Whether you work from home part-time or full-time, everyone needs a comfortable workspace and reliable equipment. No matter what industry you’re in, you don’t want to lose important documents or work due to computer issues, nor do you want to accidentally miss client calls.
Working from home brings a plethora of benefits, especially for parents who now get to spend more time with their family. According to a study by Legal and General, more than half (52%) of parents say that the main reason not to become a stay-at-home parent is the financial impact – working from home allows the best of both worlds. Regardless of whether you’re new to working from home or simply want to revamp your space, don’t forget about these essential pieces of equipment to help you stay productive while reaping the benefits of remote working.
Computer
There’s nothing worse than your computer freezing up while you’re in the middle of an essential video conference with a client. A reliable computer is one of the most essential pieces of tech you can have in your home office. While your workplace should supply a laptop and monitor, make sure that you report any issues you experience as soon as they occur. It may sound obvious, but it can be easy to forget to report seemingly minor problems until they become more problematic.
If your workplace don’t supply computers or your self-employed, make sure to check out reviews before you buy one. You want to make sure it’s suitable for the job at hand and has enough space to save all of your essential documents as well as a quality camera for those aforementioned video conferences. It can be tempting to purchase the cheapest model out there, but you often get what you pay for when it comes to tech.
One way to save on a high-speed computer is to purchase a refurbished laptop. You can save up to 40 percent and still get the same level of function and performance. Another option is to shop during Black Friday or Cyber Monday sale, but you will have to wait until November to buy a computer.
Desk phone
Not all clients and customers enjoy video calls, so you’ll need to invest in a desk phone. It may be tempting to just take calls from your mobile, but this can cause a myriad of issues. You don’t want clients calling you out of hours, nor do you want to be disturbed by personal calls or the temptation to scroll through your smartphone after a call. Desk phones are affordable and a worthy item to have on your desk – just remember to turn it off after working hours.
Office essentials – from printers to paper shredders
Think about the items you use regularly in the office and consider purchasing them for yourself. This could include anything from printers to paper shredders, both of which can be picked up online. You can choose between a single-function printer and a multipurpose printer depending on your home office needs. By defining your requirements, you can avoid making unnecessary purchases and invest your money in another supplier. Laser desktop printers, for example, are a wonderful choice if you only require equipment to print papers because they function faster than regular printers and boost productivity. Multifunctional office printers, which can be used not only for printing but also for scanning and copying documents, could be a good choice for people with several responsibilities.
Ergonomic chair
As vital as technology is, your comfort should be top of your priority list. You’ll be sat at your desk for hours on end, so an ergonomic chair should be one of your first purchases. There are a plethora of benefits to this; not only will your productivity be enhanced, but your risk of developing musculoskeletal disorders is significantly reduced and your posture will be improved. Ergonomic chairs are designed to keep you comfortable while preventing damage to your back and shoulders – just remember not to slouch.
Ergonomic keyboard and mouse
Speaking of these benefits, it’s also worth picking up an ergonomic keyboard and mouse. This is particularly important if you type a lot or are at your desk for most of the day, as they help prevent the likes of carpel tunnel.
Do you have all the equipment required to make working from home as easy and stress-free as possible? If not, don’t struggle on without them – invest in the essentials and transform your workspace.