! There are tools more secure than others. For instance, “ShareFile is as easy-to-use as consumer-grade file-sharing tools and its security is IT-department-approved,”
2. Switch Documents to Cloud-Based Apps: There’s nothing more annoying than to search thousands of emails to find that one document. And, of course, you forgot its file name. And what if your email crashes? Thank goodness for the Cloud!
3. Consistency is Key — Avoid Email Chains You can’t avoid emailing — but you should avoid massive chains.
4. Opt for Video Conferencing Vs Telephone “The ability to both hear and see a colleague can help facilitate that bond of trust in a way that a phone call can’t,” says Michael Woodward, an organizational psychologist and author of The YOU Plan.
5. Rid Yourself of ‘Email Armor’ “Email armor” is when you have a tendency to be more aggressive about critiques than you normally would be if you were speaking to them directly.
How to Feng Shui Your Home Office
Many people claim that the ancient Chinese art of Feng Shui can help bring balance (and even luck) into your life. So, why not try to add some good chi to your home office by introducing elements of Feng Shui? Even if you don’t buy into new age-y treatments, at the very least, it can help you get organized and give your office a fresh new look. Feng Shui is all about creating a bright, open space that incorporates natural elements. Annie B. Bond at Care2 lists ways to bring some positive energy into your home office:
DO sit in the corner farthest from the entrance to the room to have a “command” position.
DO place an aquarium or tabletop fountain in the East, North, or Southeast. A small aquarium with black or blue fish in the North area of your desk or office will activate your business and career success.
DO treat the files in your office with respect. They represent your past, present, and future business.
DO keep the cords to your office equipment well hidden. This eliminates clutter and allows for the free flow of chi.
Tax Breaks for People Working from Home
While being able to work to your own schedule and in your pajamas are benefits in and of themselves, there are other advantages to working from home. Specifically, tax advantages. Working from home offers many tax breaks that you can claim that you wouldn’t have been able to by working outside the home. Susan Goodknight at WAHFreedom fills us in on what you can deduct:
When working from home you are able to deduct a portion of your mortgage interest, insurance and taxes. In addition to that you are also able to deduct a portion of your utility bills as well as repairs you might need to do.
You are able to deduct what you spend on your new business. So this means if you need to mail information out the postage is tax deductible. If you spend money on the purchase of leads or advertisements you will deduct this as well. If you take any trips related to your business or use your vehicle for business purposes they become tax deductible as well.
In case you needed any more incentive to begin a new work-at-home venture, here it is!
Wordless Wednesday: Colorful Coordination
Friday Fun Video: How to Declutter Your Home Office
Awesome ideas on how to organize small items like cables, wires, and various gadgets.
Placing a Home Office
If you’ve just started working from home, or are considering updating or moving your home office space, Work From Home Wisdom provides several useful tips for getting settled in. It covers all the basics on how to pick the right space, including:
-Look at all possible areas, not just obvious ones.
-Check the legalities.
-Spend some time there. Is it comfortable?
-Is there enough room for both working and storage?
-Are there many distractions?
-Make it personal! Include photos and inviting décor.
The entire infographic has a checklist of good things to keep in mind when deciding on a space. Check out the full version here.
Friday Fun Video: 18 Places You’d Rather Be Sitting
If you’re feeling a little cramped in your office chair, check this out! All of them look amazing, except the “invisible chair yoga” one. I’ll take my office over that any day, thank you!
Happy 4th of July!
A Little Bit Extra: Income for Stay at Home Parents
Working full time from home, but could use a few extra bucks? Or are you a stay-at-home parent who needs a little more income? We’ve all been there- with the economy in its current state, sometimes an extra $100 can make the difference between having electricity or not. Or, maybe you’re just putting away some cash for a vacation. Whatever your reasons, Meagan at Sunshine and Sippy Cups has 10 wonderful solutions for making a little extra cash:
- Craigslist- sell your old stuff!
- Survey Sites- fill out surveys online for cash
- Childcare- if you already have kids, taking in a few more isn’t too much work and can give you a great income boost.
- Start a Blog
- Digital Earning- there are tons of sites that pay you a little bit every day just for using them.
- Make Cool Stuff- got a hobby like knitting or woodworking? Start an etsy shop and turn your hobby into cash.
- Shopping Online- some sites pay your for shopping online.
- Virtual Assistants
- Direct Sales- get started in a company like Avon or Scentsy.
- Freelance Writing
These are all great ideas, and I’ve personally had experience with most of them. Survey sites, digital earning, and shopping online are better for earning a few extra dollars here and there ($20 or $40 a month, depending on how active you are), while blogging, freelance writing, and selling products are better for a steadier, more sizable income.