Adjusting to remote work is a journey for all of us, especially if you have been in a traditional office setup for so long. Despite the perceived perks of working from home, remote teams have been reporting their fair share of challenges like blurred boundaries between working and taking breaks, distractions, incomplete gadgets for remote work, and feelings of isolation, among others.
However, there are ways to make the transition easier. Keeping in mind some of the best practices in non-traditional work arrangements can help you with the current situation and in the future as employers look to use hybrid setups more.
The following are a few tips to improve your experience of working from home.
# Have a dedicated workstation. You should be able to work here comfortably, so there should be little to no noise. To achieve this, try to find a spot that’s far from where the family usually gathers like the living room or dining area.
# Get your housemates on board. If you live with other people, discuss that you need silence during meetings or brainstorming sessions. Make sure to talk about any schedule conflicts too, so you can find a workaround. If necessary, mobilize your workspace to different places around your home where there’s less noise.
# Look into gadgets for remote work to boost productivity. Because most of us are now working from home, having the right equipment and gadgets is vital to be productive and efficient.
Here are the top gadgets for remote work.
Wireless Headphones
We are all too familiar with distracting background noise and speaker echoes, which can disrupt virtual office meetings. Quality wireless headphones can eliminate noise, provide clear audio, and fit comfortably. These headphones also typically come with noise-canceling microphones.
Speakers
Speakers can either be an alternative for headphones or supplement headphones. You can use headphones for meetings and speakers for enjoying music, or vice versa. The good thing about having both gadgets for remote work is that you can choose between them for certain tasks.
Smart speakers can also be a big help in keeping track of reminders and setting alarms. They can automatically play the news in the morning and remind you to take a screen break as well.
Monitor
Laptops have long been favored for portability and ease of access. However, they can also feel limiting, especially in terms of screen size. An external monitor will be very helpful to view more applications, documents, and videos simultaneously—not to mention to avoid squinting to read words off a small screen.
Wireless Mouse
Using an ergonomically designed mouse can help reduce wrist pain if you’re doing most of your work in front of your computer. A wireless mouse also makes for portability; plus, it frees up your laptop’s limited USB ports to accommodate plugging in more gadgets for remote work.
Along with your mouse, you may want to invest in accessories like a mouse pad and a wrist rest as well to increase comfort.
External Keyboard
Like a laptop’s screen, its keyboard may be small and uncomfortable to use especially if you are typing for hours at a time. If your fingers do not fit snugly on your laptop’s keyboard, you may develop carpal tunnel syndrome sooner or later.
Investing in an external keyboard that allows you to type comfortably can help prevent such problems. By using an ergonomic keyboard, you can lessen the strain on your hands and arms.
If you tend to use several gadgets for remote work like a laptop for documents and a tablet for communication, you will benefit from a wireless keyboard that you can transfer from one device to another.
Meanwhile, if you spend most of your time typing, a mechanical keyboard can make be attractive with customizable components and powerful-sounding clicks.
Webcam
For video meetings and conferences, a webcam is extremely important. One with 1080p quality would suffice for these purposes, but if you plan on pre-recording videos, you might want to go for high-quality cameras.
In addition to a webcam, you can add a ring light or a good table lamp. This way, you won’t have to worry about the clarity and brightness of your camera.
Printer
While at home, you may still need to print something or scan information. You can print, scan, copy, or fax important documents with an all-in-one printer.
Extension Cord and Surge Protector
An extension cord provides more power outlets for your gadgets for remote work, so you can use more of them simultaneously. Now that you are working from home, you may need those three extra slots for your laptop, printer, charger, and any other gadgets for remote work.
A surge protector can protect your devices from damage from voltage spikes. This is especially important for devices like laptops and phones because of the intricate and small components they contain.
USB and Port Hub
Laptops typically only have three to four slots for USB devices, display connectors, and other connectable equipment. If you have a wired keyboard, mouse, phone charger, and a USB storage device, you might run out of ports, so a USB hub would be a big help.
Another advantage of a hub is it allows other devices to input into your laptop when it doesn’t have a port like an SD card slot to transfer files or an HDMI port for connecting to a larger monitor.
Hard Drive Storage
With an external hard drive, you can transfer files easily from one device to another. We recommend a solid-state drive (SSD) to improve the speed of large files.
Other Essentials
Gadgets for remote work extend beyond technology, so here are a few essentials for your remote office.
Desk
A sturdy, durable desk is a must for your home office. If you don’t already have one, you should consider an adjustable desk that has ample storage for printed reports, work supplies, and the like.
Chair
A chair with good back support and a comfortable seat can do wonders for you. It should be the right height for your desk, meaning it’s neither too low nor too high. Give plus points if it’s adjustable.
Laptop Stand
Your neck might be strained if your laptop is placed too low on your computer table. In that case, a laptop stand can reduce the risk of hurting your neck and shoulders. A stable, lightweight, and adjustable laptop stand can help with your posture while in front of a laptop.
Invest in Your Work
While some people might hesitate to buy new gadgets, it is important to understand that you are investing in the quality and convenience of your work. You don’t have to buy the latest or most expensive ones in the bunch, but it is worth it to decide which gadgets for remote work are the best fit for your home office.
