I don’t do rush-hour traffic.

That’s my immediate response, the biggest perk, when I’m asked about the benefits of working full time
at home.

Then I explain that I’m probably twice as productive than when I worked in a large organization where interruptions were frequent, and that
I now have tremendous flexibility when and how I work.

If I’m feeling just a bit smug, I also mention that I
dress for work in a
comfortable pair of sweatpants and sweatshirt, and I tend to knock off at 1 p.m. on Friday afternoons.

As a freelance writer, it’s a pretty nice existence.

Photo courtesy of Mike Dempster
olumnist Mike Dempster found his niche in a basement office.

Sure, there’s a downside. I certainly see fewer people on a daily basis – in fact it would be easy to go days without meeting people face-to-face at all. That kind of seclusion is a big trap that you have to be
diligent about avoiding.

This week marks an anniversary of sorts for me. It’s been three full years that I’ve been working out of my basement office. And I love it.

I’ve also been writing a workplace column for
Business Edge for almost the same length of time. It’s been a great fit. Along the way, I’ve been lucky enough to learn philosophies and practical techniques from leading
workplace experts in Alberta and North America, and apply them to my own job.

Working from home isn’t for everyone. But as congested city streets morph into Gordian knots and a growing number of baby boomers opt for
part-time contract work, I’m
betting more people will soon be setting up shop at home.

If you are considering a home office, the following tips might help:

* Discipline: Yes you do need some self-control at home. Truth is, I squandered plenty of time the first six months, wandering from my office to the nearby recreation room to practice on the pool table or watch TV. The key is to build a routine. Get into your office at a certain time each day, and plan to work when you get there.

* Social Outcast: I know a person who recently returned to the real work world after five years of operating out of her home. A single woman, she often worked for days, staying in her pajamas and not seeing a soul. It was lonely.

In my job, I get to interview four or five people a week and in most cases,

I do it in person. If
I absolutely have to go downtown, I try to avoid the rush-hour because it’s stressful and time consuming. Many of my contacts, especially those stuck in offices, are happy to escape, and we’ll meet at a coffee shop in the suburbs. If you’re in a job that doesn’t allow you to get out, it’s a good idea to join a fitness club or do some kind of activity that keeps you involved daily with other people.

* No Distractions: Garland Coulson, an Edmonton entrepreneur who teaches time-management practices, says that when you sit down to work, have only the appropriate paperwork and files in front of you. Anything else is a distraction that can, and will, divert your attention. It costs time to refocus on the task at hand, he says – and he’s right. He also opposes any form of multi-tasking, because research shows that the level of brain activity actually decreases when you are doing more than one task. This means that it will take proportionately longer to complete the jobs, rather than if you did them one at a time.

* Clean Work Area: One of the best pieces of advice I received was a few months
ago when Mira Kosevich, a
professional organizer based in Calgary, explained the benefits of a tidy office. Not only is it easier to find stuff, she said, but emptying clutter frees up the mind to work. I took her advice, tossed out two full bags of junk, and immediately found that I was happier
coming into my office. Try it.

* Ergonomist: If you work at a computer for long periods of time and are having hand, wrist, neck, back problems, etc., get a certified ergonomist to review your set-up. I had some problems with my thumb, and when Calgary-based ergonomist Diane Stinson made a simple
adjustment to the height of my keyboard, the pain disappeared within a week.

* Plan Your Day: Take 10 or 15 minutes before quitting for the day to prioritize your work for the next morning. Plan to do the most difficult tasks first thing, and leave the grunt work for later on when you’re more fatigued. I find that having a plan for the next day allows me to shut my work mind off during the evening.

And when you’re not worrying about what needs to be done the next day, you tend to sleep better.

* E-mail and voice mail: If you are busy on a project, and aren’t expecting any urgent business, shut your e-mail off, and let voice mail handle your calls. If I’m busy, I leave a
message as to when I will be “back in the office” and can return the call later. I tend to check e-mail first thing in the morning, at noon hour, and at quitting time.

* Breaks: Sitting at a
computer for hours on end ultimately will spell disaster for your body and your eyes. There’s no reason why you can’t stand, stretch, or do simple exercises without
feeling foolish.

I like (maybe like isn’t the right word) to take five minute breaks every 30 minutes or so. Often it’s just to throw in a laundry, or sweep the floor. My wife, who works downtown, just loves this. It’s amazing how much housework you get done without really thinking you’re doing housework, because you’ve conned
yourself into thinking it’s a body break.

* Flexibility: There are days when your work doesn’t get done. Two months ago, a sewer backup in the nearby laundry room brought my workday to a nasty halt. I spent the next three hours cleaning out the sewer line, and mopping up. When I was done, the last thing I wanted to do was go back to my office.

So I didn’t. Instead I invited Fergus, my four-legged workplace colleague and head of
building security for a walk, and we both enjoyed some fresh air. The next morning, a Saturday, I made up the time that was needed and was
finished work by noon.

That kind of flexibility is a wonderful bonus – something I’ve grown to appreciate over the last three years.