By Joy Vianey
Since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, many companies have shifted to a remote work setup. It is estimated that by 2025, around 70% of the workforce will work remotely for at least five days a month. And although this number was presented pre-pandemic, it’s safe to assume that the coronavirus has further accelerated this anticipated shift. Indeed, remote work is the future, as more people see its benefits, like less commute stress and a better work-life balance, to name a few.
So how do you prepare yourself to work from home — wherever home may be for you at the moment? We’ll be looking at home office essentials that can truly transform any room into a productive workspace. Here are the top must-haves for your home office:
1) A high-speed mobile hotspot
The days of dial-up Internet are long gone; a strong broadband connection should be your priority if you want to work online efficiently. However, it can be tricky to find strong WiFi in a coffee shop — especially if you need to download a big file or go on a video call. You may also want more privacy or work for longer hours, which is hard to do in a cafe or coworking space.
A high-speed mobile hotspot is an ideal solution for a reliable, secure, portable, and reasonably-priced connection to the Internet. Having a dedicated mobile hotspot for your work devices lets you establish a fast Internet connection in minutes. You can move a mobile hotspot wherever you want and secure your connection with a password.
2) A work laptop
Having the right tools is critical if you want to make the most of your remote work arrangements. Any desktop computer or laptop should have a built-in webcam for video conferencing; any other specifications would differ based on personal preferences or industry-related requirements. As a nomad, a laptop is ideal because it’s portable and versatile. Try to find a laptop that is sturdy enough to withstand the amount of travelling you do.
3) Ergonomic accessories
Your home office is a place you’ll spend most of your time in, so making it comfortable to work in is a priority. It would be nice to have a comfy computer chair or a standing desk so you can keep your body in a comfortable position, but these aren’t the most practical furniture pieces if you’re a digital nomad on the go.
Smaller accessories like lumbar support pillows and desk converters can help you keep your body better aligned while taking up less space. A lumbar support pillow can be placed on a chair to cushion your lower back and hips, while standing desk risers allow you to adjust the height of your desk so you can work while standing up. If you want to avoid the aches and pains of bad posture and a sedentary lifestyle, invest in ergonomic accessories.
4) Good lighting
Adequate lighting is so essential for creating a productive and comfortable workspace. You don’t want to deal with headaches and eye strain, nor do you want to look blurry during a video conference. As much as possible, flood your work area with natural lighting, which can also boost your mood. You can get a small, portable desk lamp to illuminate your space or simply rearrange your room to get maximum light.
5) A backup drive
If you’re moving around a lot for work, you can’t bring too many bulky files with you. The best solution is to save your files on a backup drive. Data loss can be a huge problem; accidentally misplacing or deleting files can cost a lot of money from the lost productivity, technical recovery, and the value of the original data. Copying your files onto an external drive can be an affordable way to save your work in case of computer failure.
By Joy Vianey
