Work at home

Ever thought about trying to work at home? Imagine all the things you will save: commuting costs, clothing expenses, automobile wear and tear among other things. Just what are the advantages and disadvantages of working from home? Working at home can be as profitable and may even make you happier if you are successful. When you work from home you are more in control of when and where you work. To be successful you will want to make sure that you maintain a healthy working environment.

First you will need to find a job or convince your employer in to allowing you to work from home. Even if you can convince your employer to allow you to work from home a couple of days a week you can make a big impact on the environment. Many employers are not willing as they feel they lose control of monitoring an employee’s productivity. But, there are many success stories of employees who have taken their jobs home and have become more productive than having to deal with the distractions and interruptions of being in an office setting. If your current employer is unwilling to work with you on this issue you may want to look at other employment options. You could become a consultant or a freelancer in your field or even start your own business.

Once you have a job that you can work from home you need to set up a workspace. It is important to set a space that is dedicated to only work. Having a dedicated space will keep you motivated and will be less distracting. When you choose a desk you need to consider what you need. Do you need a lot of drawers, a large work surface or something that is mobile? Green options are to rummage in antique and second hand stores for a suitable desk. Look around your own home; ask family and friends, you never know what you will find.

Your chair is one of the important choices you have in how comfortable and healthy your work environment will be. You need to select a chair that provides good posture support. Look for an ergonomic chair that has good lumbar support and is adjustable. You can find models that are made with recycled materials from Herman Miller, Hayworth, Trey and Steelcase.

Today a computer is not an option when you work from home. You need internet connection, word processing and any program that your work requires. Choose as large a monitor as you can afford. If you are purchasing a new computer, look for a computer that is EPEAT certified as they are made with less hazardous waste and look for Energy Star ratings. Buying used is also a great option to reuse someone’s cast off and save you money.

The other items you need include scanners, printers, fax machines, and cell phones. How can you be greener with all the stuff that you need to plug in to be able to work? For items that use batteries purchase a supply of rechargeable batteries. Get a power strip that you can plug into an outlet that turns off with the flick of a switch