Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008 - (Page 13)

FOR THE AGENT It may be tempting to invite the kids into your workplace, but experts advise at-home workers to set boundaries However you choose to draw your boundaries, whether it’s with family or friends, resolve to make 2008 the year you draw them clearly. Make the Most of Space If the interior decorators on those do-ityourself TV shows can magically create an office out of a standard-size closet, surely you can do it with whatever amount of space you have. Experts at TV’s DIY Network (www. diynetwork.com) suggest taking a few measurements of your workspace and making a rough sketch of the room’s layout, noting the location of electrical outlets and phone jacks. Often, the placement of these small but significant room details dictates the layout of office furniture. If your office layout isn’t working for you, make a list of actionable tasks you can complete (or have a handyman do) until those nagging office quirks are a thing of the past. If you’re limited to a tiny workspace, DIY Network recommends thinking vertically with regard to arranging office necessities, shelving and storage space. Consider this suggestion for closets as well. Corner shelving can be an easy fix for anything from installing additional lighting to getting a printer off your desk and out of the way—it’s also a great way to make effective use of neglected space. Get Comfortable As I write this article, I am sitting crosslegged in an armchair in my home office, with my laptop perched precariously on my knees. This is probably why my chiropractor and I are such good friends. I will be taking my own advice, and one of my first purchases of the new year will be a chair—comfy, ergonomically correct and, I hope, not insanely expensive. How comfortable are you in your office? Are you constantly reaching over, under or around something to get to items you need and use every day? If so, take some time to re-evaluate your office furniture and determine if perhaps a few additional—or different—pieces will ease the physical or emotional strain or frustration you may be experiencing. Your back will thank you. Find the Desk No matter how much traveling you do, when you’re home, you need a place to work. If that involves excavation to any degree, you could stand to do a little decluttering. A friend of mine swears by the FlyLady system (www.flylady.org).This is a fun (and free) guide “to help you set up routines, get rid of your clutter and put your home and life in order,” according to the web site. In essence, the system encourages you to spend approximately 15 minutes per task Continued on page 14 FEB RUARY 2008 Home-BasedTravelAgent 13 http://www.diynetwork.com http://www.diynetwork.com http://www.flylady.org

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Home-Based Travel Agent - January/February 2008 Editor's Note Publisher's Note Your Lifeline Agent Spotlight: Tracy Dennis News Hot Deals Reader Survey All-Inclusive Resorts Home-Based Travel Agent Expo Portugal New York Bermuda Cover Story: Singapore Cruise: What's New Tours: Adventure New Products

Home-Based Travel Agent - February 2008

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