Working Remotely – 4 Things Every Home Office Should Have
If you do not work from home or telecommute regularly, odds are you know somebody who does.
There has been a steady rise in the number of people who are either freelancers or telecommute, thanks to the advent of the internet and the impact that this has on lessening our carbon footprint.
This has brought much attention to the differing needs of the home office.
Modern home offices hardly resemble the stuffy, book filled home offices that people used to retreat to in order to complete additional paperwork.
A modern productive workspace in the home needs to take other factors into consideration.
Work Area
What is an office without a desk?
There is a lot to consider when purchasing a desk for your home office. A lot of people are now opting for standing desks, which sit at a height (often adjustable) that is comfortable to work at from a standing position. Making the adjustment to a standing desk can be difficult, however.
If you have never used a standing desk, you may want to invest in one that can be used from either a standing or sitting position.
If you already have a traditional desk and cannot see yourself coughing up the cash for an entirely new arrangement, you could always purchase one of the many stands available that sit on top of a regular desk to bring your computer screen up to standing height.
If you have no interest in a standing desk, and would like to purchase a traditional desk, there are still some factors you need to take into consideration.
Your desk should be a good fit for your height, the way you sit, and your hands. It also needs to have enough surface space for the things you need to work with: a keyboard, mouse, and screen. Make sure that the desk that you choose is going to be comfortable to use when paired with your office chair.
Getting Connected
If you are working from home, it is very likely that you will be connecting to the internet on a regular basis. This means that a fast, secure, and steady connection is an absolute must have.
Make sure to choose a modem and connection speed that will meet all your needs. The best way to connect to the internet in a home office is through a physical connection as opposed to a wireless connection, so consider having your modem installed in your home office, or running the necessary wires into your home office.
Depending on what you do for work, you may need some additional storage space.
For the most storage at the lowest cost, you may want to purchase a network attached storage device, instead of using several portable hard drives. You can essentially use these like you would use a cloud storage service, but these are completely controlled by you, and require no additional subscription fee.
Communication
If you telecommute, having a reliable communication system is essential. Even if you are a freelancer, it is likely that you will need to speak with clients at some point. Start by purchasing a phone dock that charges your phone, so that you can easily see the screen while it charges. You may want to consider purchasing a Bluetooth headset as well, so that you do not have to handle your phone constantly throughout the day.
If most of your communication is done over the internet, you may prefer a USB headset with a microphone. This will allow you to clearly hear, and communicate with, people over your VOIP or other internet communication software.
Keep it Neat
One of the hardest things about having a home office is keeping all your cables organized and out of the way. Luckily, this is one of the easiest problems to solve. All over the internet there are suggestions for cable management using things you can probably find around your home. The best suggestion among these is Velcro. This craft store favorite can be used to tie up and wrangle all your wires.
Using a power strip can also help you keep your cables organized and working efficiently. Many people fail to notice that most power strips have slots on the back so that they can be slid onto screws and mounted onto a concealed area on your wall.
This will help keep everything tidy and squared away.
About the Author Staff Writer
Our writers come from all over the world, but one thing unites them - their passion for sustainability.