10 (More) Home Office Essentials for Today’s Work-From-Home Life
Back in early 2020, when many of us moved from office buildings to home offices, from getting lunch out to getting lunch out of the fridge, I shared the best-of-the-best essentials for that perfect work-from-home spot. After all, I’ve been working from home for nine years, and asked fellow Salesforce fans about their set up as well.
Fast forward to over ten months later and we’re still in the same spot (Well, hopefully, those of you who were working from ironing boards in the closet have moved to a desk by now). The reality is we’re all becoming work-from-home experts, so I asked around for 10 more best-in-class tips to make today’s remote lifestyle more productive.
1. Get in the spotlight
They’re inexpensive, easy to use, and best of all, make you look like a movie star. It’s a ring light. Place it behind your computer for perfect lighting for all of your video calls. One Salesforce customer told me, “It’s the best purchase I have made for our new way of work.” I own this selfie ring light which lights up my life via USB. Plus it has multiple light modes and brightness levels for your next closeup.
2. Stand up with your coworkers every day
A daily standup online with your team will help to maintain that feeling of connection. It’s like a water cooler conversation sans water cooler. One idea from a Salesforce partner: “Ask your coworkers for the best thing that happened since yesterday.” Feel free to include this blog post in that conversation tomorrow.
3. Insert daily movement here
Build exercise or movement routines into your day. I try to start my day with a workout, but if I can’t kick it off with a Peloton ride, I’ll find a 30-minute break to pedal away. There are many workout apps that offer short 10 or 15-minute exercise classes to squeeze in. Set boundaries in your day by giving yourself time for exercise and self-care.
4. Bring in the mesh network
You’re on Google Meet while your partner is streaming Netflix, and the kids are back and forth between PS5 and digital learning. We’re all using our home internet more than before, so help your internet out. Mesh systems increase signal strength by using multiple units placed around your house that connect together. They all broadcast the same network name, which enables your devices to roam between mesh access points as they choose. I recently moved to Google Mesh and have had a stronger, more reliable internet that reaches farther than before. Yes, I am writing this post from the backyard treehouse.
5. Take productive breaks
Working from home not only means easy access to the fridge, but also access to your laundry basket, your sink of dishes, and other household chores. Take a few minutes in between meetings to be productive in your space. Not only will you stay ahead of that growing pile of laundry, but you’ll move your body and get a break from the screen. Set your meetings to 20 or 25 minutes instead of 30 to give yourself time to prepare for the next meeting, and to get the mail.
6. Focus on your eyeballs
After working from home all day, I was getting headaches, dry eyes and feeling tired by 3pm each day, so I finally went to the eye doctor. Turns out, it was not me; it was my screen. Working from home can result in 8+ hours of screen staring, and that means lots of blue light. Blue light can contribute to eye strain, among other vision complications. Blue light glasses have special lenses that aim to block or filter out blue light. In addition to my specs, I cure my dry eyes with a daily dose of Systane Ultra.
7. Measure giraffe necks and other virtual volunteering
COVID has caused a lot of change, such as making volunteering opportunities more interesting and creative. To dedicate time to volunteering from the comfort of your own office chair, check out Zooniverse. You’ll take part in real research in many fields across the sciences, humanities, and more. Help scientists by classifying humpback whale songs, measuring plankton, and counting penguin babies.
8. Maintain those regular business hours
If you worked regular hours in the office, the same should apply at home. Set clear guidelines for when to open the laptop and when to close it. This not only helps you maintain a work-life balance, but it sets expectations for your coworkers. Set your work hours in your calendar (here’s how) and block your calendar as needed. Check out time-tracking and productivity apps, such as RescueTime to help you stay on track, plus determine your most productive hours.
9. Separate that workspace
It’s March 286th. Time to set some boundaries. Delineate between a workplace and a space dedicated to relaxing and winding down. At the end of a long workday, you can leave that laptop behind. One Salesforce partner shared, “The goal is to be comfortable, and feel like you’re working from home instead of living at work.”
10. Reflect on what’s working (and what’s not)
As we near a year of COVID and working from home, what have we learned? When I asked for tips, I found this advice inspiring: “Start spotting what works and doesn’t work for when we return to a time when working from home and working from the office will be a balance.” The reality is that once we’re past COVID, we’re entering a new normal. One home office door might close while another opens. What would you keep doing and what would you change? Keep a journal or note-taking app (I like Evernote) of what you’re finding to be more effective now that we’re home 24/7.
What other home-office essentials do you live (and work) by? Share it with me in the comments or on Twitter at @amandalnelson.
