People’s home offices are no longer just corners in the room that are used rarely. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, numerous businesses all over the world shifted to a WFH (Work From Home) model, which is still in play today.
Even though the intensity of the pandemic has lessened significantly, the luxuries offered by the WFH dynamic are not going away anytime soon. Organizations have realized that their daily tasks may still be achieved with a fraction of the cost of the conventional office dynamic. And given the fact the WFH dynamic is safer in terms of social distancing, it is obviously the choice between the two.
However, working from home will require you to invest in certain tools and resources to spend your time more efficiently. And we have the list of tools that you might have ignored when setting up your home office. Let’s check it out:
An Ergonomic Chair
It may seem like something you can ignore, but a chair plays a vital role while you work from home. When you are working, you are required to sit for long hours without getting up for a single second. In such cases, not any chair will suffice as it might end up hurting your back.
The perfect office chair is one that you can easily sit in for hours without any strain on your body. It should also offer a breathable fabric so that your back does not constantly sweat. While additional features in a chair may require a heavier investment, basic chai with prominent health benefits is still something you might be able to afford.
Noise Cancelling Headphones
When you are working from home, it is hard to focus. In the office, the doors and windows are shut, there is little to no noise coming from outside. And just like you, everyone is busy performing their official duties.
In contrast, at home, the dog might suddenly start barking, the traffic outside may be too noisy, or maybe the neighbors have the volume turned up. In such situations, relying on a pair of noise-canceling headphones is probably the right thing to do. While there are several exceptional noise-canceling headphones in the market, try getting one that you can use easily for long hours without any irritation.
A Wireless Mouse
A mouse is something that you rarely let go of when you are working. As such, your mouse should have an ergonomic design, have a comfortable grip, and should be compatible with your palm size.
And while wired mice are great, a wireless mouse gives the added benefit of freedom from tangled cables. If you have a small work setup, with too much on your desk, a wireless mouse will help you out. And luckily, you have a wide range of amazing wireless mouse options to choose from.
Portable Storage
In the office, you are connected to the local office network where you can store all the important files on the office cloud server. And even sharing them with the relevant parties is quite easy. In contrast, when you are at home, you might have trouble storing all the important files on your laptop’s hard drive. And in such cases, if you do not have access to the office cloud, it is probably a great idea to get a portable storage device.
A Printer That Does It All
Even if you do not have an office set up at home, a printer is a sensible purchase. It has abundant utility to offer if you have kids in school who need to submit assignments of all sorts. And if you have your office setup at home, then this purchase becomes even more practical.
However, the thing you have to keep in mind is to look for a printer that does it all – scan, print, fax, and copy. For this, you might be better off turning to the HP OfficeJet Pro 9015e All-in-One Printer. It is a wireless printer with all the facilities discussed above.
A Virtual Assistant
You may have had people tending to the small tasks in the office, such as setting reminders or printing emails, but you may not have this luxury at home. But that does not mean that you are helpless.
Thanks to the smart technology available all around us, you have the option to grab a fancy virtual assistant for your home office. From turning the temperature down to checking up on the door, to setting reminders for your meeting on Monday, there is very little that these magical gadgets cannot do. For instance, check out the Amazon Alexa Echo Dot 4th Gen. This small spherical speaker can command various smart devices in your home with the power of your voice alone.
VPN Service
You might not realize it, but employers have an arsenal of security and efficiency tools. And it would be unlikely for you to be able to access their precious information from your home environment without any safety precautions being adopted.
Thus, the smartest thing to do while you work from home, or do anything online, for that matter, is to seek a little assistance from a dependable VPN service. A VPN service creates a virtual private network for you that masks your actual IP address that further keeps the information on your device protected from the threats lurking on the web.
Reliable Internet Service Provider
Last but not the least, you cannot do anything from your home, unless you are subscribed to the most reliable internet service available in the region. A good internet connection is not only fast in terms of download speeds, but always stands by your side when you need it the most.
For this, you may consider a few cable or fiber optic internet options in the country. However, your safest bet would be to turn to the internet services offered by AT&T. Not only is this internet service blazing-fast, but it also offers access to several additional benefits that tilt the scales in its favor. And the cherry on top is that you can also bundle AT&T home internet with an amazing TV and phone service to enjoy in your personal time as well.
In a Nutshell
Working from home is not easy for all. You need a proper environment to work efficiently, or you would end up losing productivity. Hopefully, the tools mentioned above can address some of those productivity concerns.
