Using a home office
|
|---|
| | | Keeping your space organized | Jan 13, 2011 |
I think it's essential for a translator as much for any other professionals to keep your work space organized and tidy.
So it's really good to keep your books and dictionaries always in the same place, so that when you need them you don't loose time.
After this, even if sometimes the amount of work can be so pressing, you should never allow yourself to eat in the room where you work, especially if it is the bedroom.
It is when you start mixing the use of different rooms, so kitche... See more I think it's essential for a translator as much for any other professionals to keep your work space organized and tidy.
So it's really good to keep your books and dictionaries always in the same place, so that when you need them you don't loose time.
After this, even if sometimes the amount of work can be so pressing, you should never allow yourself to eat in the room where you work, especially if it is the bedroom.
It is when you start mixing the use of different rooms, so kitchen and bedroom, study room and and living room, etc that you make less effective the functionality of every of them.
Obviously so, when you work you should not allow anyone to come into your room, even if it can seem unpolite or antisocial, you have to be clear with people saying that you are not available while working.
This is the case also when you are young and you live with other young people, who are usually more likely to interrupt you with their news and their being social, that sometimes can be disturbing and annoying.
So there are two solutions for this case:1)you move out 2)you close yourself in the room, and you make it as soundproof as you can.
We all know how important is to focus for a good amount of time when we are working, so it is good to isolate yourself.In order to do one thing that I find perfecttly functional is to use some relaxing music .
The music I'd like to suggest is obviously not the rap, or the kind of music with words, that could easily distract you.I suggest instead a brainwake kind of music that helps to keep the focus and boost your ability to work over the time.
You can find some of them on youtube if you put brainwave meditaion music,or high focus etc. ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Thanks; added some of this to the article | Jan 13, 2011 |
Thanks Lorenzo! I took some of what you wrote and used it to add to the article above; feel free to edit or add to this accordingly.
Jared
| | | | Nicole Schnell 
United States
Local time: 18:45
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | Ouch. The intro sounds quite amateurish. | Jan 13, 2011 |
An office is an office, no matter where it is located. This is where you run your business. If you run a business, you might want to consider declaring this space that has been stolen from your house or apartment tax-deductible. Believe me, CPAs and/or auditors will make sure that this space is used for its purpose solely.
I have no idea why little children, coffee, extra shelves and bowls of fruit are even mentioned.
It ridicules our profession and depicts highly pro... See more An office is an office, no matter where it is located. This is where you run your business. If you run a business, you might want to consider declaring this space that has been stolen from your house or apartment tax-deductible. Believe me, CPAs and/or auditors will make sure that this space is used for its purpose solely.
I have no idea why little children, coffee, extra shelves and bowls of fruit are even mentioned.
It ridicules our profession and depicts highly professional academics as kitchen-table workers.
Sorry, I don't mean to be rude but the entire thing sounds like one of those ads "Housewives can make $$$$ working from home and make money online". ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Would you care to edit/add to the article? | Jan 13, 2011 |
Hi Nicole,
Good feedback. Feel free to edit the article accordingly, that's how it works!
Jared
| | |
|
|
|
Nicole Schnell
United States
Local time: 18:45
English to German
+ ...
In memoriam | I will be happy to do so. | Jan 13, 2011 |
Jared wrote:
Hi Nicole,
Good feedback. Feel free to edit the article accordingly, that's how it works!
Jared
Thanks, Jared! Nothing will be deleted, but the weight will be shifted a bit.
Best,
Nicole 
| | | |
Excellent, thanks Nicole!
Jared
| | | | Lynn Webb
United States
Local time: 19:45
German to English
| A few other ideas | Jan 26, 2011 |
I'd like to suggest a few other things.
There are tables available that can be raised or lowered, allowing you to work standing up or sitting down. This can be handy to have. For instance, if you start to become drowsy in the afternoon, you can raise the table to force yourself to stand for a while.
Sometimes music of any kind can be disturbing. This is where some type of white noise comes in handy. If you have noisy neighbors or construction or noisy animals in the neighb... See more I'd like to suggest a few other things.
There are tables available that can be raised or lowered, allowing you to work standing up or sitting down. This can be handy to have. For instance, if you start to become drowsy in the afternoon, you can raise the table to force yourself to stand for a while.
Sometimes music of any kind can be disturbing. This is where some type of white noise comes in handy. If you have noisy neighbors or construction or noisy animals in the neighborhood, you may want to consider noise canceling headphones, a white noise device that blocks out other noise (even a fan might work), or possibly even a small fountain with trickling water (if you can handle that).
Air filtration: a plant should work well for this, but you might also want to consider an air filtration system/ionizer for odors, etc.
Cold feet? A foot rest heater, such as Toasty Toes, works well--especially in the winter.
[Edited at 2011-01-26 04:00 GMT]
[Edited at 2011-01-26 04:21 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | | Post removed: This post was hidden by a moderator or staff member for the following reason: Empty post |
|
|
Lynn Webb
United States
Local time: 19:45
German to English
| Children/animals should be included | Jan 26, 2011 |
Nicole Schnell wrote:
I have no idea why little children, coffee, extra shelves and bowls of fruit are even mentioned.
It ridicules our profession and depicts highly professional academics as kitchen-table workers.
I hope this doesn't get published twice, since it didn't seem to take the first time, but I think it is important to mention children and animals. Contrary to what some might think, you can be a professional and have children. This is another reason it is important to have a separate room in the house dedicated to work. A lock on the door is a good idea. A fire/waterproof safe is a good idea for particular items/documents that can't be placed in a safe deposit box elsewhere. Another thing that should be included is setting basic rules around the house to ensure that you aren't interrupted during work ours, although you won't be able to prevent some interruptions here and there. Young children and animals in particular won't understand the rules. Make sure to establish regular work hours and do not allow yourself to spend excessive "overtime" in the space. It is much easier when you work from home to overwork.
| | | | Wendy Lewin
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:45
German to English
| children/animals should be included | Jan 26, 2011 |
for me the whole point of being able to work at home is that I am there for the children when they come in from school, the guide dog puppy sleeps under my desk, I can choose to work any time of night or day when it suits me. I am a woman - i can multitask and provide an excellent translation while being there for people who need me at the same time! I thoroughly enjoy being a translator - my home office has other desks in it for... See more for me the whole point of being able to work at home is that I am there for the children when they come in from school, the guide dog puppy sleeps under my desk, I can choose to work any time of night or day when it suits me. I am a woman - i can multitask and provide an excellent translation while being there for people who need me at the same time! I thoroughly enjoy being a translator - my home office has other desks in it for the children to surf the web or do homework and for my husband to sit at doing what ever he fancies when I am working in the evening. I enjoy a bit of conversation while working - it would be the same in a big office! But I agree with Lynn on the ease with which you can overwork....
[Edited at 2011-01-26 10:24 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | | | Miranda Joubioux (X)
Local time: 03:45
French to English
| A snack or a bowl of fruit nearby - calories can help keep our concentration | Jan 26, 2011 |
Forgive me if this sounds rude to whoever wrote this, but I think that this is really not a good idea.
Translation is a sedentary job. The translator seldom moves.
Having snacks, whatever they might be at hand means that you don't stand up and go and get something.
I know many people who find that they put on weight since they started this kind of work.
It's not a good idea to keep food close to your desk.
As for calories helping us concentrate. I'm not so sure!<... See more Forgive me if this sounds rude to whoever wrote this, but I think that this is really not a good idea.
Translation is a sedentary job. The translator seldom moves.
Having snacks, whatever they might be at hand means that you don't stand up and go and get something.
I know many people who find that they put on weight since they started this kind of work.
It's not a good idea to keep food close to your desk.
As for calories helping us concentrate. I'm not so sure!
However there is one thing we should all have at hand and that's water!
When I get really engrossed in my work I forget to drink water and that's bad for my concentration and my body in general.
A bottle/large glass of water at hand is essential to remain efficient throughout the day.
The brain needs water not sugar to work properly! ▲ Collapse
| | | | | A snack or a bowl of fruit nearby - calories can help keep our concentration | Jan 26, 2011 |
I am happy the rigid Teutonic-Prussian or French work ethics apply only in Europe. I work in Bermuda shorts, with my dogs right out on the porch, and I always check into the kitchen for a snack or water. It should be noted that only water would water down our brain, and the get-up-and-go to play with the dogs or for a snack is good for your body, after long hours of sitting in front of a PC. Of course, I would rather work without my grandchildren around, but to forbid them from coming into the r... See more I am happy the rigid Teutonic-Prussian or French work ethics apply only in Europe. I work in Bermuda shorts, with my dogs right out on the porch, and I always check into the kitchen for a snack or water. It should be noted that only water would water down our brain, and the get-up-and-go to play with the dogs or for a snack is good for your body, after long hours of sitting in front of a PC. Of course, I would rather work without my grandchildren around, but to forbid them from coming into the room to show a snail or a new butterfly seems very nasty.
My advice is to make yourself comfortable, even if this goes against established work ethics - that is the big advantage of not having bosses around!!! As long as you keep on your deadlines and tap away good work...
[Edited at 2011-01-26 19:55 GMT] ▲ Collapse
| | |
|
|
|
...
It is when you start mixing the use of different rooms, so kitchen and bedroom, study room and and living room, etc that you make less effective the functionality of every of them. ...
you have only one room apartment?
Any recommendations?
| | | | Herbert Eppel
United Kingdom
Local time: 02:45
German to English
+ ...
| | Ouch! This article crashes my Firefox evry time I open it!!!! | Feb 1, 2011 |
I'm using Firefox 3.6.13
| | | | To report site rules violations or get help, contact a site moderator: You can also contact site staff by submitting a support request » Using a home office | Anycount & Translation Office 3000 | Translation Office 3000
Translation Office 3000 is an advanced accounting tool for freelance translators and small agencies. TO3000 easily and seamlessly integrates with the business life of professional freelance translators.
More info » |
| | Protemos translation business management system | Create your account in minutes, and start working! 3-month trial for agencies, and free for freelancers!
The system lets you keep client/vendor database, with contacts and rates, manage projects and assign jobs to vendors, issue invoices, track payments, store and manage project files, generate business reports on turnover profit per client/manager etc.
More info » |
|
| | | | X Sign in to your ProZ.com account... | | | | | |
Login to reply/comment 
