For many of us, working from home is now part of our lives, love it or hate it. Whatever your take on it all, getting your home office set up properly can really boost your productivity.
Getting the Right Home Office Gear
We recently covered everyday carries (EDCs) for the pro on the go, but suppose you’re working from home, perhaps a couple of days a week? A great home office will help you make the most of it.
However, it’s important to remember two things here. Not everything on this list is essential and once you’ve bought it, it’s yours. For example, if you’ve got a great pair of earbuds with a decent mic that can connect to your computer, you can skip our recommendations. If you’ve already got a decent chair, then you’re sorted there, too. That said, here’s part one of our guide to creating a great, productive space.
Laptop Stand (and Keyboard)
We’ll assume you’ve got a laptop. But do you have a laptop stand? These elevate the position of your laptop and make it easier to see the screen and to type for long periods of time. Regarding the latter, we’d also suggest that you invest in a decent keyboard, wireless or wired, to make life just a little more pleasurable. For tech enthusiasts, perhaps a mechanical board is the way to go?
Monitor (and the Mount)
Invest in a decent monitor. There’s no need to be staring at a laptop screen all day, why not give your eyes a break? It doesn’t need to be anything fancy (unless you’re gaming during your lunchbreak), but a decent resolution and size can help ward off eye strain. Monitor sorted? Excellent, know find a decent monitor mount. They should put your screen at eye-level and preferably have some storage options, too.
Admit it, you're a little jealous.
Mouse and Mousepads
You’ll want one. Trust us. You don’t need anything fancy, but we’d suggest an entry-level “gaming” mouse, they really are much better than the cheap deals you’ll come across at an electronics store. If you're organized and manage to charge things, why not go wireless? Also invest in a mouse mat, or better yet, a desk pad. They’ll stop your table from getting scratched and most of them are machine-washable for when the coffee gets split.
Audio Gear – A Camera, Mic and Headset
OK, conference calls are a pain, but hey, this is a home office, and what are offices great for if not useless meetings? Don’t worry though, there are plenty of great ways to make your life a little easier. Consider getting a microphone, it doesn’t need to be expensive. Alternatively, invest in a headset with a mic, though don’t cheap out. Again, the cheaper gaming headsets are something you might look at. You’ll also need a decent webcam, there are loads out there and you don’t need anything fancy as you’ll be blurring the background in every shot, right? Finally, consider speakers, they don’t need to cost the earth and they’ll be vastly superior to your PC’s built-in audio.
Back to the drawing board...
Desks
There are plenty of options here. Standing desks are all the rage, and there are affordable (manual) versions for sale at everyone’s favorite blue and yellow flat-pack warehouse shop. Alternatively, buy an office desk at an office supply store. But, we’ll leave you with one suggestion – make sure that whatever you get also includes drawers … we’ve lost countless office supplies thanks to curious children.
Chairs
Don’t be cheap here. A good chair is wonderful thing. We’d suggest doing your research, but there are all sorts of brands that offer full back support and their products are well worth a look. There are also kneeling chairs that help you work your core and balance balls which do the same. Remember, you’re at home now, you can do what you want.
So, there you have it, your ultimate home office. Whether you’re a stay-at-home forex trader, an HR professional doing all your admin from home on a Friday, or a compliance guy ticking all the boxes, we hope we’ve offered you a few suggestions to make your remote work life just a little more palatable.
In a following article we’ll cover some of the technical gear you might need such as VPNs, password managers and more.
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