Over the last few years, more people than ever have started working from home for the first time. Many businesses have found that their employees are happier and more productive when they work from home, and that staff turnover has improved. More people still have turned away from traditional employment to start their own home business or start working from home as a freelancer.
All of this means that even more of us are going to work from home in the future. It also means that there are more tools available to help us. If you are working from home for the first time, either as an employee or self-employed, here’s a look at everything you need.
The Right Technology
Exactly what you’ll need to work from home depends on what you do, and what kind of technology you use at work. But some things that you should consider are a good laptop, a headset for communication, and a wireless keyboard and mouse and an SSD drive if you use a desktop. All of this can be bought from Lenovo. You may also need software or apps for video calls, word processing and photo editing, depending on what you do.
An Office Space
If you are just working from home short term, or for very short periods, you might be fine working from your sofa. But if it’s a more long-term arrangement, a home office can help you to focus and get more done. It can also make it easier to separate work from home and switch off at the end of the day. If you don’t have a spare room that can be turned into an office, try to add a workspace to a room that you don’t use that often, so that it doesn’t interfere with your home life too much.
A Supportive Chair
If you try to work on the sofa for too long, you’ll get a bad back, and potentially a sore neck and wrists from your sitting position. If you try to work at your dining table on a dining chair you might soon find that you are a little numb, or that you can’t sit comfortably for long. A supportive office chair is better for your back, wrists, and neck. It can prevent strains and headaches and help you to work for longer without needing to get up and stretch.
Storage
The storage that you will need depends on the nature of your work. But even if you work mainly online, and all your files live on your computer, you’ll need somewhere to keep folders and files, printouts, paper, stationery, and notepads. Shelving, some drawers and a desk tidy are ideal. These will help to keep you organized and reduce the risk of your work bleeding into your home life and finding its way into other areas of your home.
Working from home can be a fantastic opportunity to improve your work-life balance and excel in your career. The best news is, you don’t usually need much to get started.
