The most popular response when I tell people I am working from home is “Lucky you!” and any combination of “you’ll be able to sit around in your pajamas, watch daytime television, but what do you do if they call you!?”

I have been working from home on a semi regular basis for quite a few years and I think I have hit upon the formula that works well for me.

1. Get up at a decent time – not indecent as in the time that I get up if I am going in to the office – but a decent enough time to allow for number two.
2. Get up, have a shower, get dressed.  Even put a little bit of makeup on and do my hair.
3. Keep the office tidy and ready to work in.
4. Take breaks – leave the room.

There are times when the office becomes a wee bit of a dumping ground – especially after a dive trip.  But if I am going to be working from there the next day, then the night before it gets a good tidy up and a dust.  If I can, I’ll even grab some flowers however I am loving the peace lily in the big pot that I recently added.

The desk is actually a dining table but I like the space it gives me.
I have another laptop that comes out when I need to connect to the network at work and that fits nicely on the left hand side under the lamp.
When I am working with my camera or my photographs, my Nikon sits nicely on the right hand side.  With plenty of room for coffee pots and coffee cups.
And very occasionally a cat.  I’m lucky the camera is a little too heavy for him to push around.  His royal fatness just squeezes in where he can – between me and the keyboard if I am feeling patient.

I am a bit of a workaholic.  I can’t really help it – I seem to have a lot of projects on the go at one time.  So my home office needs to inspire me as well.

My magnetic noticeboard sits behind my iMac so I can look up and see my family and cards from my friends.

Wonder Woman inspires me to be awesome and to get things done.

I found my “Essentials of Love” whilst out in Ponsonby one day with my friend Cate.
I have two and three sorted.  I’m sure one will happen in good time.

My bookcase is filled with things that are a big part of my life.
Diving books and technology books (yes you do also see Twilight books in there – I need to give them back to Alex at some stage).

My home office also doubles as a sometimes guest bedroom.
It is not really big enough for another bed and I feel bad about having people sleep on the fold down bed but its the best that I can do.
(I’ve also come to the realisation that if we have enough wine then people don’t care about where they sleep!)

So that is my home office!
It is a room full of things that are important to me and it encourages me to be creative and productive.

I like that my workspace is separate from the living area – or not in my bedroom.
It means I can get away from work for a while.
Which usually means I have the iPad near me on the couch!