I have a spreadsheet that consists of 2 tabs with around 35 columns and 20 columns respectively. Throughout the code I am updating fields in the column. The developer that originally created the spreadsheet uses the actual column number in the code reference when updating a field which makes it difficult to know which field you're updating when you're looking at the code.. Is there a best practice around this? What I would like to do is create public variables that contain meaningful names with the column number indicated there and use the variable name throughout the code when a field is updated. For example:

Declare the following as public variables:
SHEET1_FirstName = 1 'column number for FirstName column on SHEET1
SHEET1_LastName = 2 'column number for LastName column on SHEET1

I can then use the variables when I need to make an update:

Sheets("SHEET1").Cells(l_Row, SHEET1_FirstName)

Is there a best practice around this and how much overhead is added by using this convention? This makes it easier to add or remove columns as well.

Thanks.