If you work from home, you know you’re lucky. Friends and family envy your ability to sleep late, take breaks and manage your own schedule and project list. But couldn’t things get even easier? Instead of rolling out of bed and stumbling over to your computer in the morning, why not stay in bed all day? This list of 70+ hacks will show you how it’s possible to spend virtually the entire day working from home, because let’s face it: sitting up is for suckers.

Computer and Internet

Setting up your computer and Internet service so that you can work in bed limits the number of times you have to get up and move around each day.

1. Laptop: The first investment a home office needs is a laptop. Leave it on your nightstand each night so that in the mornings, you’ll be ready to work right from bed.
2. Wireless Internet: What good is having a laptop if your home doesn’t have wireless Internet? Setting up wireless will keep you connected to clients and vendors while you research on the Web. If you need the Internet for your job, you can usually list it as a tax deduction when you file your taxes.
3. Firefox Keyboard Shortcuts: Firefox users will benefit from these keyboard hacks that will let you stop using a mouse.
4. Mac OS X Keyboard Shortcuts: Freelancers who have Macs can stop using a mouse and start trying out these keyboard hacks that save time.
5. Emergency Battery: Keep an emergency battery on hand in case your laptop needs an extra boost and you don’t feel like digging around for the charger.
6. TV: Don’t bother going into the next room to flip on the TV. Watch the news or procrastinate by checking out YouTube videos, foreign TV stations and other random shows and movies online from your computer.

Accessories

These items will prevent you from getting up multiple times a day. Keep food, work materials and entertainment close at hand for maximum indulgence.

7. Nightstand: A nightstand like this one provides an extra surface and plenty of drawer space for you to pile drinking glasses, folders, reference manuals and more.
8. Mini Refrigerator: Plug in a mini fridge next to your bed, and fill it with snacks and sodas that you can grab whenever you get hungry.
9. Music: Set up your iPod and speaker system on your nightstand so that you’ve got ultimate access to your workday soundtrack.
10. Kiko Calendar: Manage your calendar from bed by using Kiko online. Kiko comes with features like "drag and drop," e-mail reminders and more for easy contact and appointment management.
11. Printer and Scanner: A combination printer and scanner should be kept under your nightstand for making copies, printing out documents and scanning photos to send to clients.
12. Moo: Instead of jumping in your car and heading to Kinko’s, log on to Moo.com to create and print promotional items, cards and postcards.
13. eFax: Stashing a hefty fax machine next to your bed will only serve to clutter up floor space and electrical outlets. Use eFax to fax documents online through e-mail.
14. Message board: Hang a message board on the wall adjacent to your bed so that you can easily keep phone numbers, important action items and brainstorming ideas out of your way until you have a chance to file them on your laptop.

Ergonomics and Productivity

Stay comfortable among all of your tools and papers with the help of these products.

15. Lap Desk: This hybrid lap desk comes with an extra attachment that balances pens, coffee mugs and other items so that they won’t spill or get lost in your sheets.
16. Ergopod 500: Believe it or not, this crazy contraption is designed to keep every part of your body comfortable while you work from bed.
17. Last minute lap desk: Turn a small stool into a lap desk if you’d rather not spend the money to buy a professionally made one.
18. Orthopedic Pillow: Leaning against a hard headboard will take all the fun out of working in bed. Use a large orthopedic pillow to support your back and keep you comfortable.
19. Feng Shui: Practice the art of feng shui to create a peaceful but productive working environment in your bedroom.
20. Heating pad: If you get a little chilly during your work day, don’t worry about getting up to adjust the thermostat. A heating pad will let you control your body temperature with minimal effort.
21. Ceiling fan remote control: Control your bedroom’s ceiling fan and lighting system without getting out of bed with a handy remote control system.
22. Lighting: This article helps readers "choose the lighting techniques that work best" in every kind of environment.
23. The Clapper: Finished with work and want to take a nap? Clap off the lights using the famed Clapper tool.
24. Craftmatic Adjustable Bed: Propping up pillows is only comfortable for so long. An adjustable bed will help you sit up in bed so that you can work more effectively and comfortably.
25. Exercise: Lying on your back all day won’t do anything for your physique except make you look soft. Try out these simple exercises that you can do from your bed to keep you from getting too stiff.
26. Wrist Rest: A gel wrist rest will do more than just keep your wrists relaxed: your hands, arms, shoulders and even back will feel less tense if you use it regularly.
27. Prop Up Bed Wedge: If you’re tired of rearranging all of your pillows, try using a prop up bed wedge that will support your back, give you the comfort you need to focus, and stay in the same place all day long.

Tools

This list of creative hacks will keep you productive without having to get out from under the covers.

28. GoToMeeting: If your clients want to hold a meeting with you, put on a tie over your pajamas and encourage them to discuss matters over a Web conferencing system like GoToMeeting.
29. Remember the Milk: Manage to-do lists, contact information, calendars and other important need-to-know items with the help of this online tool.
30. Freshbooks: Maintaining accounting files in a messy notebook is so old-fashioned. Use this program to calculate invoices, bill clients and track time.
31. Highrise: Forget Post-It notes. Keep track of phone numbers, communication history and addresses with this free, Web-based CRM tool.
32. Harvest: If you plan to spend the entire day in bed, be prepared for a few impromptu naps. You can use Harvest to keep track of the actual hours that you spend on each client’s project so that you don’t end up over- or undercharging on assignments.
33. Backpack: Throw away any loose papers you have crumpled up on your bed, and transfer the information to an online organizer like Backpack. Your work area will be less cluttered, resulting in higher productivity.
34. Boldchat: This live chat and live support program will let you stay in touch with clients and vendors in real time. They’ll think you’re hard at work behind your desk when you’re really relaxing in bed.
35. MindMeister: Instead of driving across town to meet with clients, open up your mind mapping process so that they can collaborate with you on projects and ideas online.
36. Zoho Meeting: Zoho Meeting is another Web conferencing tool that is completely free. Embed the system in your blog or website so that clients know exactly how to reach you.
37. 8apps: This online networking community is perfect for productive professionals. Maintain a contacts list, network with new clients and contacts, and share to-do lists, all from the comfort of your bed.
38. Box: Stop trying to organize the file folders you have spread out on your bed. Box is a free online file storage system that features Internet file sharing so that you can notify your clients of any project updates.
39. Planzo: This "online planning community" helps you connect with contacts who want updates on special events and project status.
40. VSTORE: If you’re thinking about starting your own business in order to create and sell products, start out with a program like VSTORE, which helps entrepreneurs sell items online.
41. Social Networking: You don’t have to get out of the house to meet people anymore. Consider joining a social networking community like Friendster or Facebook to link up with potential business partners, clients and friends.

Articles and Websites

Check out these articles and websites for more tips on being productive in your home office.

42. Inc.om: This page is a go-to site for entrepreneurs and freelancers who need information on marketing, productivity, and financial management.
43. USPS.com: Calculate and print postage, schedule a pick up and design and create cards and mailers for your clients when you log on to USPS.com.
44. Freelancer’s Hyper-Drive: 131 Productivity Boosters: This article will help you maximize online tools like e-mail, instant messaging, Word, Excel and more.
45. Guru: If you run into a chore that must be done outside of the house, consider outsourcing the job to one of thousands of freelancers listed on Guru.com.
46. The 100 Tools Freelancers Can’t Live Without: This comprehensive guide lists 100 tools and websites that will make your life easier and keep you working in bed instead of an office.
47. AllFreelance.com: Find jobs, read about tax information, get marketing advice, or organize your home office with the resources found on this site.
48. FreelanceSwitch: FreelanceSwitch is a popular site for freelancers because of its job board, informative blog posts, forums for networking professionals and lists of hacks and tools for maximizing productivity.
49. Working From Home Requires Heightened Professionalism: Just because you spend all day in your pajamas doesn’t mean your clients will accept a lack of professionalism in your assignments and communication. Read this article for tips on being respectful and efficient.
50. How to Develop a Professional Image — Even if You Work Virtually: Keep the fact that you work in bed all to yourself by practicing these sneaky techniques to amp up your professional image.
51. Proven Time Management and Productivity Techniques for Entrepreneurs: Sitting in bed all day will probably make you want to nap all day. Stay productive with these helpful tips.
52. When Your Home is Your Workplace: These "seven ways to be more productive" will make you finish your work more quickly each day, leaving you extra time to relax.
53. Wake Up Later: This blog gives tips for making money online so that you can sleep later.
54. 34 Places to Get Design Inspiration: Who says you have to leave the house for inspiration? Web designers can check out this list of websites when their creativity needs a boost.
55. iFreelance: Organize your projects, post your resume and portfolio to find jobs, and search for other freelancers who can help you conquer overwhelming projects.
56. How to Work at Home as a Freelancer: Before you get too excited about starting a career that lets you work from your bed, check out this article that will give you a reality check on the freelancing industry.

Nifty Little Hacks

Take a look at this list for more tools and tips that will help you present a professional work ethic while you lounge around in bed.

57. Online alarm clock: Keep your naps to a minimum by setting this online alarm clock before you doze off.
58. Share It Now: Download Share It Now to connect with clients and share files and documents without having to step out of the house.
59. Neptune: Stop worrying about how you’ll organize all of your assignments, and let Neptune do the dirty work. Wake up to daily e-mail reports that outline your responsibilities and manage your to-do lists.
60. iOrganize: This "ultimate notepad" is a Mac lover’s dream. File away miscellaneous notes, contact information and project ideas on iOrganize to keep you on task and online.
61. Toodledo: Keep your to-do list in front of you at all times by adding it to your browser.
62. Hourly Rate Calculator: This calculator from FreelanceSwitch evaluates your business costs, personal costs, profit, billable hours and more.
63. GoogleTalk Sidebar Conference Chat: Chat with Google friends and contacts even when you aren’t logged in to your Gmail account. The handy plugin appears as a sidebar instead.
64. Google Music Player: This simple music player lets you "search, browse, and play the music on your desktop."
65. Goplan: This secure project management tool lets you collaborate on assignments with your clients without having to leave your computer.
66. Biz-Plan 3: Create and send a winning business plan with this download. Instead of meeting with new clients to show them your proposal, just send it to them via email or Web conferencing.
67. Skype: Calling other Skype users is totally free. Upload a photo of yourself dressed in professional office attire, and no one will know you’re still in your pajamas!
68. activeCollab: Use this project management and collaboration tool to work with vendors and clients in one secure, Web-based space.
69. Spongecell: Spongecell is another online calendar that lets you customize to-do lists, special events and holidays and more. You can also invite contacts to add, delete or edit appointments, videos and comments.
70. Basecamp: Even if you have to manage other employees’ projects, you can still work from bed. Use Basecamp to keep track of everyone’s responsibilities, project updates and to-do lists.
71. Tick: Tick is another great time tracking tool that will tell you how many hours you spend working and how many you spend napping.
72. BillQuick Lite: Save yourself a trip to the accountant’s office and do your own finances. This software program "is one of the most powerful timecard and project management tools on the market," and it comes with training tutorials and plenty of support downloads.

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This entry was posted on Thursday, June 19th, 2008 at 10:04 am and is filed under Web Tools. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.