10 Essentials for Working from Home
Working from home might be something you’ve been doing for years, maybe you work from home on a Friday, or when you’ve got a really bad hangover and don’t want the boss to know (spoiler; they know). For a large proportion of us though, WFH has become the new norm since the Covid-19 pandemic of 2020. So, in order to get through working from home for the next however long (aside from eating as much banana cake as you can) what are our 10 home office essentials?!
Ergonomics
Ensuring your workspace fits you is key to not emerging from lockdown with severe back pain! Make sure your office chair is comfortable, your screens are at the right height for you and that your keyboard/mouse fit your typing style and wrists correctly. In the market for a new sleek keyboard? Take a look at our range here
Invest in great phone and internet connections
Having a phone line or internet connection that goes on the blink is not only REALLY frustrating, it can also have a huge impact on your output. Ensure your internet connection is the best provider in your area or consider investing in a business ISP for a speedy and reliable connection.
Two screens are better than one
If you’re used to two screens in your normal workspace (or even if you’re not!) having two monitors is a revelation, particularly when using spreadsheets and multitasking. Check out our range of screens here.
Create your own office
Whilst you may be stuck sharing a dining/bedroom/living room as your office, making the space feel like a proper workspace is key to feeling like you’re at work. Clear out piles of washing/kids’ toys/pets and set yourself up for a proper day in the office to reach your potential.
Back up
It always pays to back up your work. When working from home on a laptop it is all too easy to forget to back work up and then lose hours or days’ worth of work. An online cloud-based service or alternatively an external drive is a great way to keep all your work safe
Dock it like it’s hot
Multitask with ease by connecting a docking station to your workspace, giving you further monitors, devices and peripherals in one sleek dock. Check out our great range of docks for different capabilities and price points here.
Keep in touch
Keeping in touch with colleagues is key to feeling connected to your work and to do list. Whilst a phone call often suffices the popularity of video conferencing apps such as Zoom, Microsoft Teams, TeamViewer and more can be a real asset to feeling connected and making sure you don’t sit in your pyjamas all day (on your top half atleast).
Speed up your machine
If your work laptop has become slow and painful to use, adding more memory could be the key to getting your work done and being able to run the applications you need to. Take a look at our memory section for more info on speeding up your machine.
Making time
Ensuring regular work hours can be hugely beneficial in staying on track during WFH. That 1-hour lunchbreak can easily get longer each day without discipline. Agree set times to work with at least yourself but preferably your team to make sure those lay-ins don’t escalate.
Plan your day
Linked to making time is making the most of that time by planning your day. Even a short to-do list for the day will help you remain focussed in a time when tasks can seem a little arbitrary. Keep that to-do list where you can see it and you’ll be ticking things off in no time!