The outbreak of COVID-19 has forced people worldwide to change how they live and work. Perhaps the most significant change has been the transition to working from home. More Americans are now working from home than ever. For many, this has meant setting up a home office for the first time. If you’re one of those people, there are essential upgrades your home needs to make your work-from-home experience more comfortable and productive.
Set Up a Dedicated Workspace
One of the best ways to increase productivity and decrease distractions while working from home is to set up a dedicated workspace separate from the rest of your living space. If you don’t have an extra room that can be turned into an office, try setting up a workspace in a quiet corner of your living room or bedroom. Here are some essentials of a dedicated workplace.
Open Up Space
You’ll need space if you want to work comfortably. The more open space there is, the better you’ll be able to spread out and get your work done. There are ways you can do this. First, you should consider in-home external storage. This can come in various forms, but getting a spacious carport is the best. This can be mounted on your property and provide a secure, weatherproof area safe from thieves and pests. It’s the cheapest option to open up space inside your home so you can have a dedicated workspace.
Get Fast, Reliable Internet
Working from home requires fast, reliable internet access, so now is the time to upgrade your internet service if you’ve been thinking about it. However, even if your internet is generally fast and reliable, there may be times when everyone in your household is trying to use the internet at once, which can slow things down. Upgrading to a more expensive plan with more bandwidth will help ensure that you always have the internet speed you need.
Ergonomic Furniture
Furniture is essential if you’re planning to work from home. This furniture needs to be ergonomic if you don’t want to experience carpal tunnel syndrome. This syndrome can be painful and prevent you from doing your work efficiently. When shopping for ergonomic furniture, consider these options.
Invest in a Good Office Chair
If you spend hours at a desk sitting at a desk, you need a chair that provides good back support and is comfortable enough to sit in for extended periods. An ergonomic office chair is a wise investment if you can afford it, but any good-quality office chair will do.
Get a Monitor Riser
If you’re staring at a computer screen all day, you might as well ensure that the screen is at eye level. A monitor riser raises your computer monitor to a comfortable viewing height, which can help reduce eye strain.
Invest in Technology
Technology can give you an edge when working from home. You should invest in the latest software to boost productivity and enhance collaboration with coworkers and clients. Investing in the right technology will help you stay competitive while working remotely. Here is some essential tech you’ll need at home.
Buy a Good Pair of Headphones
Good headphones will help you tune out distractions and focus on your work. Look for headphones with active noise cancellation if possible.
Take Advantage of Cloud Storage
Storing files locally on your computer’s hard drive can take up valuable space and make it more difficult to access those files from other devices. Cloud storage lets you store files online so they can be accessed from anywhere with an internet connection. It can also protect you from the million-dollar data breach problem.
Data breaches are becoming more common, and they can be devastating. If a hacker gains access to your computer’s hard drive or the files on your cloud storage account, they could steal your personal information and damage you. Services like Google Drive and Dropbox offer free basic plans with plenty of storage space for most users’ needs.
Get Anti-Virus Software
Some employers provide their employees with anti-virus software, but others do not. If your employer does not provide you with anti-virus software or is self-employed, it’s essential to get it yourself to protect your computer from malware and other threats. McAfee and Norton are two well-known anti-virus software providers, but there are many others to choose from.
These upgrades will make working from home more comfortable and productive during the pandemic—and long after it ends. Investing in these items now will pay dividends for years to come. So what are you waiting for? Get shopping!
