Here at Global Custom Integrations, we're betting quite a few more of you than usual are working from home this month.
Like most things, working at home has both its advantages and disadvantages. On one hand, nobody can tell if you are still wearing your PJs during a conference call. On the other, the routine you are used to at the office might be harder to recreate -- and harder to stick to -- at home.
Given everything that’s going on, we thought this was a particularly good time to look at what you can do to make working at home, well, work. So, whether you always work from home or are just new to it this past month, here are some home office ideas to help make the most of this transitional time.
Comfortable Seating
Let's kick things off with a non-technology piece of advice.
While laying in bed with your laptop may be great for a few days, it's not something you are going to want to do long term. Make sure to set up a space that you can actually "get up and go to" that's away from the rest of your house. A desk is key, as are ergonomic keyboards and mice, but the really important thing is your chair. You are going to be spending a lot of time in it, so getting a chair that supports you -- and your posture -- through hours of answering emails and prepping reports is going to go a long way in making sure you are productive and comfortable.
Never Forget Networks
When you are working in the office, you are taking advantage of "business class" internet, which means you are using speeds that are much faster than anything you are going to get at home. And, if you take into account the kids watching Netflix, the dozens of other people in your area now also working from home, and all of the people you are trying to get on video chat, things can slow down pretty quickly. Remote access to your office server? Slower than molasses, if we were to bet. You may find some network-reliant tasks that went super quickly at work are now taking much, much longer.
The good news is that you don't need to settle for a struggling network. If you need help improving your Wi-Fi, or installing better network security, give us a call at 888-593-8990! We'd be glad to help you with all of the above, and at the very least get you something you can count on to last through every company-wide Skype call.
The Proof is in the Sound
No matter your line of work, focusing fully while the rest of the home is a maelstrom of kids and pets and errands and noises and "Oh no, what was that loud bang?" can be tricky. Your work still needs to get done, and it is important for you to be able to focus.
Enter soundproofing. There are a few ways you can go about this: There's the easy way, by simply investing in high-end, noise-cancelling headphones. Or, you could also have some construction work done to really shore up your sound-proofing efforts. This could also be useful if you like to play loud music while you work -- soundproofing can make sure your workday playlist isn't aggravating the neighbors as they try to focus on their own work throughout the day.
Working from home is an adjustment, but it's one that we know you can get through! These tips can go a long way into getting your home office set up and working properly, which in return will help keep you productive throughout your workday. And don't forget -- all of us at Global Custom Integrations are here for you through this transition, so give us a call at 888-593-8990 or visit our contact page!