If you have been instructed to work from home to save a lot of people being in the office at one time then you may be wondering how you will cope. It can be a complete game changer, one you may absolutely love and adore. However, it can seem a bit daunting at first, especially if you are used to having your boss on hand to help and assist with anything you get stuck with. Remember, your boss will still be there to help, there will just be a screen in between you now. You might have never worked from home previously so you aren’t totally sure what you need. Never fear, take a look at the article below for helpful tips and a list of everything you need to get through your days at home.
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A Quiet Place
One of the first things you need to sort out is where you will be working. If you are lucky enough to have a larger home then you may have somewhere separate to conduct your work. This could be a converted office space or a little workspace in the garden. However, if you don’t have the luxury of a lot of space then there are still places you can work. If you have a dining table then you could work there. Just remember, that when your work finishes, put everything away. You don’t need the constant reminders that work is a few hours away when you are eating your dinner.
Stable Internet
If you have high workloads with strict deadlines and clients to speak to then the last thing you need is slow internet. This can be detrimental when you are trying to get tasks done quickly. If you need to upgrade your internet due to working from home then you can give your provider a call to see what they can do. They may be able to upgrade you for free, depending on where you are in your contract. You don’t want to be getting calls from your boss questioning your work because of your internet. At the very least, you should make sure to do a wifi speed test to ensure you will get adequate internet speed throughout the day to be able to get the work you need done.
No Distractions
If you are working in a busy household with other adults and children in it then you might be wondering how you will work in peace. You don’t want to be like Professor Robert Kelly who was interrupted by his children while he was being interviewed on the news in 2017. If you are frequently joining zoom meetings or speaking to clients on the phone, the last thing you need are people coming and going around you. If you are located in a separate room then be sure to let everyone know you are going to work and don’t want to be disturbed. You could even put a sign on the door in case they are tempted to come in.
It isn’t just people that can pose as a distraction. While you are working, you should consider putting your phone on silent. This way you don’t pick it up or turn it over every time it pings or vibrates. If you don’t need it for work then you could put it out of reach until break times.
Furniture
Something else you will need to comfortably work from home is office furniture. This comes in the form of a desk and a chair. This might sound simple and you could get one from the local furniture store. However, you will be sitting in the chair at the desk for long periods and you want to be comfy. Bad quality chairs can impact your posture and create long-term issues such as back aches. Office furniture should ideally be adjustable and ergonomic, this is much better for your health and wellbeing. If you haven’t been able to get furniture provided by your work then you can take a look online at the best deals.
Laptop/PC
The next thing on the list is something to work on, such as a laptop or PC. This is something that might be provided by work and it could even be the one you were using while in the office. This would be great as you won’t have to re-adjust to a new screen or new keyboard. However, if you haven’t been able to snag one from work then you can get your hands on one pretty cheap. You can look online or you can take a peek in second-hand stores. Be aware that a second-hand one may be older and therefore run slower than others you are used to. You may also need to completely wipe it and get rid of the previous user’s accounts if this has not already been done.
Headphones
If you want to save yourself from hearing all the noises surrounding you then your best bet is a pair of good-quality headphones. If they are purely for use during work then you could request them from your place of work. However, if you want to drown out all the sound around you then you could invest in a pair of noise-canceling headphones. There are noise-canceling headphones suitable for all budgets, however, do be aware that more expensive ones have better features. Check out all your options online, alternatively head to your local technology store and speak to the experts there.
Diary
When it comes to working from home you need to be good at prioritizing tasks and jobs that need doing. This can be tricky if you don’t struggle to remember what you need to be doing. There are products and apps that you can use to manage your time and figure out what you should be doing. Your boss might use work order management software online that contains all employees’ availability and schedules. This makes life a lot easier as everything is in one place when you need to look.
Storage
Finally, will you be storing files and paperwork in your home office? If so, then you could look into getting a storage cabinet or shelves and box files. It all comes down to whether or not the paperwork is confidential. If you are holding onto the client’s details then these should be stored inside a lockable cabinet. This should only be unlocked by you as and when you need access to it, you don’t want details getting into the wrong hands. Take a look online at some of the storage options you could use in your office.
