Blogging is a great way to work from home, particularly for parents, but in order to be productive, you also need to have a space to call your own. That’s why professional bloggers need a home office. But how much space do you need to make it work? There are several different factors you need to consider as you develop your home office space.
Setting Boundaries
The first factor you need to consider when setting up your home office is what kind of boundaries you want – or need – to set. If you typically write while caring for your children, you might want an office that’s nearby, allowing you to write in short bursts, while they’re playing or taking a nap. On the other hand, if you’re likely to be interrupted by family members or other demands, but don’t actually need to be on call, you’ll want clearer boundaries. Some people even set up a detached home office in the backyard or one attached like a porch to the house, so that they have a dedicated and private space to work.
Size Matters – Somewhat
The size of your home office matters, but not as much as you may think. If you’re buying a new house, then, you may want to factor your home office into the square footage of the home you buy. If you’re not planning your home office upgrade at the same time as a move, on the other hand, it’s more important that you create a space of your own than have a lot of space. Many home offices are carved out of large closets, desks built into an eave or nook under the stairs, and other innovative spaces. Ultimately, it’s creating room to work that matters most; how much room is a secondary concern.
Consider Comfort
In addition to the size of your office, it’s important that whatever space you adopt for your home office is designed following ergonomic principles, allowing for proper posture, minimizing visual fatigue, and generally reducing discomfort associated with sedentary work. Blogging may seem like it would be easy on the body, but it’s actually associated with back pain, “tech neck,” and a variety of complaints that can drive those in the tech professions to the chiropractor. When you set up your space, then, invest in equipment that supports your body’s needs.
Make It Count
Don’t forget that by creating a home office space, you gain some financial benefits – you can deduct your home office as a business expense on your taxes. All you have to do is calculate the percent of your home’s square footage used as an office, and then you can deduct that from your rent or mortgage. Even if you don’t have a complete room to use as an office, investing in a few dividers will allow you to clearly mark your workplace and calculate the deduction.
By creating a formal home office area in your home, you make it clear to your family – and yourself – that running a blog is a serious job, and the income from monetizing your site, combined with tax deductions, should more than pay for the investment. What’s more, by dedicating a specific space to your work, you nearly guarantee that you’ll be more productive when you are working, making your blog, and your office, even more valuable.