Virtual Buzz Assistant

10 Virtual Office Tips for those of you that work at home.

1. Set up your virtual office in a quiet place.  Far from sirens and crying kids, if possible.
2. Get a comfortable chair.  You will be spending a lot of time in it.
3. Set up different areas for different things in your virtual at-home office.  I keep a clean, need desk to work from and a messier area for files, bills, etc.
4. Use as many hosted software solutions as possible and still make back ups often – see virtual office tools
5. Avoid home office distractions like having a TV in the room.
6. Use the library, Panaras or Starbucks to get out of your virtual home office occasionally.
7. Set clear goals working from your home office.  I still use a paper notebook to write out tasks and cross them off as I go along.  Otherwise I would miss things or might not be as motivated.
8. Use Technology to your advantage and to make your life easier.
9. Don’t let a home office make you feel like you are always at work.  It is easy to work morning, noon and night since you are always in your virtual office and essentially at work.
10. Take your fair deductions – You have to talk to a tax specialist on this one, but let your business pay its fair share of utilities, maintenance and other expenses.  Trust me, if you get an office you would be paying a lot more.

What did we forget?  Use the comments below and add your virtual office tips.