Web Worker Daily

I’m not a big fan of moving, but I tend to do it a lot. Once a year is a rare treat, and generally it’s much more frequent than that. And I’m not dashing off in the middle of the night, in case that’s what you think of me. I just grow restless, require a change, and move on. Usually, I’m lucky if I stay in the same city, but Toronto seems so have a little more lasting appeal. Now, I don’t want to claim that this is symptomatic of web working, but it has gotten worse since I started working from home.

Since I’m preparing for a move once again, and I’ve actually become much more aware of what it is I do and do not like about the places I’ve called my home office in the past, I thought I’d share a few tips for what to look for if you’re searching for a better space to work. Read the rest of this entry »

A web worker’s office is her most important tool.  Arranging it should be given more care and importance than setting up one’s LinkedIn profile.  In my four years of web work, I can’t say that I’ve achieved the perfect office yet, but I already know what I have to do to get there.  If I could, I would go back in time to implement the following things so I could get a better start with my home office setup.

Spend time looking for a great chair. One thing we have in common with office-bound workers is the need for a good chair.  Without it, we’re prone to back aches and hours of working in pain or discomfort.

Alternatively, some people prefer to sit on uncomfortable chairs or even work standing up.  Having uncomfortable seating sometimes forces people to work faster and more efficiently.  But if you prefer a more contemplative style of working, you should focus on looking for a comfortable chair.

Read the rest of this entry »