These days I will quite often work from home. This is not a set thing, one week I will work from home a couple of days, and then may not do so for a number of weeks. I often choose to work from home when I have something very specific that I want or need to achieve. I find working from home allows me to avoid email and constant interruptions.

But the point is I can do so simply and easily because of the availability of cheap effective functional modern computers and laptops, such as the Asus V1S Notebook or any its cousins, “always on” broadband Internet access, and the continuing leap forwards in supporting communication and collaboration hardware and software. This has meant that there is no longer an absolute need to be physically in the office every day of the week. Lots of companies now have formal home work policies and many people are starting to take advantage of them. Also for a lot of “knowledge workers” and entrepreneurs it is the only way they work.

But while computing and other related technologies enable working from home, there are a number of challenges that do need to be managed, and I would briefly characterize those as

• Providing a good office environment
• Brainstorming is a challenge
• You never get away from your work
• Lack of communication and stimulating integration

The first of these, in my experience is the critical thing to resolve, you need to find a suitable room or space which minimizes the normal distractions of the home. The others can normally be resolved either by trips to the office or meeting up with peers in some other way.

Do you have any experience of working from home? Do have any advice on technology or approaches?