Anyone who works from home will tell you that one of the most appealing aspects is that you can configure your work environment to suit your own special needs, especially if you’re fortunate enough to have a dedicated office room in your home.

Below we’ve listed some of our ideas for creating a productive and healthy work area in your home –

A Light, Bright, Airy Room

Having good lighting in your office is essential, and obviously, natural light is preferable. This gets rid of the glare; but if you do have to use an overhead light make sure that it doesn’t create too much direct light. In addition, your office must be clean and tidy, with a flow-through of fresh air.

Two Is Better Than One!

Once you start using two monitors it’s very difficult to go back to using just one! Of course, many translators are very successful using one monitor; however if you get the opportunity to try using two you should certainly give it a go. Most late-model computers can support two monitors without a lot of reconfiguring. The beauty of two monitors is that if they’re around (say) 21 inch or larger, you can view four documents at any one time. You might have your language pair side-by-side on one monitor and perhaps a project glossary and online dictionary on the other.

A Keyboard You Love

Your keyboard is a very important part of your freelance translation business, so invest in a keyboard that you really enjoy using. Many people like the Unicom keyboards, but whatever you choose make sure that it’s a keyboard that’s comfortable to use. Your hands will thank you! And by the way, don’t forget to keep your keyboard clean.

What Are You Sitting On?

You must be comfortable while you’re working, so what you sit on in your office has a lot to do with not only being comfortable but keeping your body safe and healthy as well.

What you sit on at your office desk will be a matter of personal choice of course: some people have a traditional office chair (and love it) while others find that they’re not good for their circulation or posture. Other people who work on computers say that they love sitting on a fitness ball: the reason being that they force you to sit up straight and it’s impossible to cross your legs. Whatever you choose to use in your office, make sure it’s comfortable and that you’re not slouching over the desk. Also, remember to get up out of your chair every hour or so (at the very minimum) and stretch your legs.

A Tidy Office

We think you’ll agree that having your office space clutter-free is one of the keys to productivity. It stands to reason that if you’re sitting amongst dust and piles of paperwork you’re not going to work to capacity. Ideally, you’ll have your favourite photos or perhaps your vision board close by (perhaps on a cupboard or shelf) so you can see them whilst you work. A glass of clean refreshing water is probably all you need on your desk.

Nice Background Music

Now this is a debatable one because some people like to work to background music and other people hate it. Others like listening to music when they’re doing mindless tasks, such as accounting and so on, but prefer a quiet work environment when translating. Still others like to have music drifting through from another room; it gives them comfort knowing that they’re not alone in the house. Whatever it is that helps you focus on your work, and work productively, then that’s what you should do.

If, however, you’re being bothered by loud family noise from children and/or pets, then you need to change your work environment because no-one can produce high-quality, accurate translations without completely focusing on what’s required.