4 Must-Have Products For Working From Home
Working from home has become more and more common in recent years and is a popular option for businesses to offer employees because of the flexibility it affords. For a long time, working remotely was seen as less convenient or would result in poorer quality work. But now, there are tons of products and software for tracking remote employees that can make working from home every bit as focused and functional as an office job. Here are a few of the tools that could transform your work from home experience
- A Dedicated Work Space
One of the big misconceptions about working from home is that you’ll be able to work from anywhere – your bed, your couch, or the front porch. For some, working anywhere is totally possible, and they can focus just fine. But for most, it’s necessary to have a dedicated working space just like you would in an office. If you live in a small space, you don’t have to worry about building yourself a cubicle.
Just having a desk and a chair where you can leave your rugged laptop is enough. The purpose is to have a space where you can slip into the “work” mindset at the beginning of each day and leave “work” at the end of the day. Since this is where you’ll be spending most of your time during the week, you’ll want to make sure your desk setup is exactly what you want. Some prefer a standing desk, or an ergonomic chair, or something like the EverDesk+ so explore your options before settling on something.
- Functional Tech Setup
Most desk jobs these days involve gazing at screens for hours at a time. If your monitor setup is less than ideal, you can wind up with a whole host of issues, from back pain to eyesight deterioration. A large monitor placed at the right distance from your face, a good mouse that won’t give you carpal tunnel, and a wireless keyboard can open up your space and give you a more relaxed work experience. It can be tempting to work off a tiny laptop all day, but you should invest in the tools you need to have a good quality of life.
- Desk Tools
A big downside of leaving the office environment is leaving behind the supply closet. When you need a sticky note or a new pen, you’re out of luck until you can get to Staples. It’s a good idea to stock your home office like it’s a mini supply closet. Having all the highlighters and rulers you need at an arm’s reach will keep you from having to root around in your junk drawer in the middle of a workday. Invest in some good organizational containers to prevent clutter, and you’ll be surprised at how motivational a well-stocked desk can be.
- Consistent Scheduling
Many who work from home for a living can tell you that it’s hard to feel like you ever really leave work. It can be tempting to just check your email one more time after 5 PM has come and gone because your computer is right there. But it’s essential for your wellbeing that you set firm time limits for work. You should be trying to start work and end it at the same time every day, as well as taking regular breaks for meals and stretching.
You can set yourself alarms if you have a hard time keeping track of the hours. Working from home means that you won’t be making those little trips to the water cooler or the bathroom, so you’ll find that you move much less if you don’t make a concerted effort to do so. Try taking a lap around your house or apartment building a few times a day or walking up and down the stairs.
Working from home can be its own kind of adventure, so make it a lot more enjoyable by investing in the right tools for the job.
