Life has been challenging lately, hasn’t it? Having everyone at home so much has really added to the challenges of parenting. Add in the need to work at home and maintain your home office, and you’re beyond busy. You need easy home office organization tips if your office is going to be usable at all.

I was so excited to be approached by Redfin to share advice about home office organization. It’s something we all need to do in our office regularly. I’ve had to deal with the loss of my home office during this time – it’s now my husband’s office because he now works remotely, and is required to have a door he can close. So now I have what used to be his desk in the living room. I miss my home office, but these are the sacrifices we make to keep things going.

But I still have to keep my workspace organized for my own sanity. These organization tips still apply, whether your home office space is the kitchen table or a dedicated room. Head on over to Redfin to see what I and others had to say:

Easy Home Office Organizing Tips to Keep Your Space Clutter-Free

The post Don’t miss the recent Redfin article I was featured in: “Easy Home Office Organizing Tips to Keep Your Space Clutter-Free” appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

One of the best things you can do for yourself when you work at home is set up a home office. Having a place set aside where you can work is a huge help, as well as a must for many work at home jobs. These budget home office ideas can help you set up a functional home office without spending a fortune.

Pick The Right Spot

Choosing the right location matters for your home office. While some people can make do with working at the kitchen table, others need a room with a door. It all depends on the demands of your work and how many distractions you can handle.

You don’t want to be in the same room as the television, for example, if it’s going to be on. That’s a huge distraction and will make you less productive.

There are times when you want your kids with you when you’re working if you don’t need quiet. That’s why I had a play space in my office when my kids were little. It was less distracting to have them there than to have to get up to see what they were doing. Now that they’re older, I don’t want them in my office unless they need me.

Your space does not have to be large. If my house didn’t have a room available for my home office (which is also a guest room), I probably would set up at the little built in table that we use for the mail. It’s not a big space, but my work doesn’t take much. It’s a little out of the way in the house, which is always a help when you need to focus.

Plus, I wouldn’t need a desk then.

If you don’t have a spare room to turn into a home office, it’s perfectly fine to set up in the bedroom if you need a closed door to work. Don’t feel that your home office space must be dedicated unless that’s a requirement of your work. Rooms can have more than one use.

Figure Out What You Need To Buy

Odds are that you already have some of the things you need to set up your home office. If you have a work at home job rather than a home business, some employers may provide equipment as well.

The less you have to buy for your home office, the better when it comes to budget.

There are a few things you really should have when you work at home. Some you can skip, others are a must no matter how tight your home office budget is.

Budget Home Office Must-Haves

Computer

Is your current computer good enough for your work at home job or home business, or do you need a better one? Is it shared with the rest of the family, or is it yours alone?

It’s not at all uncommon for a family to need multiple computers these days. If your kids are in school, the odds are good that sometimes they need a computer for homework. You don’t want their needs and yours to clash. Having a dedicated home office computer is a big help.

An ergonomic keyboard and ergonomic mouse are also good to have. These can take a little getting used to, but may save you from carpal tunnel or other problems later.

Think about whether you need a desktop or laptop computer. I love my laptop because I can go anywhere with it, but desktop computers have their advantages too. They’re often cheaper, and while you have to buy a monitor to go with it, you don’t have to replace the whole thing if the monitor goes out.

Desk

A good desk can be a big help for working at home productively. You don’t have to get a fancy sit-stand desk (although they are wonderful!), but you should have someplace to put your computer and other supplies.

If you can’t afford anything else, even a folding table can function as an office desk. It’s not about looks, after all. It’s about getting the job done within your budget.

Ergonomic Chair

While you can use a kitchen chair if you must in your home office, try to find a way to get an ergonomic desk chair. Your body will thank you in the long run.

Internet Access

There are very few jobs that you can do from home without internet access. Even daycare providers may need it to email parents or update their websites or social media.

Make sure you consider whether you need wired internet or if WiFi is okay. Some work at home jobs require a wired connection to your router for security reasons. Such jobs also will not allow satellite internet.

Budget Home Office Maybes

Other office supplies will be needed by some people, but not by others. Think about what’s really necessary before buying these items.

• Printer
• Printer ink supply
• Scanner
• Camera
• Dual monitors
• Sound cancelling headset
• Microphone
• Chair mat
• Surge protector
• Phone (cell, landline or VOIP?)
• Filing cabinet
• Safe
• Reference books
• Pens, pencils, paper
• Whiteboard and dry erase markers
• Water bottle
• Neutral background for video conferencing
• Office decor
• Calendar or planner.

You’ll also need appropriate software. Some solutions are free, while other things you will need to buy.

• Skype (may already be installed on your computer)
• Slack
• Office software (I use Google Drive)
• Graphic design software (I use Gimp)
• Dropbox or other file sharing
• Any software required by your employer or to run your business.

Find Cheaper Ways To Buy What You Need

You don’t have to buy everything new for your home office. Some items are just fine to buy used.

I bought my office chair at a garage sale for $5, for example. I hit it really lucky, as it’s a good, ergonomic chair, and the most comfortable of all our office chairs. You don’t find a deal like that very often.

We also bought my husband’s office chair for cheap, just recently. The city was selling off their excess office furniture, and I found his chair for $30. It’s much more comfortable than the chair it replaced, and still much cheaper than a new one would have been.

Garage sales can be wonderful for finding used furniture. Thrift stores are also a good option. ReStore from Habitat For Humanity can be great for furniture. Be picky about comfort, as you’ll be spending a lot of time with your home office furniture. You may not be as lucky as I was with my office chair, but there are plenty of good finds out there.

If you’re going for new, outlet stores may be an option as well. Online, you can see what’s available from Amazon Outlet.

There are some things you should only go so cheap on, of course. Your computer should be good enough to handle what you demand of it. Your office chair should be ergonomic, to help you sit properly and minimize repetitive motion injuries.

Other things, you can absolutely go cheap on. Some dollar stores have a good range of home decor, which can make your office look nicer without spending a fortune. Some of their other office supplies are also good.

The back to school season is a great time to get paper, pencils, pens, and notebooks. They’re often on sale around that time. Pay attention to the sales, and stock up if you can when things are on a really good sale.

Do You Need It All At Once?

If the things you need for your home office don’t all fit into your budget at once, think about which purchases you can delay. Some items are good to have in the long run, but you can get away without them for a time.

A newer computer, for example. Possibly your current computer is just barely good enough, and that’s sufficient until you can afford a better one. Maybe you use a kitchen chair until you can fit an office chair into your budget. You do what you can.

Don’t delay on things which are necessary for you to start earning money. If you have a work at home job and your employer says you must have a certain thing, have that thing!

The post Budget Home Office Ideas – Get Set Up Without Spending A Fortune appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

When you work at home with small children, one big consideration is how you deal with the kids while you’re working. Smaller children need a lot more attention, and it’s not always easy to figure out how to make it all work. Combining office and playroom is hugely tempting. But is it a good idea?

That depends on a few factors. We’ll start with the problems with adding a play area.

Disadvantages Of Combining Office And Playroom

Not All Employers Allow It

You may not always be able to combine office and playroom. Many work at home employers do not allow distractions in the same room. If you work a lot on the phone, they probably especially do not allow background noise.

And we all know how good little kids are at making background noises.

Don’t risk your job just to keep your kids nearby while you work. If it’s a problem for your employer, find another way to keep your kids busy while you work. Trade babysitting, work hours when your spouse or someone else can care for your kids… whatever it takes, find a solution.

Kids Are Distracting

Let’s say you work for yourself or background noises aren’t a problem for your employer. Having kids in your home office can still be a problem.

Kids at play are distracting. Possibly less distracting than wondering what they’re up to in the other room, but still distracting.

Distractions mean you work more slowly and get less done. Odds are that it means you earn less money if you’re paid on productivity or by project, or that eventually, your employer will realize you aren’t as productive as you should be.

That’s a problem. A big one.

If you can’t cope with the distractions, don’t let your kids into your home office.

Tax Issues

Adding a play area for your kids may mess with your ability to take a home office deduction. If you aren’t taking that deduction, obviously this is not an issue, but it’s something to consider and bring up with a tax professional if you want the deduction. I can’t tell you for certain how it works if they only play while your work, but if the kids use your office for a play area or homework at other times, it’s absolutely not going to work. A home office must meet an exclusive use requirement, and letting the kids play in there is going to mess with that.

Child Safety

There are risks to having your child play in your home office too. Odds are there are a lot of power outlets with cords coming out, your chair may have wheels that can roll over small fingers or feet, kids may knock things down. If you want your kids in your home office, make sure you look at how you can make it safe for their age.

Advantages Of Combining Office And Playroom

Kids Are Right There

This can be a huge advantage with small children, if they let you work. No worries about what they’re getting into. They’re in easy reach if they need you. They get to spend time with you even though they aren’t your main focus when you’re working.

An infant, for example, only needs a crib or playpen much of the day. If you’re into baby wearing, you may be able to do some work that way, so long as noise and speed don’t matter.

When my kids were toddlers, I used a combination of baby gates at the doors and play yard panels to keep them near and safe. I did medical transcription at the time, so I could generally respond quickly to their needs.

You’re Setting an Example

I believe that work at home parents can set a very good example for their kids. You’re showing them how to make work a part of their lives, how you help support your family. I like making sure my kids know that there’s more to life than being a mother, even when I’m prioritizing motherhood.

They Will Grow Out Of It

Your kids will only need to play in your home office for a relatively short time. Soon enough, they will be old enough to play in their bedrooms or other parts of the house without leaving you to worry about what they’re up to. Then there’s school, friends and all kinds of other reasons why they don’t want to be limited to the home office playroom anymore.

My kids almost never come into my home office anymore unless they need help with homework. It’s a lot quieter in there now than when my kids were little… although it helps that this is the first home we’ve been in where I have a door to close.

On the other hand, that door means that my home office is also the guest room. Sometimes there’s just no way to keep a space all to yourself. At least it’s mostly mine.

How To Make A Combined Home Office And Playroom Happen

If you really want your combined office and playroom to work well, you need to play it out. Don’t just throw a few toys around and call it good. The room has to work for both of you.

Set Up The Home Office First

The first function of your home office space must be as an office. What do you need to set up your work space?

Even if you have a laptop computer, I recommend having a desk and chair. These give you a defined place to work.

When the kids were little, I liked having a big enough desk that I could give them a little space on the desk too. This allowed them to pretend they were working too. But consider your work needs before you do this – for some jobs, it may be too much to have your kids right at your desk.

Consider what else you will need in your home office. Do you need a place to store your supplies? Do you need a printer?

Make the space as comfortable and productive a workspace as possible. Combining office and playroom creates enough challenges as is – consider your work needs before your child’s play needs, or this isn’t going to work.

Childproof

The next thing you want to do is make your office as safe as possible for your child. Exactly what this means depends on your child.

A child young enough to mostly be worn or limited to a play area won’t need a lot of childproofing. One who can wander the entire room but is still young enough to get into things will take more work.

As I said above, I used play yard panels to keep my toddlers out of the way. I wrapped them around my desk, so my toddlers had plenty of room to play and I didn’t have to worry about rolling over little fingers.

In general, you want to keep cords out of reach and make sure kids can’t punch the power button on your computer. There was a time when I had to cover the power button on my desktop computer with cardboard because the pretty, shiny light was too attractive to my kids. Toddler-induced shutdowns are a bad thing!

Get anything else you don’t want the kids to reach in a safe place too.

Make It Fun

Once everything is productive for you and safe for your kids, make it fun for them. The more fun your kids can have, the more they’ll let you work.

Pick out special toys that your kids love but are just for when you need to work. I always liked to include an old keyboard when my kids liked to pretend they were working too. Young enough kids never notice that it isn’t attached to anything – in fact, we removed the cord too.

If you need quiet in your workspace, think carefully about how you set your child up. It will be hard enough to have quiet with them in there – don’t make it impossible with noisy toys.

Art supplies are a great choice once the kids are old enough. Set up an easel or small table with protection for the floor, and let your kids go at their favorite art supplies.

A chalkboard wall is another fun idea. Then your kids will have a space where they can draw on the wall.

A cardboard box playhouse can also be a great idea, and free, if you can find a large enough box. We’ve built them out of appliance boxes and boxes we had saved for us at home improvement stores. Cut some doors and windows, and kids have a great place to play and draw.

Don’t Forget A Spot For Naps

Young children fall asleep at the most random times. Make sure they can do that in your office too – you might just get some extra quiet work time you weren’t expecting.

A blanket and some pillows can help with this. Kids don’t mind sleeping on the floor, but you can add some cushions for them to curl up on if you want.

The blankets may also be good for making a blanket fort, which all children enjoy.

Make The Most Of Storage Space

Just because the kids play in there doesn’t mean your home office needs to fall into chaos. It’s okay if things get messy when the kids are actually playing, but you don’t want a mess all of the time. Set up enough storage space to put your things away as well as the kids’ toys.

Storage bins are great for children’s toys. They can handle odd shapes easily. Have a little fun with color to make the room more interesting for the kids.

Bookshelves and file cabinets can be a help too.

Whatever you do, make sure you don’t allow clutter to mess up your workspace. If a clutter problem develops, find a way to control it. Add more storage space if necessary and possible.

The post Combining Office And Playroom – Is It A Good Idea? appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

Many people who work at home don’t really have a good space for it. Not all homes have enough room for a separate home office, but having a dedicated work at home space makes a big difference.

I know that it’s easy to feel as though you don’t need a separate space. You may be working in your kitchen or living room and feel that you’re doing just fine.

And maybe you are.

But it’s more likely that you could do better if you had your own work at home space. Somewhere that you won’t be interrupted so often. A place where you have more control over the background noise. And where you can keep all the stuff you need to be productive without someone moving it on you.

Where Will Your Work At Home Space Be?

The first question you need to answer is where your work at home space can be in your home. Depending on your home, this may be easy or difficult to answer.

The best solution is to find a room in your home where you can set up a home office. A place where you can close the door has a lot of advantages when you’re working at home.

Some work at home jobs require this, for example. If you’re on the phone with customers a lot, they want you able to close the door so that you have a quiet place to work. You may also be required to have a door you can close if you have to keep information private for legal reasons.

But not every home has an available space where you can do this. And not every work at home job requires it.

It’s not at all uncommon for a work at home space to be a small desk in whatever nook you can fit it into. While it’s not as private as a room with a door, it can be enough.

And if you can’t manage that, there many people who work at home at the kitchen table or sitting on the couch. Do what you have to do to succeed.

Truth be told, this flexibility is one of the great things about working at home. If your job or business doesn’t require that you stick to one spot, you can work in a lot of different places. You can even head out to the coffee shop or coworking space if that suits your needs.

What Are The Basics Your Work At Home Space Needs?

The next thing you need to consider when planning your work at home space is what you need in there. This can vary quite a bit, depending on what kind of work you do at home. Start with the basics. You can upgrade later.

If your business is primarily or entirely online, such as blogging, the main things you need are your computer and desk. If these can be separate from what the rest of the family uses, that’s a big step in the right direction. There are few things more frustrating than having to sort out conflicting priorities that keep you entirely from working.

When you have only one computer in the family and the kids need the computer for their homework, what do you do but give it up? That’s why you need your own if at all possible.

A space to work on your business also makes it easier for you to set rules about when you are working. Even if you aren’t in a separate room you can set rules about what the kids can and cannot bother you with while you work.

The biggest challenge comes in when you can’t claim a separate space directly and you have to set up your home office in a shared area, maybe even a shared computer.

No matter whether you share your workspace or have a quiet home office separate from everything else, you have certain needs in order to work productively. This can include a calendar, reference materials, telephone, writing materials and so forth.

Your computer needs the software that you use in your business. You may also find that a dual monitor setup helps with productivity (seriously, try it if you can, it’s amazing!). These things require space.

Talk To Your Family

When you know which space you want to work in and what you need for it, talk to your family about it. It doesn’t matter how simple your needs are or if you need to claim a full room. Talk to them.

Sometimes they’ll be happy to let you have the space. Other times you’ll meet up with resistance.

It can be hard on a family to give up a portion of the house to be used as a home office. There are always other things the space could be used for.

This is why many home offices are also guest rooms. It’s a good way to compromise on the space. You may still need to talk to guests about your needs during their visit, but you’ll have the room to yourself much of the time.

Even when your family is understanding about your needs, you need to ensure that they will respect what this means. Just because they want you to use the space you need doesn’t guarantee that they truly understand what you will need from them when you work at home.

Go Beyond The Basics

My work at home space has changed a lot through the years. What I’ve been able to claim has depended on the space we had available and the needs of the family.

When my kids were little, my home office was shared with my family. I had my own computer, and a shared desk (big desk). Much of my work time was with either one of the kids or my husband on the other computer. It made for a bit of a challenge when working.

With this little space I kept a part of the desk and a file cabinet for my work. As I do work entirely online, my needs in terms of space are relatively few.

But the real hardship was having other people underfoot when I wanted to work in peace. Sharing my space meant that I had to claim my space mentally as much as physically. I couldn’t let what the others were doing on the computer distract me overmuch. Playful children didn’t make that easy.

These days, I have a lovely home office with my own desk and a door I can close. Working in there is so much more comfortable and productive. And of course, my kids are older and much better at letting me work most of the time.

Think about the little things you need to keep your workday going smoothly. Throw in a water bottle and for the most part, I’m good to go most days. But other people need more.

Some people like some background noise as they work, for example. I always suggest streaming music rather than turning on a television, simply because music is much easier to ignore. Music can make your day much more pleasant without taking away from your ability to work.

Puzzling out the little details on how you can set up your home office space takes time, but it’s worth the effort. You can increase your productivity and your contentment with your work when your workspace suits your needs. In time, you’ll find exactly what you need to make an amazing home office for yourself.

Where Does The Money Come From To Do All This?

If you don’t have a lot of money to spare, it’s difficult to figure out where to get the money to create that perfect work at home space. Not everyone can afford to just go out and buy a new desk or the other things you’d like to have in your home office.

So what do you do?

There are a few options for setting up your home office on a budget.

Option 1: Garage Sales

You might be amazed by how much stuff you can get for your home office at garage sales. I paid $5 for my office chair at a garage sale, and it is by far the best office chair in the house. My husband has tried to claim it a time or two, even though we bought it for my office, but that only gets him the death glare. It’s not happening. Mine!

Pay attention to garage sales in your area, and you can fairly quickly pick up a desk chair, file cabinets and anything else your home office needs without spending a fortune.

You may even find some of the electronics you need, although you have to be very careful that everything still works, and get any computers checked for viruses before doing anything. Used electronics are kind of a gamble, but you can make it work.

Option 2: Build It Over Time

You can also improve your work at home space over time. Start with the basics, and then add to it as your budget allows.

If you have a laptop or tablet you can work on, for example, all you need is a quiet place where you can work undisturbed. It doesn’t have to be in the perfect spot in your home. Look around and figure out what the best space is for you to work.

Work toward having the money for the next thing you’d like for your workspace. It might be a desk, a second monitor, a better place to keep your supplies, whatever it is you need.

Remember the money you spend on your home office is an investment. You may be able to write some or all of it off on your taxes as well. But the key thing here is to buy the things that will make you more productive so that you can earn more money from home.

The post How To Claim Your Work at Home Space appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

It’s wonderful when you can spare a room for your home office, but it might have a secondary function a few times a year. It’s a guest room as well. Your private workspace becomes a place for your guests to sleep. You’re out of your perfectly set up workspace. What can you do when your home office is the guest room?

There are a lot of things you can do when your home office is the guest room to ensure that the space is comfortable for both uses. Some relate to how you use the space when guests are there, while others are all about the setup of the room in general. Make sure your home office setup allows you to be productive and comfortable.

Consider what will happen to your home office when guests are there. Are you moving out or sharing the space? This will help you figure out how best to set up and organize your home office.

Have Guest-Friendly Furniture

You want your guests to feel comfortable when they stay with you, and that means putting some thought into your guest furniture. How do you combine that with the needs of your home office?

You have a few options.

I chose to put a queen size futon in my home office. This way we have both seating and a bed as needed for guests. It doesn’t take a lot of space and is comfortable enough. I’ve slept there when my husband has been sick enough that I wanted to avoid the germs. I store bedding beneath it.

A daybed is another alternative. The disadvantage is that it’s more narrow, which may be uncomfortable for most adults, and won’t work at all for couples.

A Murphy bed is a more expensive option but puts the bed even more out of the way. That can be a huge advantage. The disadvantage is that you have to remember how much space it takes when setting up all the rest of the furniture unless you want to move things around every time the bed is used.

Keep Your Home Office Organized

You don’t want to spend a ton of time cleaning before company arrives when your home office is the guest room. This makes keeping your home office organized very important.

Let’s start with the paper shredder. Have an easy way to get rid of that paper clutter before it gets bad. You know it will. An easily accessible shredder improves the chances that you will stay ahead of the mess.

Figure out what kind of organization system will work for you. My home office has a lot of built-in drawers and cabinets, and I take advantage of those quite extensively. If you don’t have this kind of advantage, there are a lot of organization supplies you can buy which will help you keep the clutter under control.

Try to keep your cables organized where possible. Securing them to the underside or back of your desk will give your home office a cleaner look when guests are over. It also keeps them out of your way.

Your organization supplies can be used to give your home office character as well. A cork board can be used to keep up important reminders and to display family photos or artwork.

A rolling cart to hold your supplies can be a big help if you want to get a lot of your office supplies out of the room when guests are over. The more mobile your supplies are, the less effort it will take to move them when company comes over.

You may also want a rolling desk for when your home office is the guest room. This can be the most effective way to move your computer set up with the least fuss.

Whatever you do, make sure your home office is comfortable for you. That’s the first purpose of the room, after all. If it doesn’t work for you, figure out how to make things better.

Consider Taking Time Off When Guests Arrive

When you have company, it may already be your plan to take the time off or at least work fewer hours. If your work is flexible enough and you can afford the financial hit or have paid vacation time, this may be your choice.

Taking time off won’t work for everyone. No one expects to always have the day off when company comes over when you work outside the home, so don’t assume you have to do so when you work at home. It’s nice when you can afford it and it fits into your work schedule, but it’s not always possible.

Explain To Guests That You Will Need The Room During Work Hours

Sometimes you may need to keep using your home office as an office even when you have company. This is something you should discuss with guests before they arrive so that they understand that you will need to use their room during the day.

Obviously, you cannot use your home office while your guests are sleeping. This won’t work if you work at night.

But if your work hours are during the day, you may be able to continue working as usual. Explain to your guests that they need to treat you as though you are away at work even though you’re just a room away. It’s what you’d have to do if you had a job outside the home, after all.

Show them the space that you will need to have left alone so that you can work. You don’t want their luggage on your desk or office chair, for example, when you want to start working. Point out things that should not be disturbed.

It may help to have a dresser or other furniture in your home office that is specifically for guests to use. Some space in the closet may help as well. Guests are more likely to respect your space if they have a spot that is clearly for their use.

Set Up A Temporary Office Elsewhere

If your work setup is something you can move, you can work in a different space. This will probably be one of those less than ideal places such as your bedroom. This may be your only choice if you need to work night hours or otherwise cannot use your office space due to your guests.

Just as with your regular home office, do your best to make it a distraction-free environment. The kitchen table isn’t ideal for this reason. You don’t want to be in the middle of everything that’s happening in your home while you have company; you want to be a little away from it so you can be productive.

A rolling desk can be a huge help if you have to move your home office space around. Not only can it be put into a corner of your office when more space is needed, but you can also move it into another room with relative ease.

Be Ready For Challenges

Whatever your solution may be, discuss it with your guests before they arrive so that they’re prepared to deal with the reality of you working at home. Many people have trouble understanding that working at home is just like working any other job. Make sure they know that they need to let you work.

If guests need a lot of reminders, try to have another family member help keep them away as you work. You do not want to get in trouble with your job if you can’t keep a quiet work environment due to guests. If that’s a need, be very clear about why you need quiet and why there are no exceptions, not even to tell you they’re headed out to do something for the day.

Of course, if you can be interrupted, tell them that too, and tell them how much or when. Let them know if too many interruptions will lengthen your work day or give you other problems.

Hopefully, you will have enough time off work that you can enjoy your guests. Make sure your needs and their expectations are discussed in advance so that you don’t have a lot of problems when your guests are in your home.

The post What To Do When Your Home Office Is The Guest Room appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

A well set up home office makes working at home much easier. It gives you a space to work that is all your own, for those times when you have to be completely focused. While there’s something to be said for working in other parts of the house or even somewhere else entirely, there are times that you can’t beat your home office. These home office features will help make it a comfortable and productive place to work.

We won’t discuss your computer in this post. You should get a good computer for your home office, probably a laptop if you work elsewhere as well. There are other things, however, that you will only use in your home office.

Dual Monitors

If you’ve never used dual monitors, you might be amazed by how much they help your productivity. The ability to have more things open and visible while you work is a huge help.

If your home office computer is a laptop, its monitor may be one of your dual monitors. In my experience, it’s not as nice as having two monitors side by side, but it works much better than having only the laptop monitor to look at.

An Ergonomic Office Chair

An ergonomic office chair will make working in your home office so much nicer. It should be a chair that you are comfortable in even when you work for hours at a stretch.

Your office chair is one of those things you should splurge on if you can. It will pay you back with years of comfortable work. There’s a lot to be said for keeping back pain at a distance as much as possible. You have to sit properly in it for the best effects, of course.

A Large Enough Desk

Your desk needs to be large enough to handle the demands you put on it daily. Can it handle the papers you put on it? All of your equipment?

If your desk can’t handle your daily work routine without feeling cluttered, it’s not big enough. Sometimes that can’t be helped, but do what you can. If your home office is in a small space, there’s only a little you can do.

I strongly recommend getting a sit-stand desk so that you can change positions throughout the day. It’s so nice being able to do that. There are a number of units now that you put on your desk which can raise and lower your monitor and keyboard as you decide to change your position.

Fast Wireless Internet

Fast wireless internet is vital in your typical home office. What would you do without it? Make sure your router is fast enough to handle the demands you put on it as you work as well as what others in your home may need it for.

Fast wireless internet also means you can work elsewhere in your home if you have a laptop or tablet. There will be times that you want that, most likely.

Sufficient Storage

What do you need to keep in your home office? Where will it go? If you can’t keep it organized, your home office needs more storage.

Think about what will work best for your needs before buying anything. Are bookshelves enough, or do you need a file cabinet?

Take full advantage of the space you have, especially if it’s a small home office. Get creative with your storage space if you’re running out of room. Don’t forget any extra space under your desk, so long as you leave enough room for your comfort.

Decor That Makes You Smile

Your home office should feature decorations that make you happy to be in there. It’s your personal workspace – have a little fun with it. It’s a part of your home as well as the place you work.

Just how much fun depends on whether or not someone else will see it while talking to you in a professional manner. No one sees my home office, so I have dragons on my desk. If I had to present a more professional workspace, they wouldn’t be there.

Don’t let your home office decor get in the way of a productive workday. If it’s in your way while you work, find a better place for it.

Paint your home office if you can. Choose a color that will make you comfortable while you work. You want something that helps you feel productive. You can look at the psychology of colors to help you choose something, or just go with one you like.

Great Lighting

A pleasantly lit home office is a great place to work. Natural light is great (so long as the sun doesn’t get in your eyes), but it’s not always enough. Open your window blinds during the day in your home office and let the natural light in while it’s available.

For the rest of the day, have enough light fixtures to provide a good level of lighting. You may want a task light on your desk as well, depending on what you’re doing.

If you want to get fancy with your lighting, look into the Philips Hue. These light bulbs will allow you to adjust your lighting from your smartphone or other smart home devices such as Amazon Echo.

A Door

I know not everyone can have a home office with a door. But if you can manage it, I highly recommend one.

This doesn’t mean your home office has to be a completely dedicated space. Many families can’t manage that. A home office in a guest room or your bedroom still has a door, and when you need to be productive, you should close it. The ability to close out the noise of the rest of the house is not to be underrated.

Minimal Distractions

As much as possible, keep the distractions out of your home office. That’s a part of what the door is for, but don’t go adding other distractions in.

This means no television, including starting something up on one of your computer monitors. It’s fun to watch a show while you work, but you won’t be very productive at all while it’s on, will you? Be honest with yourself. Keep the TV out of your home office in whatever form.

Do what you can to keep pets and other kids out too. A part of that is having a door you can close, but also make plans for when they come into your home office.

I have a spot set up for my cat to nap in my home office, for example. This way she doesn’t try to get on my lap too often. She likes her little bed.

A Great View

Just because you shouldn’t have a lot of distractions in your home office doesn’t mean you should avoid having a great view from it. It does your eyes good to look away from the computer monitor from time to time throughout your day.

If you can’t set your desk up so that it’s easy to look out the window, hang some wall art in your home office. You need something to look at when your eyes need a break from your computer monitor.

A Bit Of Exercise Equipment

A little exercise equipment can help you keep in shape while you work at home. A quick fitness break can help your productivity. Some equipment will make you stop working entirely to use it, but other things can be used while you work.

Equipment can be as simple as some hand weights, or as fancy as a walking desk. You may also want to consider an under desk elliptical. Any of these will allow you to mix some basic exercises into your work day.

Home office exercise equipment isn’t something to break your budget on, but it’s so nice to have. Getting enough activity in each day becomes so much easier.

Slippers

I love keeping a pair of slippers in my home office, especially in winter. I don’t wear shoes much indoors, so slippers keep my feet warm while I work. Cold feet are very distracting.

Share Your Favorite Home Office Features

What home office features do you value the most? What would you love to have that you don’t yet? Share your ideas.

The post Home Office Features To Include So That You Will Love Your Work Space appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

My laptop computer gave me quite the headache recently. We had a brief power outage while it was plugged and turned on, after which it quit showing me the login screen after going into sleep mode. It would come up just fine if I restarted the machine, but not if I shut it down completely and then turned the computer back on. Suffice it to say, this was a frustrating problem, as I could not even close the laptop without losing the login screen.

This is why you should always be able to do some basic troubleshooting and tech support on your own equipment when you work at home. Usually it will be easier to solve than this problem was. This particular problem was a massive headache.

Backup Your Files

This kind of problem is the point at which you should think about how good your backup files are. When did you last run a backup anyhow? Now would be a very good time.

I have offsite backup, but decided I really should get around to an onsite backup on an external drive. My old external drive has died. I bought a My Passport portable drive off Amazon, and when it arrived, I started the backup right away. I like redundancy in my backups… plus you don’t have to wait for the download to complete over your internet when you have a local backup.

I’ll skip ahead for a moment and note that I never needed the backup files this time after everything I did to fix this, but I didn’t know this at the time. Better safe than sorry. When in doubt, make a backup.

Search Your Exact Problem And Variations

I searched “windows 10 not showing login after sleep” to see what solutions I would come up with. Lots of suggestions. I also searched every possible issue related to it that I noticed as I went along. This gave me lots of paths to explore.

Run Diagnostics

I realized the problem might have something to do with my profile, as I also started getting messages about my account needing something done so that apps could work between other Windows devices I might use. This was a brand new message to me. I clicked the message and it took me to my account, where I tried to find a problem. It wasn’t very helpful at this point.

There are a number of diagnostic programs you can download from Microsoft when you have these kinds of problems. I tried a number of them, including the Update Troubleshooter, the System File Checker, Startup Repair and I think some others, with no solutions.

Check Other Account Profiles On The Computer

If there are other account profiles on the same computer, log into one and see if the problem persists. If there aren’t other account profiles, make one! This can help you figure out if it’s your profile that is corrupt, or if there’s a problem elsewhere. On my computer, existing accounts could go from sleep mode and give a login screen, but when I tried making a new profile for myself, it still had the login screen problem. Joy.

Whimper. Cry. Reinstall Windows 10.

This is what it came down to for me after a lot of searches, diagnostics, booting into safe mode, and frustration. The one good thing about the whole process is that, aside from the login issue, I could still use my laptop, so I could take breaks from diagnosis and do something else when I got tired of it. A fresh perspective helps sometimes.

But I had to use Recovery to reinstall Windows using the Reset this PC option. This is found under Update & security in your Settings. First pick – the option which did the reinstall but retained my files.

This option does not save everything. Your files are safe, but you will have to reinstall most programs and apps yourself. Fortunately, it gives you a list of removed apps in a file it puts on your desktop after the reinstall. Still, it’s painful.

You can imagine my pain when this didn’t work. Not only that, but it was no longer giving me the restart option, although I could login now after shutting the computer down. Throwing the computer out the window wasn’t really an option, but tempting at this point. I really didn’t want the expense right then.

Fortunately, I didn’t give up immediately. I went to my daughter’s class presentation to give myself a mental break and escape the frustration for a little.

Came back home after getting all the kids from school, and decided to try logging into other profiles one last time. Sure enough, other profiles still worked perfectly. Logged back into mine.

It got better! Suddenly I could see the login screen after sleep with no problems at all. This has continued, so something I did finally solved the problem. I’m assuming it relates to the reinstall, although I really don’t know for certain. I’m just absurdly happy to have my laptop working normally again.

Was This A Warning?

I’ve been joking with my husband that all this was actually a warning from my computer to me about my van. Two days after I got all of this resolved, my middle row van window on the driver’s side was down when I came out to my van. Not a break in. It needed a new regulator. On the weekend, when my mechanic couldn’t get one until Monday.

All that has been taken care of now, and I have warned my husband that I will absolutely scream if the house decides to get in on this. I don’t need more Window problems.

The post Help! My Computer Won’t Show The Login Screen! appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

There has been a lot of buzz about the WannaCry ransomware attack because it succeeded in attacking several major companies, including FedEx and the National Health Service in the UK. Overall, at least 200,000 machines were infected. It’s a good reminder that computer security is vital, not only for your home business, but for your personal information.

There are some very basic things you can do that will prevent most attacks of this sort.

Keep Your Computer Up To Date

A security fix in March protected Windows Vista, Windows Server 2008, Windows 7, Windows Server 2008 R2, Windows 8.1, Windows Server 2012, Windows 10, Windows Server 2012 R2, and Windows Server 2016 from this attack. Microsoft has now issued a fix for Windows XP, even though they no longer support it normally.

For Mac or Android devices, keep things updated also. This attack did not target them, but that says nothing for the future.

Have Solid Malware Protection

For reasonably current Windows machines, Windows Defender is a free option that is pretty good. If you have nothing else, make sure it’s turned on. It should just be on your system; you should not need to download it.

BitDefender is a good option as well. I use it on my computers. There’s a subscription fee, but I think it’s worth it.

Use A Password Manager

There are a few reasons why I consider a password manager to be important. I like LastPass. It’s mostly free, and the premium version is very affordable.

First of all, it makes creating unique passwords for each site really easy. The only one I have to remember is my master password, and yes, it’s complex. It can generate random passwords to suit the requirements of any website.

Second, I can access them wherever I need to.

Third, I can share passwords between my account and my husband and kids. This is a paid feature, but it’s worthwhile. It means I can keep track of my kids’ passwords if I should need them, and they don’t have to come running to me saying they forgot.

LastPass considers security very important. They offer two factor authentication as an option, and are quick to respond to issues.

The greatest weakness with any password manager is the end user. If you don’t use a secure master password or if you don’t have your computer security up to date, you risk problems.

Never Open Strange Emails

If you aren’t sure about an email, don’t open it. If you open it, don’t open any attachments or click on any links. If it makes you worry about an account, log into that account by typing the URL in yourself, not by clicking a link in the email.

Secure Your IOT

You probably have a lot more on your home network than laptop and desktop computers. Phones, tablets, smart devices of one sort or another… they’re all potentially susceptible to hackers. You can look into options such as CUJO or similar devices.

Make Regular Backups

If you regularly backup your computer, you will have very little to fear from ransomware. There are a lot of very affordable cloud services you can use to protect your data. I like having offsite backups because they’re likely to be immune to any disasters that happen in my home.

Amazon Prime includes free photo storage. If you want unlimited storage for all types of files, their price is very reasonable. It’s not a complete solution, but it’s a start to protect many of your most valued files.

Google Drive gives you 15 GB for free, and has two levels of upgrades available for very reasonable prices. It’s shared across Google Drive, Gmail and Google Photos.

If you want something more complete, go for something like Acronis True Image, which can backup your entire hard drive. It’s considered to be among the best solutions, possibly the best. The price is quite reasonable. Carbonite is also a good choice.

You can also make backups on an external hard drive in your home. They’re very reasonably priced.

All of this may seem like a lot to do, but much of it takes just a little time to set up, and is then easy to use. Most things will update automatically and should mostly just work once set up. They’re a huge help with peace of mind.

The post The WannaCry Ransomware Is A Reminder To Pay Attention To Computer Security appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

It’s so beautiful where I live right now. The fruit trees are blooming, as are my roses. Some of the bulbs I planted over winter are blooming as well, tulips and irises. It’s spring, which is a good time to get things clean. As you get the rest of your home freshened up and extra clean, make sure that you include your home office. Here are some tips to get you going.

Look Over Your Home Office

How does your home office look right now? Mine has papers from the kids’ school, most of which simply need to be thrown out, as they’re for activities the kids have no interest in. There are candy wrappers on the desk (mom stash? What mom stash?).

There are boxes we pulled out of the garage when we were cleaning it out, and they still need to be sorted and put away. We’re trying not to let the boxes go back into the garage, so no skipping that for “next time.”

Where did that stain on the carpet come from?

So much dust and cat hair.

My desk setup still looks pretty good, although I could stand to look at attaching the power strip to the desk. Then I won’t have to worry about cord length for so many things when I use it as a standing desk.

Go over the various points in your home office and decide what is where it belongs, what isn’t, and what could stand to be better.

Sort

Pick a point in your office and start sorting things. Make a pile for trash and a pile for things that belong elsewhere. Test your pens and toss the ones that don’t work. Put things that belong in your office where they belong. If you need to do something else before you can put something away, make a pile for that too.

Throw out the trash and put away the things that don’t belong in your home office.

Clean

Get out your cleaning supplies and get working. Clean the windows. Wipe down your desk, shelves and decor. Move everything. Vacuum or sweep and mop.

Clean your computer too. Get some canned air and blow out all the dust. Use a small paintbrush on the heat sinks. This is pretty easy to do with most desktop computers, but may be a bit trickier on a laptop. A handheld vacuum can be useful to get the dust out once it’s away from the components. A good cleaning can make your computer run cooler and quieter.

Organize

Now that you’ve handled pretty much everything in your home office, is it really where you want it to be? Are things you need daily in easy reach?

Is there anything in your office that causes people to interrupt you? Could it go elsewhere?

In my office, for example, we keep office supplies for the entire family. I have an entire wall of built in cabinets, far more storage than I need for my work. We therefore put all the office supplies in my office.

One thing I’ve done is encourage my older kids to keep more supplies in their work spaces. They each have spaces where they tend to do their homework, and it makes sense for them to have easy access to the supplies they need without interrupting me. My youngest still does best with very limited supplies, as she misplaces them regularly.

Plan For The Future

Consider the things that made a mess in your office. How can you minimize them in the future?

If mail is a problem, for example, build a habit of filing, throwing out or shredding mail as it comes in. Don’t let it pile up on your desk or a counter.

You can do these same steps on your computer and get your life there more organized. Reconsider your computer filing system. Unsubscribe from emails you never read. Use filters to sort your email. This will make it easier to spot the emails that really matter to you.

A clean and organized home office makes it easier to be productive. You aren’t so distracted by the clutter or mess – you can just get to work.

The post Include Your Home Office In Your Spring Cleaning appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.

It took longer than planned, but my home office is finally set up. Things took longer than planned due to a delay in the shipment of my desk, but now I’ve got it! It’s so nice finally having a room where I can work without being surrounded by the kids.

My desk is a sit-stand. So far I love it. The controls are easy to use and the desk goes up and down smoothly and quietly. There are programmable settings so that I can choose a height for it at the touch of a button. I like the way the desk looks, too.

I could wish for some desk drawers, but in my office they aren’t all that necessary – I have a wall of cabinets and drawers in here. Something right at the desk would be nice, but I can always get a file cabinet for that purpose.

The desk is stable even though it’s on carpet. My carpet has excellent padding under it, which is nice when I stand. No matter the height I put the desk at, it doesn’t wobble at all. I’ve heard wobble is a problem with some standing desks, but that’s not a problem I have with mine.

Setup was a bit challenging but not all that difficult. The directions were almost entirely in picture form and it was sometimes a little hard to see what to do next. About all you have to do is put the screws in the right place, so it’s not that hard to figure out.. The desk is very heavy, so I had to have my husband help with parts.

The really neat part for me was that I was able to go out and pick up my desk directly from . They’re currently located less than 10 miles from me in a town called Mentone. That saved me the shipping fee, which was a nice price break. That wasn’t an actual deciding factor for me in the purchase, as I had already decided on this desk, but it was a wonderful bonus.

I bought the most basic desk, but Autonomous offers some interesting upgrades for those who want more features. One accessory kit offers things such as a speaker, USB charger and wireless charger, while the other offers an AI Personal Assistant, Smart Home Controls and more. The top is real wood – mine is just painted black but you can have white, oak or walnut, or even a bamboo top. The price was only $299, which is much cheaper than other sit-stand desks of similar quality. Some options will increase the price.

My cats aren’t certain what to think of my SmartDesk. They’ve each had a ride on it, which didn’t frighten either very much but I don’t think they liked it either. I’ve put a folded blanket on one corner of the desk so that a cat can nap on my desk without being much in the way – we’ll see if that works or not. As my cats follow me everywhere in the house (I can’t even use the bathroom alone), I wanted to have a spot for them.

I will be adding a monitor to my current setup. I use a laptop right now, and while I can put my SmartDesk into an ergonomic typing position, that leaves the screen lower than is ideal. It should be easy enough to find a monitor and monitor arm to add to my setup. Eventually I’m thinking desktop computer and dual monitors but my husband isn’t yet convinced that I need to upgrade that much. We’re trying to go easy on spending (still getting used to the expenses of home ownership), but it will eventually come to the “this is a business expense, not a personal purchase” point, when I know it will be easier to afford.

My office chair is nice too. Comfortable and a bargain I couldn’t resist – $5 at a garage sale. It was a little dusty but works perfectly and is in great condition now that I’ve cleaned it up.

All in all, I love my new home office setup. I may decide to add a cat door so I can close the door without the cats scratching at it, but otherwise it’s working well.

The post My New Home Office Is Up And Running! SmartDesk Review appeared first on Home with the Kids Blog.